WAGES FOR PRISONERS
EXTENSION OF SYSTEM,
Extensions o flhe wages system for prisoners, whether undergoing reformative treatment, sentences ot hard labour, or declared habitual criminals, have been decided upon by the ..Prisons Department. The Minister m charge of the- Department (Hon. J. 0. Coates) stated yesterday that in 'ho Piisons Eeport and in the Budget it ,was indicated that it was' proposed to (provide tor payments for prisoners, and that por'tiona of these payments would be available for' tho dependants. The regulations at present in force merely, provide that the habitual, criminal and tlw man undergoing reformative treatment shall receive payment tinder the' wages system.. The man sentenced to a term of hard labour receives no more than a gratuity upon discharge. . All prisoners are now to be placed upon the samo footing. They will, receive sis shillings per day as a basis, and after that, by a system of marksaccording to conduct, they will be able to earn a further shilling a day, and still another shilling up to a maximum of eight shillings a day. It is intended that one-halt of these earnings shall bo paid over to the depenclnuts, and one-half retained for maintenance and supervision, it follows that if a man works well it will be possible for his dependants to receive approximately 28s. a week. The new system conies into operation from January 1 next. When it is shown that the prisoner had dependants he will commence to be paid.wages after tho first three months of tho sentence have l«en served, the minimum- of six shillings, a day at tho outset. If the reports of the officer in charge of the man are natisfactory tho further shilling will he paid after ono month, and a further- mouth of iwlisfactory results will enable him to receive tho maximum. Overtime, where necessary. 6hall bo paid at the rate of one shilling an hour. Competent tradesmen will he .paid an additional two shillings a day, and the 6ajne addition will bo mado to men who nro carrying out work of special value to the Department. « ( Tho recommendations upon which tho new svstem is based conclude by the Blatamont that as all classes of prisoners with dependants arc being placed \ipsm .Mi equality, it will, •therefore, bo impossible to deny .to hard labour prisoners without dependants equality of treatment with' Iho other offenders !n the same category. .
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 8
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398WAGES FOR PRISONERS Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 8
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