PRISONS REPORT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 899, 19 August 1910, Page 2

PRISONS REPORT.

9 -.-_, A TRANSITION RECORD. _ THE NEW REFORM SCHEME. The annual report on tho prisons of New Zealand, which was presented to Parliament yesterday, indicates that the present is a transition period in prison methods, the new proposals of tho Minister for Justice for penological reform being . gradually introduced. ,

'Inhere was a slight increase in the number of prisoners received during the year, but not nioro than might bo expected from the' natural increase of population. 'The number of prisoners received who had been previously convicted shows that it is necessary to pay more attention to the reformative side of our prison system.

At the commencement of last year there were 823 males and 5G females undergoing detention in the various gaols of tho Dominion, while at the closo of the year there were 882 males and G8 females—an increase of 59 males and 12 females. .During last year GO2O males and 610 females passed through the different, prisons, as against r>S73 males and 554 females in the previous year—an increase' of 183 males and 62 females. Theso numbers represent only 5588 separate prisoners (5160 males and, 428- females), each occasion on which a prisoner is received being counted; and of the above totals 451 males .and 61 females were received twice, 112 males and 17 females three tiuino, 35 males and 11 females four times, 7, inales and 7 females five times, i males and six times, 3 males and 2 females seven times, and 2 males eight times. During the year 1009 the daily average of prisoners in the different gaols of the Dominion was .484.45 male 3 and 61.1 females—an increase on the previous year of 65.41 males and a decrease of 7.79 females.

Out of a total number of 6020. males and 616 females received during the year, 28 males were of superior education, 4855 males and 333 females were able to read and' write, 61 males and 7 females could read only, while. 23(1 males and 22 females could neither read nor writ'!.' At the Reformatory Prison at New Plymouth, where the habitual criminals are detained,, there' were 3 males and 1 female in custody .at the beginning of the year. During tho year 16 males and 3 fcniaies were received, and 4 males discharged, leaving 15 males and i females in custody there at tho close of the year. Under tho I'irst Offenders' Probation Act SO persons were- placed on probation, ns against 133 in 1908. Of the 2193 persons placed on probation since tho passing of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1886, 1862 have been discharged after properly carrying out the conditions of their licenses, 131 have been rearrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, 53 absconded, 2 were permitted to'leave the Dominion, 1 committed suicide, i died, and HO still remain under tho supervision of the Probation Officers. '

The system of utilising prison labour for tree-planting has now passed beyond the experimental stage. Many of' the tree-planters ,do not come back -again, while the result of their work is seen in the gradual change that is coming over the faco of the country in which their operations are carried on. At the three camps over three and a half million trees were planted during last year, in addition to the general work of preparing the ■ground, digging pits, new buildings, and additions and alterations.

At Wellington'the bulk of the prisoners are engaged in brick-making at Mount Cook, and on, the defence works at Point Halswell. They have also carried out a number of.improvements in the gaol, and to the residences attached thereto., Great .improvements are being effected in. the lighting aud'ventilating of the cells.' The quarters occupied by tho single officers, have been, remodelled, provided .with a comfortable dormitory and a suitable mess-room;.and necessary alterations have been made in some of the cottages occupied by married officers. All the works were parried, out by prison labour.'- There were in custody at.Wellington on January 1, 1009, .156 males and 10 females. ..The number of .prisoners, received.during"tli'e year .was 1057 males and 109 females, which numbers represent 806 . males and 104 females "individually. .'Discharges duriny the year numbered "1037 males and 180 females;'.leaving in custody at .the end of the year 176 males and 23 females

•-total, 199; : the' daily average-.being 157.17 males and 10.42 females.' Three prisoners' received indeterminate sentences during,'the year. ' Thero were 9 males and 1 female, on the Probation Register at Wellington at the beginning of tho year. Ten males were admitted to prpbation during the year. Three males and 1 female were received on transfer from other districts. Seven males and 1 female were discharged from probation, ; having completed their, term; 6 -males were transferred to other dis-. tricts;.3 males failed to comply .with the conditions of their probation, and wero sentenced to terms of imprisonment; : 1 male received . permission to. leave the Dominion; leaving 5 males, and 1 female on the register at the end of the year.