London Apprentices.

Manawatu Herald, 22 March 1894, Page 2

London Apprentices.

It will be a revelation to many person-*, said the Ceutral News, on the 20.h ultimo, to bear that the pram ice of punishing unruly apprentices in the City of London by various terms of imprisonment, without br?ing bt ought publicly before a police magistrate, is still earned into effect. The power of ordering such punishment ia vested in the City Chamber* lain, and the offences for whioh the apprentices are punished are absence, coming late of a morning, idleness, and insubordination. At the present m rnienG onu < f the apprentices of M<?«srs Spottiew.iode, toe well known piinteis, is undergoing a sentence of twenty -one days' solitary confine* ent in lirid.nvell, and another lad, also a printer's apprentice, was . esterday released after serving a term of sevt-n days. The lads are uoiifin -<1 in the cells of the old prison in Ni-w Bridge Street, and a c not permitted to leave the building on any account during their term of confinement. The only exercise they are a lowed is taken on the premises, and consists of walking up and down the corridor for periods! of hull an hour or twenty minutes bet>>re and after the large doors are opened. In the cells the lads are permitted to read, but this is the only ~ recreation allowed. Their dint is the samp as in ordinary prison*, and co isists of bread, potatoes, •• -r.il.-y," h»t coff-e and witei'. D.iring ih-ir coufiuement. the apprenticrfs are visited every day by the chaplain and warder, and parents who may be desirous otM seeing their 8 >ns are also admitted.* With these exceptions the lads see no persons whatever during their iDCftiWftt'On.

From a photograph by Billens & Bunting, Palmeraton K.