PRISONERS' WAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 65, 17 March 1928, Page 10

PRISONERS' WAGES.

POSITION OF DEPENDENTS.

DEPARTMENTS FAVOURABLE REPORT.

ACTION BY JUSTICES' ASSOCIATION

"The question of crediting prisoners' with wages for the maintenance of dependents in necessitous circumstances has a definite relation to the profitable utilisation of prison labour. This matter has received careful attention during the past year, but recommendation for an extension of privileges has been, deferred on account of the urgent necessity for economy and the limited amount of funds available-. The general question of making payments to dependents has been the subject of exhaustive inquiry in other countries. New Zealand is one of the few places where grants are paid to dependents. ... It is superfluous to enlarge on the need of dependents, their plight is often most distressing. . . ." The foregoing extract is taken from the annual report of the Prison Department presented to Parliament last session. It is commented upon by Mr. I. Salek, hon. registrar of the Federation of New Zealand Justices' Association, in a report to be presented by him to the annual conference to be held in Auckland this month. The report is the outcome of a discussion at last'year's conference dealing with the payment to prisoners' dependents from the actual time of imprisonment. Mr. Salek's report is as follows:—'"The existing regulations provide for a probationary period of three months, during which a prisoner is not credited with wages. It is suggested that in some cases this interval results in a hardship to dependents, and it has been proposed that at least in the eases of prisoners sentenced to a longei period than three months, the wages should begin to accrue as from the date of the commencement of the sentence. The crediting of wages is not automatic even at the end of three months, but is contingent on good conduct and industry. During the first month on wages a prisoner may earn for his de pendents the sum of 16/6 per week During the second and third months h< is eligible to earn at a weekly rate oi 10/3 and 22/ respectively. "The Prisons Department is sympa tlietic in regard to an improvement o the position so far as dependents an concerned, but unfortunately owing t< financial considerations, the matter ha: had to be deterred for the time being The difficulties with which the Depart ment has to contend are summed up ii a statement in the annua] report pre sented to Parliament last year. .. ."