'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎82r] (168/470)

2. Establishment, (i) Jailor and one B.O.R. assistant.
Sergt. G. A. Richmond, M.F.P., who has professional knowledge of his work,
has been invaluable. His keenness and ability are responsible for the good work,
discipline and sanitation of the prison. His powers with the “ cat ” are appreciated.
Corpl. Gibson as assistant jailor was found unsuitable and was returned to
Baghdad on 13th September, 1918; his place being taken by Pte. McMahon. The
total staff consists of the jailor, his assistant, and an Arab kawas.
(ii) Shabanah Guard. —The guard consists of two N.C.O.s and fifteen men, from
which a minimum jail guard of one N.C.O. and nine men must always be present.
Escorts for prisoners sent for trial are found from the guard. An escort of one
N.C.O. and five men report twice daily for the working party.
The sentries are placed one on the roof, one in the yard, and one at the main
gate. Two of them are doubled by night. An electric light lights up the entire
roof at night.
3. Prisoners. —The number has varied between 41 and 70. There have been
no escapes up to date.
(i) Diet. —This is based on the Baghdad scale of diet. Meal hours are :—
Morning - - - - - - 6 a.m.
Midday - - - - - - 12 noon.
Evening - - - - - - 6 p.m.
Four prisoners cook.
For the four months, June-September, the number of prisoners fed reached
a total of 7,278 ; these were fed at a cost of Rs. 2,794/10/-, including the cost of
firewood.
The average cost works out per head per diem at 6 to 14 annas.
(ii) Work .—During these four months Rs. 1,459/- were earned by prison
labour, the Irrigation Department employing them at 8 annas each for a 9-hour
day’s work under supervision. Two or three are employed as carpenters and have
turned out satisfactory worktables, chairs, &c.
(iii) Discipline .—This has been good considering the small staff both inside the
jail and outside at work. For breaches of discipline the following punishments
have been awarded :—
Insubordination
Refusing to work
Interference
Attempted bribery -
7 prisoners 5 lashes each.
2 „ 20
1 „ 15
1 „ 7 days’ s.c.
4. Sanitation .—The prison is very clean and the cells are jussed. There has
been no outbreak of disease, except for influenza, and the health of prisoners has been
generally good. There has been no death in prison.
The S.A.S. of the Civil Hospital visits every two days and British M.O. once
a week.
(i) Latrines .—These are necessarily within the prison and the refuse is disposed
of in a domed incinerator 100 yards outside.
(ii) Inoculation is being arranged for.
Excise .—The only exciseable article is ‘araq. On the expiry of the 1917
contract, an auction was held in March, and the farm of the araq monopoly for
Hillah, Hindiyah, Diwaniyah, and Musaiyib was granted for six months at Rs. 2,000/-
per month. In September a new contract for manufacture and wholesale vending
was given for the same area at Rs. 40,000/— for one year.
There are six shops in Hillah town, but none in the district. Four of these
are restaurants, the others sell liquor for consumption on the premises. In the
early part of the year the licence fees for shops were fixed at Rs. 75/- per six months,
though as the shops were not open for the whole period the fee was reduced.
Under the present contract the fees are Rs. 125/- for six months. Fees are calculated
on the principle that each shop pays a fixed fee of Rs. 50/- for the six months plus
5 per cent, per month of the annual rental, with a minimum of Rs. 125/- for a
licence. The rates are low, and the question of raising them is under consideration.
Auctions have hitherto been conducted simultaneously in all the districts
concerned, as well as in Baghdad—an obviously unsatisfactory arrangement. The
best method would be to advertise the auction wherever bidders might be found
and hold it in the presence of an A.P.O. at an appointed place on a fixed day.