“ Legislation dealing with the habitual and professional criminal has been adopted in New South Wales and Victoria, I believe, with the object of detaining such prisoners for indefinite periods, and although the law has not been in force very long, its adoption has already been attended with success, especially in regard to its deterrent effects. It has, however, not been long enough in force to allow of its reformatory effects being judged, and much depends on the manner in which it is carried out and the conditions of release when the prisoner is considered fit for it. ”

“ I would recommend that all prisoners on first conviction should serve the-first two months of their sentence in separate treatment, prisoners under second sentence four months, and third or subsequent offenders six months in separate treatment; but if a prisoners after release from such treatment misconducts himself he should be liable to undergo a further period of separate treatment not exceeding one, two, or three months, according to the term of his sentence and as the visiting justice may direct. ”

“ I would suggest that when an officer is deemed careless or negligent in the discharge of his duties, or guilty of an offence of a minor nature which in the opinion of the superintendent is not of sufficiently serious a character to warrant reference to the Comptroller-General, the superintendent should have power to reprimand, caution, or fine the offending officer after giving him full opportunity of defending himself. ”

“ Unless there are good reasons to the contrary, railway fares should be issued in all cases, irrespective of the amount a prisoner may possess on leaving the prison, either to the place from which he came or to some other place equi-distant. The prisoner's gratuity should not be interfered with, but the full amount should be at his disposal to enable him to live while looking about for employment, or in making a fresh start. ”

“ It is hardly necessary for me to add that an officer coming off duty to such a home, where he cannot get much rest or peace, is hardly fitted for his next duty at the prison, and this naturally causes irritation and discontent. ”

“ While the number of female inebriates in this State may perhaps not yet warrant the expense of such establishments as are above referred to, the necessity fog an inebriate asylum is apparent, many of the inmates at Fremantle (both male and female) being more fitted for such an institution than a prison. ”

“ From the first class the most suitable men might be selected for promotion to vacancies occurring in the higher ranks. It should, however, be clearly laid down that promotions from rank to rank would not follow as a matter of course, but would depend upon officers proving themselves fitted for it. ”

“ An officer found guilty of misconduct, or proving in efficient, would be liable to reduction in rank for a certain time. At present a number of officers are not classified, but remain temporary warders at a fixed rate of pay of 7s. 6d. per day for an indefinite term, not being appointed to the permanent staff until a vacancy occurs, which according to the evidence may extend to eight or nine years. This system gives very little encouragement for officers to qualify for higher ranks. ”

“ No prisoner can lose any re mission under this system unless it is proved that he is guilty of misconduct, and it is not within the power of a warder to grant or deprive a prisoner of any remission. Prisoners employed, on special work or on account of special services are granted special privileges and remissions under regulation 195, besides which "extra-special" remission is granted occasionally in exceptional cases. The question of special remission is always a difficult one, it being impossible to make a hard and fast rule ”

“ Drill and firearms training should be introduced, so that the officers may present a smart appearance and be encouraged to take a greater interest in their work, and to show respect for themselves as well as their superior officers. Opportunities should also be afforded officers for rifle and revolver practice.
A spirit of dissatisfaction would appear to exist amongst some members of the staff in connection with their pay, promotion, duties, etc. ”

“ I think the storekeeper should exercise direct control and supervision over the trade instructors, who should be held responsible to him; furthermore, I consider I that the books should be regularly audited by the Audit Department. The practice of charging the gaols vote with the cost of material purchased for manufacture for other departments does not seem to be a good one, as thereby the gaols vote is made to appear higher than it actually is. Receipts should always be given by the departments to which goods are supplied. ”

“ Instead of a being employed to wash the heavy moleskin clothes of male prisoners, which work seems unnecessarily arduous and degrading, the women should be given clean work, such as laundering and similar light work, and should also be taught to use sewing machines in connection with dressmaking, shirtmaking, etc. ”

“ The construction of the old gaol building does not appeal to one as being adapted to the application of modern prison principles in respect to administration or the supervision and classification of prisoners, although no doubt it served the purpose for which I understand it was originally designed, i.e., as a barracks from which convicts were drafted to different parts of the colony. ”

“ It is admitted that at present there is not sufficient work for prisoners undergoing separate treatment, but this I understand will be remedied shortly, and it should be as soon as possible. Work such as hatmaking, manufacture of straw enveloped for bottles, and sockmaking might be introduced, and educational facilities in the way of books should be provided. ”

“ There are certain structural improvements and alterations required, but I doubt whether it is wise to expend more money in patching up and trying to improve a place the design of which is utterly opposed to modern views. ”

“ It appears that officers perform ten hours' day duty on the platform under arms, with one hour's interval. These hours seem to be too long for a man to carry arms and be expected to keep constantly on the alert. ”

“ I find that good work is being done in the various workshops, viz., printing, bootmaking, tailoring, carpentry, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, etc., but, the system of bookkeeping in regard to the consumption of material requires revising. ”

“ As to accommodation, in one or two instances there are the husband and wife with families of six or seven children, ranging from infants up to people of both sexes of the ages of 18 and 19 years, all dwelling in one house with only two bedrooms ”