“Penitentiary Inmates Aid War Effort,” Kingston Whig-Standard. February 28, 1942. Page 12/
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By W. J. WALSHE
(Staff Writer)
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Canada’s all out war effort reaches deep into the dungeons of Dominion penitentiaries where prisoners are working in the defence of a freedom they have lost but must appreciate.
Serving terms for various crimes, many doomed to cell rooms for life, the prisoners still play an important part in the war, doing a type of work that seems casual but is of vital importance and saves the country many thousands of dollars every year.
Some of the prisoners are even subscribing to war savings stamps end certificates ,and the war contributions are not only limited to men prisoners but also the women.In the last Victory Loan drive, two inmates of the women’s penitentiary at Kingston purchased bonds, while ten convicts in British Columbia purchased $2,650 worth of bonds.
According to statistics from G. L. Sauvant, acting superintendent of penitentiaries, in his report for last year to the House of Commons, the 3,668 convict in Canada's seven institutions last year were making a valuable contribution to the war effort .
Warden R. M. Allan of Kingston Penitentiary stated that convicts in Kingston repair about 6,000 pairs of boots every year for members of the Royal Air Force stationed at Collins Bay. The Kingston Penitentiary prisoners also repair machines, build special aiming posts for artillery practice, make pillow slips and blankets for the Army and make thousands of brooms for use in the Active Service forces.
Even Blind Help
Even the blind prisoners are helping, two sightless convicts at Kingston contributing their share by making mats and helping to make brooms. One blind lifer braids bits of cellophane into attractive horse harness that has almost the strength of leather.
While the prisoners are only allowed to accumulate five cents a day for their work, which is generally used for the purchase of tobacco, some of the convicts have funds of their own, and many have bought war bonds and stamps while many have offered their service in the Active Service Forces. Many young prisoners on completion of their terms, ask for information about joining the Army and Warden Allan always directs them to the branch of the Services for which he thinks they are specially suited.
The ex-convicts should make perfect soldiers, according to Warden Allan, if they are permitted to join the ranks and are not grouped. They are schooled to discipline, are healthy and many of them are anxious to regain an honored standing. The health of the prisoners is evident in statistics which show an average death rate of three a year and the last official statement registered 774 in the Kingston penitentiary, second high in Canada. St. Vincent de Paul, Que., had 1,013 prisoners, Dorchester, N.B., had 439, Manitoba 374, British Columbia 329, Saskatchewan, 486, and Collins Bay, 273.
Health Guarded
The health of the prisoners is a special care, according to Warden Allan. Every precaution is taken to prevent epidemic and Illness. Last year there were about 30 major operations at the Kingston Penitentiary, most of them performed in the prison hospital, although the more serious cases are rushed to the Kingston city hospitals.
Extra war work creates more interest In the monotonous life of the prisoners. The big problem, Warden Allan explains, is to give the prisoners something to occupy their minds and get them working at something that will not compete with regular business. The making of brooms for use in the service forces does not interfere with the regular trade of broom making, while the work produced by the two Kingston blind prisoners does not compete with the work of other persons in Canada who have lost their sight and are trying to make a living. Teachers from the School for the Blind visited the Kingston Penitentiary and spent considerable time teaching the blind prisoners.
Statistics show the number of prisoners admitted to the penitentiaries since the War started and with more work for young men, it is expected the reduction In crime will continue. Of the prisoners admitted to penitentiaries last year 76.7 per cent had previous criminal records and 59.6 per cent were under 30 years of age. Convicts between 21 and 39 years were guilty of 73 per cent cent of the crime against public order and peace and 70 per cent of the crimes against administration of law and justice. The last prison report had 57.2 per cent of the convicts admitted as unemployed and 59 per cent of those unemployed had not worked for more than a year. Police and prison officials expect a big change in the next report.
Learn Trades
While the prisoners are given as much work as they wish to do they are also taught special trades and are offered an opportunity to attend school. The Kingston Penitentiary has a regular teaching staff and many of the prisoners are taking special interest in preparing for their freedom when they hope to enlist. About 100 have offered to enlist through Warden Allan and their applications have been forwarded to the proper authorities. Some with short terms to serve are being accommodated.
The extra work produced by the prisoners helps to defray the expense of operating prisons In Canada, which last year totaled $2,641,192, representing $1.96 a convict day. Repairing of furniture for the public works department, production of 1,000,000 pounds of vegetables last year, and other work has helped to cut the prison costs.
