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THE PRISONS SYSTEM

INCREASE IN GAOL POPULATION

The number of person* received into the prisons and prison institutions of the Dominion during the year ended 31it December last, according to the annual report of the Department, presented to Parliament, was 3966, as compared with 3957 in 1923 and 3830 in 1922. The daily average ol prisoners in custody in the whole of the prison institutions during the y6ar was 1196.49, as against 1127.47, an increase of 69.02.

The report comments that although these figures indicate an increase in the prisons population, it is satisfactory to find that the proportion of offenders to the Dominion's total population chows little or no increase. Last year there were fewer offenders ander the age of 20 years than in 1923 or 1922, but as a set-off there was • marked increase in the number of offenders over ths age of 40 yeara. It is difficult to account for the increase in older offenders, and more particularly as a large proportion of them had not previously been convicted of any offence. ."There has been little movement in the criminal population during the past year calling for special comment," the report states, "but it is evident that crime in proportion to population is not increasing."

The gross expenditure for the financial year under review amounted to £144,484, as against £131,609 for the preceding year. This was mainly due to increases in officers' salaries consequent upon the regrading in the Public Service. Th« receipts for the year again constitute a record, being £14,940 in excess of the highest revenue obtained during any previous year. The receipts are derived from the results of prison labour.

The policy initiated by th» present Government a few years ago of bringing in pumice lands which were formerly considered of little or no value and rendering such lands productive by the utilisation of prison labour has now passed the experimental stage, and it is stated that the results fully demonstrate that such lands, if properly handled, can be made commercially valuable. The first block of 680 acres is now- almost ready for disposal, and arrangements are ' being made for the sale of this first farm. It is intended to press on more expeditiously with the work of bringing in further areas and making them ready for t intending settlers by commencing operations on three additional farm areas, and it is hoped by this means that the Department will be in a position to hand over ready for settlement at least two additional farms of from 400 to 600 acres each every year. Commenting on the after-care of prisoners, the Controller-General expresses the opinion that in the case of • young female offenders it ia really necessary to provide a home or hostel for them to go to on discharge, and that this would save quite a number from again lapsing into crime. The men were well provided for, and were quite capable of looking after themselves. The health of prisoners who were received in a fit condition physically invariably continued satisfactory.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250827.2.111

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 9

Word Count
507

THE PRISONS SYSTEM Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 9

THE PRISONS SYSTEM Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 9