USEFUL WORK IN GAOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21819, 7 September 1934, Page 11

USEFUL WORK IN GAOLS

MORAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 6. Justification on moral, physical, and financial grounds for keeping the gaol inmates employed on useful work is contained in the annual report of the Prisons Department, presented to the House. The total proceeds from all forms of activity in prisons and Borstal institutions dropped steadily from £83,306 in the peak year of 1929-30 to £52,412 in 1932-33,. but there was an increase of approximately £2,400 for last y ear, the total being £54,823. Contributory factors were the increase in wool prices, and ai slight fillip to the quarry ' industry. . “ During periods of depression and unemployment, with resulting, been competition, there is a. very natural demand that all State activities in business shall be curtailed,” says the report. “ For the past four years this has been specially demanded for the prisons’ administration. It stands out in marked contrast with the policy pursued in other countries. The moral and physical benefits of keeping prisoners in useful employment are universally recognised, and cannot be too strongly defended. It follows that if prisoner's are to he usefully employed, the products of their labour must be afforded some outlet, and the avenue likely to prove least irksome is to confine this largely to the supply of departmental requirements. As the Government pays a considerable sum by way of earnings for the maintenance of the dependents or prisoners, this alone, to a large degree, justified this course.” The report points out that, previously, the annual cost of tobacco (exclu-sive-of Excise and Customs duties) was £1,250, but as a result of and manufacturing tobacco at Mount Eden, instead of there being a charge against the vote for tobacco supplied to prison inmates, last year the department was actually in credit on the sale of its surplus leaf. _ .