PRISONERS AND PLANTING.

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1913, Page 5

PRISONERS AND PLANTING.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 4

A table, attached to the year's report on afforestation operations, shows that during the past year 15.20 prisoners were employed at the Waiotapu plantation, the total value of their work amounting for the year to £ 1198, or an average of £78 17s per man. The previous year the number of prisoners employed was 17.04, the value of the work was £1750, and the average per man £102 14s, while in 1910-1 i there were 23.45 men, who did work valued at £2300, or £101 18s per man. At Whakarewarewa plantation last year 9.51 prisoners were employed on an average, the value of work being £931, or £97 18s per man, while the previous year the figures were 11.16 men, £934 total value, and £83 15s per man.

Since 1900, when prison labour was started at these plantations, a total of £25,274 value of work has been done at Waiotapu, working out at an average per man employed of £68 18s, and at Whakarewarewa a total value of £7553, averaging £70 13s per prisoner. After deducting the cost of buildings and supervision, the net value per man per day to the State at the Waiotapu plantation since 1900 has been 4s, and at Whakarewarewa, 3s Bd.

The superintending nurseryman adds the following remark: "The employment of prisoners upon afforestation works has undoubtedly been a success, and it is to be regretted that the number of men thus employed has greatly declined.'