JUSTIFICATION FOR WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

JUSTIFICATION FOR WORK

INMATES OF COUNTRY’S PRISONS. OUTLETS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Sept. 7. Justification on moral, physical and financial grounds for keeping gaol inmates employed on useful work is contained in the annual report of the Prisons Department presented to the House of Representatives to-day. The. report stated that 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 £2400 for last year, the total being £54,823. Contributory factors were the increase in wool prices and a slight fillip to the quarry industry. “During periods of depression and unemployment, with resulting keen competition, there is a very natural demand for all State activities in business to be curtailed,” says the report. “For the past four years this has been specially demanded of prisons- administration and it stands out in marked contrast with the policy pursued in other countries. . “The moral and physical benefits of keeping prisoners in useful employment is universally recognised and cannot be too strongL . defended. It follows that if prisoners are to be usefully employed the products of their labour must be afforded some outlet, and the avenue likely to prove the least irksome is to confine this largely to the supply of departmental requirements. As the Government pays a considerable sum by way of earnings foi- the maintenance of the dependents of prisoners this alone to a large degree justified this course.” The report points out that previously the annual cost of tobacco, exclusive of