COST OF TREE-PLANTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15306, 20 May 1913, Page 8

COST OF TREE-PLANTING.

PRISON LABOUR EXPENSIVE.

[BY telegraph.— ASSOCIATION'.] ' Wellington, Monday. In the course of his evidence before the Forestry Commission to-day, Mr. Jordan (Under-Secretary for Justice) stated that the employment of prison labour by the Department had been satisfactory. It seemed to be the only thing that had any reformative influence whatever on prisoners. Some prisoners did not like the camp, and had asked to be taken back to gaol. They found they had to work too hard, and wanted to be back in towns, where they could hear the latest news. It. had to be remembered that the cost of prisoners in camps was almost double that of the average gaols. The Justice Department was not allowed anything for the work of the prisoners. The Hanmer treeplanting camp was least useful of those run by the Department. "It occurred to mo," witness added, "that we might close it up;, in fact, we propose to do so, as far as the Department is concerned."' In reply -to questions, witness said it would be better to have one camp in each island and concentrate on tree-planting by means of prison labour. ) Dr. Hay (Inspector of Mental Hospitals and Prisons) quoted figures showing that in 1911 the cost of planting 1000 trees, including clearing the ground and digging pits, was £1 5s at Waiotapu, £2 6s at Hanmer, and £1 19s at Waipa.