comptroller general edmund henderson
western australia s first comptroller general of convicts, edmund henderson, arrived in colony first convicts on board scindian in june 1850. henderson administered western australia s convict establishment thirteen years; battye writes success no doubt due wisdom , tact. primary responsibilities of comptroller general direct convict labour , responsible convict discipline . after henderson s resignation in 1863, william newland appointed successor. newland s arrival closely followed appointment of governor john hampton, had been comptroller general of convicts in van diemen s land. hampton assumed far more direct control of western australia s convict establishment predecessors, , in perpetual disagreement newland. direct consequence, newland retired in 1866, , recalled britain @ expense of imperial government.
while awaiting successor position, governor hampton appointed son, george hampton, act in position. george hampton had no particular qualifications position, , held number of salaried posts. unusually blatant act of nepotism extremely unpopular within colony, both hamptons thereafter being figures of public hostility , ridicule. under george hampton, convict discipline became extremely strict, , escape attempts increased markedly. henry wakeford appointed comptroller general of convicts in 1867, , following year governor hampton s term ended. wakeford reduced size of chain gangs, , system returned had been under henderson.
in 1872 wakeford transferred colonial office, leaving responsibilities of comptroller general s position office s chief clerk, w. b. fauntleroy. fauntleroy confirmed acting comptroller general later year. in december 1877 office of comptroller general abolished, fauntleroy superannuated; duties passed on superintendent, john f. stone, later appointed comptroller of convicts. transfer of fremantle prison colonial government in 1886, role of comptroller replaced of sheriff, responsible of prisons in colony. 1890s, sheriff held post of inspector of prisons. position of comptroller general split off sheriff s office in 1911, following retirement of sheriff octavius burt. in 1971, prisons department renamed department of corrections, restructured, , position of comptroller general replaced director of department.
superintendent
while comptroller, sheriff, or director responsible overall convict or prison system, largely centred around fremantle prison, responsibility of prison lay superintendent. thomas hill dixon first superintendent of convicts, , succeeded henry maxwell lefroy in 1859. both men operated prisoner classification system, until @ least 1865, based on type of convict, conduct , quality of work. when fremantle became colonial prison, there restaffing, , per other colonial prisons, there no attempt @ classification, until end of 19th century. w. a. george superintendent @ time, appointed in 1897 amidst increasing population, prisoners, , escapes. while writers consider george repressive figure, instigated little or no reform except result of royal commission, others take view appointed @ inexpedient time reform, endeavours opposed superiors.
hugh hann appointed superintendent following retirement of george in 1911. hann had prison experience outside western australia, , oversaw period of reform @ fremantle prison, working new labor government , new comptroller general. prisoner self-respect important concept hann, noted in 1912 report our efforts thrown away unless can make them feel not mere brutes, , them hold heads again men. following series of escapes in 1918, hann investigated enquiry, suspended, , charged neglect of duties; though vindicated, poor health ensured retirement. hann succeeded andrew badger, , remained in position until 1933. badger persisted hann s efforts prisoner self-respect, initiatives such entertainment nights, prisoners see films or concert. 1940s, role of superintendent became position filled through internal promotions.
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