NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17493, 29 August 1928, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

ANNUAL REPORT. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Although with 4 664 committals, there was a slight increase last year in the number of receptions into the prisons and institutions controlled by the Prisons Department,, it is satisfactory to note that there has been a small decrease in the number of distinct persons received as compared with the two previous years, says the annual report of the Prisons Department, presented to Parliament to-day. The number of persons received last year was 2711, equal to 18.84 per 10.000 of population, compared with 2755 in 1926 and 2890 in 1925. The report says it is satisfactory to observe that, the prison population is not. increasing. The majority of the 225 committals of persons under Hie age of 20 were in respect of offenders against property, 130 being for theft and deceit. Of these young offenders 199 were New Zealand born. Of .the number of distinct persons committed just under 58 per cent, were New Zealand born, and as the ratio of New Zealand born to the total of the population is 65 per cent, it. follows that crime is slightly lower among the New Zealand horn than among the remainder of the population. As regards New Zealand horn adolescents the general position as shown by the prison statistics does not give, ground for undue alarm, for a very large percentage of the committals was in respect of fairly venial offences. Satisfactory' work at Hie Borstal institutions is noted. The report says the attention devoted to the economic side has given rise to the suggestion that the department is commercialising prison labour, but it is fairly obvious that the social and the economic activities are interdependent. Both are essential in any reasonably balanced scheme of reformative treatment. The. useful and "productive employment of prisoners aids a prisoner’s ultimate fitness to resume his place in the community, while it keeps down the burden on the taxpayer. But in no case is the Welfare of the prisoner subordinated entirely to economic considerations.