Admissions to Houses of Refuge.
| Year. | Number of Admissions. | Mean Number of Inmates. | |||||||
| Male. | Female. | Total. | |||||||
| 1892 | 6,139 | 775 | 6,914 | 2,043 | |||||
| 1893 | 4,411 | 942 | 5,353 | 2,145 | |||||
| 1894 | 4,593 | 519 | 5,112 | 2,902 | |||||
| 1895 | 4,559 | 414 | 4,973 | 2,766 | |||||
| 1896 | 3,805 | 360 | 4,165 | 2,314 | |||||
| 1897 | 3,745 | 323 | 4,068 | 1,876 | |||||
| 1898 | 3,770 | 343 | 4,113 | 1,983 | |||||
| 1899 | 3,398 | 258 | 3,656 | 1,823 | |||||
| 1900 | 3,586 | 266 | 3,852 | 1,691 | |||||
| 1901 | 4,174 | 261 | 4,435 | 1,761 | |||||
| 1902 | 4,389 | 252 | 4,614 | 1,876 | |||||
| 1903 | 3,428 | 278 | 3,706 | 1,733 | |||||
| 1904 | 3,546 | 221 | 3,767 | 1,620 | |||||
| 1905 | 3,057 | 194 | 3,252 | 1,352 | |||||
| 1904 | 2,505 | 184 | 2,289 | 1,176 | |||||
The Labour Colony of Merxplas is unique as a centralised State reformatory for loafers, and, owing to its large extent, the excellence of its arrangements, and not least, the rational principles upon which it is administered, it fully deserves the study and the praise which have been bestowed upon it by foreign observers. On the whole, it would seem to correspond more nearly than any other Continental institution for forced labour to the special needs of this country.
The buildings of Merxplas are grouped together in convenient positions, and are of a very substantial kind. The principal blocks contain the offices, the several classes of dormitories, the workshops, the stores, the exercise wings, the dining hall, the church, the hospital, the prison, and the barracks, for a small guard of 150 men is stationed on the premises for cases of emergency. Well-made roads intersect the grounds in various directions, and there is a large amount of open space.
The inmates of Merxplas are divided into six classes: (1) Men sentenced for offences against morality and for arson; (2) men sentenced to Colony life as a sequel to a term of imprisonment of less than one year, and men whose past history shows them to be dangerous to the community; (3) habitual vagabonds, mendicants, inebriates, and men generally unable to support themselves; (4) men under twenty-one years of age; (5) infirm and incurable persons; and (6) first offenders. In December, 1907, the inmates were divided amongst these classes in the following proportions: (1) 169; (2) 328; (3) 3,033; (4) 20; (5) 1,425; (6) 40; total, 5,015.
The men in Classes (1) and (2) are detained in special quarters, and under special supervision, and work apart from the rest, with whom they have no intercourse whatever, being, in fact, treated as criminals. The only difference between Classes (3) and (4) in regard to treatment is that the younger men are kept separate from the older, and that a portion of their time is devoted to school. The infirm in Class (5) are able to do light work, while the incurables do none. Class (6) explains itself. All the offenders, except those in Class (5), are allowed to earn wages on the scale applying to their employment; those in Class (6) are given canteen money of 3 centimes per day for the purchase of small luxuries. As has been explained, the minimum sentence of detention is two years, but owing to the exercise of the Minister's prerogative of pardon, the average term of confinement is about sixteen months.
The small staff of eighty warders (with the military guard to fall back upon), under a chief director and two deputy directors, is found sufficient to control the movements of this great army of "irregulars"; in addition, there are one doctor, two priests, five teachers, nineteen clerks, one manufacturing manager, and six sisters of mercy. Many reliable men are, however, chosen from the ranks of the prisoners to assist in the superintendence of work.
The offenders dealt with during the seven years 1902 to 1908 were as follows:—
Merxplas Beggars' Depot (Men).