§ 44. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that unrest has been created among the warders at Norwich Prison since the departure for active service of the governor, Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler, who held the respect and confidence of the men; that the unrest and discontent is due to the policy of the acting-governor, H. Wade, who subjects the warders to irritating petty persecutions and has revived the obsolete practice of fining officers for trivial offences; that one warder, after twelve years' service, has resigned and sacrificed his pension rather than accept the new conditions; and whether steps will be taken to inquire into these complaints with a view to a better feeling being restored?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNothing is known to the Prison Commissioners of these allegations. On the contrary, the Chairman of the Visiting Committee, in his Annual Report, says of Mr. Wade:
I cannot speak too highly of the acting-governor. I attribute the general good conduct of the prisoners entirely to his tact and management.This good opinion is corroborated by His Majesty's inspectors. It is the fact that a warder has recently resigned after twelve years' service. The reason given by him in writing was that he meant to seek outdoor occupation, and that his eyesight was worrying him, and he could not concentrate his mind on his work. He also told the governor that he wished to better himself. If any definite complaint is submitted, inquiry will, of course, be made. I would deprecate the publicity given by means of a question in this House to charges against a member of the prison service before there has been time to investigate the charges and before even any complaint has been made to his official superiors.