FUTURE OF PRISON FARMS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22491, 27 August 1938, Page 18

FUTURE OF PRISON FARMS

SMALL NUMBER OF MEN RESTRICTS WORK

rFrom Our Parliamentary Rt»poru«r.J WELLINGTON, August 26. The future development-of prison farms as areas for settlement was tho subject of discussion during the consideration of the estimates of the Department of Justice und Prisons in the House of Representatives today. The matter was raised by the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata (National, Eastern Maori), who said that native land development schemes were proceeding in areas where prison camps were situated. He asked what was to be the future policy about the land now being farmed at the camps.

"I do not know whether there are any special plans for the future," said the Minister for Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason). "The land is being brought in, of course, and the ultimate objective is that it should be available for settlement. However, owing to the diminution in the number of prisoners, the progress of development is very slow. The number of prisoners in the camps is hai'dly more than sufficient for routine farming operations."

The Minister added that the number of prisoners in the Dominion was as low as it had been for a quarter of a century. The reduction in the prison population was also affecting the activities of-the department in quarrying and market gardening.