NO GANGSTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 6

NO GANGSTERS

CRIME IN THE DOMINION REDUCED PRISON POPULATION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 18. Outstanding features of the report of the Prisons Department for the year 1935-36, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day, are the references to the continued decline in the Dominion’s prison population and the number committed to prison and the marked improvement in revenue earned through the use f prison labour in a practical system of occupational training The report was submitted by the Controllergeneral, Mr B. L. Dallard. “ It is satisfactory to observe," slates the report, “ that the decline in the number of commitments to prison recorded last year has progressed still further, the total receptions during the year undei review being 370 fewer than in the previous year Since 1931 the decrease in the prison population has been 34 per cent., and the numbers continue to diminish. The daily average number in custody—namely, 1212—is the lowest figure for many years.

“Although the public conscience from time tc time is shocked by reports of some isolated homicidal case or other grave crime, New Zealand is fortunate in having no criminal gangs which prey on the community with ao utter disregard for the sanctity of human life. It can be said that there is no organised crime in the Dominion, and there is no doubt that this can be ascribed to the courts in Now Zealand dealing promptly with any manifestation of a tendency to crimes of violence.”

The report expresses satisfaction that the number of imprisonments for offences against oroperty has continued to diminish, but comments that a less satisfactory feature is a small increase in the number of offences against the person, particularly of a sexual nature.

A table showing the nationality of the prisoners indicates that the decline in the number of New Zealandborn offenders has been steadily maintained. There was a slight increase in the number of Maori offenders, and consideration is recommended of the establishment of a separate training institution “ on somewhat more rigorous lines than the Borstal.” where the younger Maori offenders could be taught efficient farming methods and at the same time be subjected to socialising influences.

The report mentions the incident at Mount Eden prison on Anzac Day, which Is described as “ combined insubordination on the part of a group of prisoners.” Dealing with the Borstal Institutions, the report states that the number committed to Borstal last year was 115 —97 youths and 18 girls—while 38 were transferred from other institutions. Of the total jf 5033 youths who had passed through Invercargill and Waikeria since they were established, only 16 per cent, had been reconvicted, the percentage of girls reconvicted being 11. Only 5.7 p’r cent, of the total of 2158 persons who were received into penal institutions during 1935 had previously been in a Borstal “The general improvement in the economic conditions has been reflected in an improvement in the various industries carried on by the department,” the report, states. “ The revenue for the year from the sale of farm produce, quarry metal and other activities, exclusive of the values of commodities used for domestic consumption, amounted to £69,933, which represented a gross revenue gain of 15 per cent. The diminished number of inmates accounted for a reduction of the expenditure, the net expenditure being the lowest recorded for 10 years.”