Industry And Agriculture At Christchurch Prison

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 18

Industry And Agriculture At Christchurch Prison

Productive end highly organised industries have been developed within the last eight yean at the Papartia, Rolloaton and Addington prisons—known collectively as the Christchurch Prison—according to an article in “Public Service," the journal of the Public Service Commfosion,

"Previously, with an Inmate population of under 10ft, employment was not a big problem and the few minor industries could be controlled by versatile prison officers. During recent yean, however, the population has trebled and new industries have been set up," says the Mticto*

"To obtain the best returns both in production and in the training of inmates, skilled tradesmen have been* recruited to take charge of the industries. AU prisoners thus have the opportunity of receiving training under experienced instructors end, it they take advantage of the encouragement available,' can become, on release, self-support-ing members of the community. "Farming is a major prison industry. The farm at Paparua covers about 1700 acres and, under the supervision of a capable farm manager, both pastoral and agricultural activities are carried out using modern farming methods.

"As most of the home form consists of light Stony soil, the remaining area of good soil is intensively cultivated. At least 40 acres at potatoes are grown each year to supply both Christchurch Prison and institutions in the North bland. This year, with 150 tons of potatoes available for transfer, a considerable saving in departmental costa will be made. Wheat for the poultry unit and stock food, such as mangolds, barley and turnips, are grown also. Stock Capacity The stock-carrying capacity of the lighter country has been increased by an intensive liming and topdressing programme. In 1956 toe farm carried 1700 sheep. The present flock is 2400. More than £BOOO was realised last year from the sale of wool and fat lamb, and 500 carcases of mutton were transferred to the institution for rations.

“Through judicious culling and the purchase of stud rams, the type of sheep and wool produced has improved so much that Paparua always offers strong competition in the flock sheep sections at Canterbury shows. In 1900 the nucleus of a stpd Corriedata flock was introduced and it M anticipated that in future years Paparua studs will have

the same reputation as the present flock sboep. “Fifty pedigree milking Shorthorn cows supply the prison with milk, the surplus cream being sold to the dairy companies. The herd was registered in 1858 and the younger stocks are regularly successful as show animals. This is reflected in the good selling prices of the yearling bulls. Last year £3OOO was realised from the sale of stock and cream.

“The first pedigree stock on the farm were pigs, introduced in 1063. Before that time some were kept as a supplement to the dairy herd, and disposed of as porkers or stores. Now the registered stock have supplemented the original strain and toe natural increase is disposed of at the weaner stage. During the changeover Berkshire and Tamworths were bred. A third stud of Large Whites was registered in 1969. “In four agricultural and pastoral shows held in 1960. prison stock took 141 and commendations, distributed among pigs (65), cattle (30), sheep (29), and wool (8). These included five supreme champions—one

being a Royal Show Championships—five champions, and four reserve champions. In addition, the shield for the most pointe won in any or all breeds of purebred classes came to the prison farm.

Poultry Fann “Quality and productivity have also been improved in the poultry unit , Up to 1054 a flock of 1000 White Leghorns was kept in outdated houses and runs. Then a modem unit wu designed in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and was built by prison labour. The new buildings house approximately 3600 birds; 1400 in houses and runs and 1100 in battery cage houses. The New Zealand Heavy Breed Poultry Club applied for trial facilities at the institution and unite for SOO birds were completed in 1067. The institution provides the housing and feed and retains the eggs from these.

"The poultry unit covers all phase* of poultry management, commencing with family breeding and progeny testing for increased egg production and resistance to disease. through to management of breeding pens, incubation, and care of young stock, and the different housing and feeding systems used for egg production and disease prevention and cure. The main flocks are Black Australorp*, since these are more immune to disease and better winter layers than White Leghorns. “Again, the quality of the prison strain is recognised, and orders for hatching eggs

and day-old chicks are now so large that some cannot .be filled. After Ms own and other institutions* requirements sure satisfied, surplus eggs are distributed to various Government departments, such astha Mental Health Division of the Health Department, or to the egg floor. Gross receipts from the poultry unit for IMO-fil were approximately CHOO. Increase In Inmates "With the numbers of inmates steadily increasing, it became obvious that the institution garden would have to bo enlarged. At the same time, equipment was modernised, and by the use of tractors, implements, and an oscillating spray line, • variety of vegetables are now available over the year. A glasshouse is being built so that seedlings can be raised without interference from the normal climatic conditlona. “Conglomerate quarried from the pit face at Paparus provides another Industry This river deposit is loaded by a mechanical shovel into skips, which are pushed by inmates to a hopper, and then conveyed by endless belt to the top of the plant where it is washed, vibrated, and screened into two divisions. ’Hie washed material under tin Is retained as sand, silt. and premix shingle, whilst that over tin is crushed into reading products. “As a subsidiary to the quarry, a small postmaking industry is operated, primarily to supply the farm with fencing posts and strainers, but sales of the varied products, building and keroing blocks, paling fence posts and so on, are made to private customers. The most recent industry followed the conversion of the old Army detention centre at Rolleston to a prison. To find work for the short-term inmates there, a tailoring industry was begun. Most of the work handled is for the Health Department, although contracts for other departments have been undertaken. "The total cash return from industries is a sizeable offset against the cost of maintaining the institution; more important, perhaps, is their rehabilitation value in equipping inmates with trade knowledge and skills which will facilitate their rapid assimilation within the community after release.**