2638

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 65

277. The Controlling Officer shall withhold his authority if he considers that the visit is inconsistent with the security or discipline of the prison, or has reason to believe that the person applying for permission is of bad character. Under the same circumstances he may refuse to admit a person having an order under Regulation No. 276, but shall in such case immediately refer his decision and the reasons therefor to the Controller-General, and shall await instructions.

278. The Controlling Officer shall require the name and address of all visitors to prisoners to be given, and if he has any ground for suspicion may search, or cause to be searched, any male visitor, and direct a female officer to search any female visitor; but such searching shall not take place in the presence of any prisoner or other visitor, nor, in the case of a female visitor, in the presence of any male officer; and a note with all particulars as to the result of the search shall be entered in the Controlling Officer's Journal.

279. Not more than three persons shall be allowed to visit a prisoner at any one time, unless under special circumstances.

280. The officer present at a visit shall carefully supervise such visit, and if circumstances arise affording him a reason for believing that the visit is inconsistent with the security or discipline of the prison, or is of a frivolous character, he shall immediately bring the visit to a close and report the visitor or visitors to the Controlling Officer before they leave the prison.

281. Notwithstanding anything in the regulations to the contrary, the Controlling Officer may grant special permission to a prisoner to see his friends at any time during working-hours, provided that the circumstances are pressing and urgent and admit of no delay.

282. No visit shall be allowed on Sunday except in cases of emergency.

283. Alterations regarding the rules for visits may be made from time to time by general order.

Issue of Books and Magazines.

284. All well-conducted prisoners shall be entitled to receive such number of books and magazines from the prison library as the Controlling Officer may consider reasonable. Prisoners are to be encouraged to read books of educational value.

285. No prisoner undergoing punishment is to be deprived of his Bible and prayer-books, or any book that appertains to the religion or sect to which he belongs.

Drill.

286. In prisons where instruction in drill is given, all prisoners, unless certified unfit by the Medical Officer, or exempted by the Controlling Officer, shall be required to attend and perform the drills.

Schools and Instruction.

287. Provision shall be made wherever possible for the instruction of prisoners in reading, writing, and arithmetic, in other than the prescribed hours of labour; and every assistance by means of instruction-books, slates, &c., shall be given to prisoners anxious to advance their education.

288. In prisons where a schoolmaster is appointed, attendance at schools shall be compulsory in the case of all prisoners whose standard of education is deemed to be insufficient.

289. It shall be the schoolmaster's duty to instruct the prisoners committed to his charge in such subjects as shall be determined by the Controller-General.

290. The senior schoolmaster shall forward once monthly a report on the progress of the prison school to the Controller-General through the Controlling Officer.

Religious Instruction.

291. Such ministers of the several religious denominations as may be authorized by the Controller-General shall be allowed to attend prisons and hold Divine service therein, and to interview prisoners who are members of their respective denominations at convenient times and hours.

292. They shall enter the date and hour of each such visit in the Visiting-book, and the number of prisoners attending each service.

293. They must not carry letters to and from the friends or relations of prisoners.

294. They shall be required to conform to the rules of the prison so far as those rules concern them.

295. Prisoners shall attend Divine service of the denomination to which they belong at the appointed times, and shall behave themselves with the greatest propriety.

296. The denomination of each prisoner is to be determined by his voluntary statement upon his reception into the prison. If any prisoner desires to change his religious denomination he may make application, setting out his reasons for desiring to make the change, to the Controlling Officer, who shall forthwith forward the application, with remarks thereon, to the Controller-General for decision.

297. Sunday must be kept as a day of rest as far as possible.

298. Any prisoner who is a Jew may be employed on any necessary duty on a Sunday, but at the discretion of the Controlling Officer he may be exempted from hard labour on his Sabbath or on any of the following sacred festivals, viz.: The New Year Festival, two days; Day of Atonement, one day; Festival of Tabernacles, four days; Passover, four days; Pentecost, two days. The dates of these festivals shall be communicated annually to the Controlling Officer by the Controller-General. Jewish prisoners receiving these holidays may in lieu thereof be required to work on ordinary prison holidays.

299. Each prisoner who can read shall be furnished with the religious books of the denomination to which he belongs.