PAYMENT OF PRISONERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1920, Page 5

PAYMENT OF PRISONERS.

REGULATIONS ISSUED.

By Te'ejrnipn.—Press Association

Wellington, Last Night. Regulations for the administration of legislation, passed Ivy Parliament last Session, giving power to the Prisons Department to par wages under certain conditions to ' able-bodied prisoners, have been approved by the Governorgeneral.

The main principles of tlio new legislation are the payment of liard-iverrkinw prisoners for their labor, and to pro* vide for the maintenance of their dependants. The scheme marks a further advance in the work of tlio Prisons Department, which in recent rears has been remodelled for the bringing into operation of modern reformative methods in the treatment of prisoners. Persons undergoing sentences of imprisonment, including those sentenced to reformative detention, or declared habitual criminals or habitual offenders, Will be paid for their labor at scale rate, assessed under Hit, marks system at Id. Men who are skilled In any trade or occupation upon reception, or Who afterwards become so skilled, may be paid at tlio rate of IJd per mark When employed at such trade or occupation, upon a recommendation to that effect being made by the controlling officer to the Controller-General.

During the first calendar month after passing out of the probationary- grade, every prisoner shall be allotted six marks per diem for each day upon which his industry is exomplarv and his conduct good. The number'may rise gradually to a maximum of nine marks per day. Prisoners who have dependants shall be paid, in addition to the industry and conduct wage, a daily wage, which wiil bo used as the Minister directs for the support of dependants. The wage will bo from 1/- to 1/3 per mark, with some payment for overtime.