§ 34. Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether men employed on outside work at Princetown during wet weather are put to do stone-breaking work from 7.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m.; whether the average daily output of small broken stone by forty skilled men would produce 2 tons of stone, the market price of which is 4s. 6d. per ton, and that the hours required to he worked are longer than those imposed on the convicts for similar work; and whether he will consider the advisability of dispersing this particular settlement in view of the climatic conditions rendering it impossible. to give the men outdoor work in the autumn and winter months?
§ Sir G. CAVEMen ordinarily employed on outside work at Princetown are put to stone-breaking during wet weather, when they would otherwise be idle, the total hours of actual work being eight per day. The output of the men at Princetown is nearly three times that mentioned by the hon. Member, and so much of the stone as is not required for the roads on the Prison Commissioners' land is sold at 5s. per ton. The suggestion that it is impossible to give the men outdoor work at Princetown during the autumn and winter is incorrect.