PRISONS REPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 263, 20 August 1930, Page 2

PRISONS REPORT

DECREASING NUMBERS. ENCOURAGING INDUSTRY. (Special to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, August 18. . Two satisfactory features are evident in the annual report on New Zealand prisons—that the prison population is industrious and that it is decreasing. Notwithstanding the depressed industrial and economic conditions, which undoubtedly have a marked influence on the amount of crime, the slight downward trend noticed during the past few years has been maintained. The daily average in custody throughout the year was 1438 and the ratio to population was 30.68 compared with 34.15 in 1925. It is also noted that, over the past seventeen years, during which period 1 the Prisons Board has been functioning, 79 per cent, of all persons sentenced to terms of reformative detention or hard labour and released on the recommendation of the Board, have not lapsed subsequently, thereby showing the beneficial effect of disciplinary treatment for substantial terms'; whereas with short sentences it is not unusual for the same person to be committed several times a year. Although the total number of new receptions for the year was 4357, this represents only 2596 distinct persons, .ixRevenue from the prison industries as a whole, notwithstanding the unfavourable economic conditions and depressed prices for primary produce, was the maximum yet earned in any one year. Owing to vigorous prosecution of the industries, together with the farm development programme of recent years which is now coming into fruition, the year has shown a greatly improved cash surplus. Within the industries the total cash receipts, including institutional items, amounted to £83,806, approximately £IO,OOO in excess of the preceding year s. The principal contributions to this revenue are from the following sources:— Farms and garden products £21,642, quarries £29,898, road works and contracts £17,781, bootmaking £4288, mail-bag repairs and tailoring £2386, miscellaneous industries £4279. The actual revenue earned by the Department does not by any means indicate the total value of the production. The clothing, feeding and housing of the inmates comprises a substantial production in addition to the production which leaves the prison. A heavier exDenditure from the pubho account would be involved were the Department not producing its own requirements. In this respect a conservative estimate of the value of prison labour is £111,071; and, if the capital invested is charged with interest, etc., on commercial lines, it is found that the direct • cost to the taxpayer would be £62 annually per prisoner, though some of the charges are not actually paid from Consolidated revenue.