TIGHTER REGULATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 36, 12 February 1944, Page 3

TIGHTER REGULATIONS

DEALING WITH ESCAPEES FROM DETENTION PRISON FOR DURATION OF THE WAR. (P.A.) Wellington, Feb. 11. Amendments to the National Service Emergency Regulations now gazetted are mainly for the purpose of assisting the administration dealing with escapes from detention camps. Explaining the new provisions, Mi. Mason, Minister in Charge of defaulters in detention, stated that there haa been a number of escapes from the camps of late, and it had been deemed advisable to strengthen the existing regulations for the purpose of coping with the position. In the first place, stated the Minister, it may be said that a majority of the men undergoing detention for failure to meet military obligations were complying with the rules laid down for their detention, and were carrying out the work allotted them. There were some, however, whe were not so amenable and the regulations were intended as deterrants foi them and others who might assist them. It was not practicable, or justifiable, due to the manpower position, to employ large numbers of guards and overseers in custody of defaulters, and, consequently, those who were not prepared to accept the conditions under which they were detained might resort to escape in a belief that, on recapture. the courts might only impose a nominal -penalty of a short term of imprisonment, thus making the prospect of a period of liberty attractive. The amending provisions would not only empower courts to transfer a defaulter to a prison for the duration of the war, on the ground that he had escaped, or repeated an attempt to escape, but that the time lost from his detention during such escape must be made up after the termination of the war. It also now becomes an offence under the amended regulations for any person to procure, or persuade, or assist any defaulter to escape, or to aid, conceal, or harbour him after he has escaped. Similarly, under these provisions an employer must not em?loy, or retain in his service, any deaulter who has escaped from detention, or is absent without leave. A further amendment declares that no person shall withhold from the Director of National Service, or any police constable, any information m his possession which may be of use in enabling any defaulter who has escaped to be found. Other new amendments render a defaulter who commits an act of violence in detention camps Hable to be transferred to a prison for the duration ol the war, and, in the case of escapees, give powers of arrest to detention o-fh-cials. There is a provision for the transfer to a prison hospital, on the report of a medical board or registered practitioner, of any defaulter requiring medical observation, or treatment which cannot conveniently be carried out or given in the detention camp. The detention system, said Mr. Mason, had been developed to ensure reasonable conditions so long as the men being detained are prepared to comply with the rules and perform the necessary work. Und-er existing provisions. and so long as they remain in force, these men are deprived of their freedom for refusing to fulfil obligations under the National Service Emergency Regulations. If, following this delinquency, they refuse to fall in with the established system of detention, or seek a way of escape, there will be no alternative but to have recourse to these additional provisions.