DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, PRISONS BRANCH (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1915; ALSO OPERATION OF THE FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1915.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1916 Session I, H-20

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1916. N EW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, PRISONS BRANCH (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1915; ALSO OPERATION OF THE FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1915.

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Under-Secretary, Departmenl of Justice, to the Hon. Minister of Justice. Department of Justice, Wellington, 10th May, 1916. 1 HAVE the honour to present the report of the Inspector of Prisons for the year ended 31st December lust, together with extracts from the Gaolers' reports and the annual prison statistics. C. B. Jordan.

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PRISONS. Six, — Office of the Inspector of Prisons, Wellington, ls( May, 1916, The thirty-lil'th annual report on the prisons of the Dominion is submitted during the second year of the Great War, and, like its predecessor, will consist mainly of a brief review of the past year's work and the presentation of the statistics relating to crime and criminals. The whole of the prisoifs have been frequently and carefully inspected during the year, and the discipline of officers and prisoners has been kept up to the requisite standard. The order aiid cleanliness of all the prison buildings lias been well maintained, and the manner in which this branch of the work has been attended to reflects the greatest credit on the Gaolers and officers concerned. Statistics. The statistics in regard to the prison population ami (he number of offenders under the different heads exhibit the usual fluctuations. From June of 191") until the present date there has been a gradual decrease in the number of committals, but from January to May, 1915, the number was considerably higher than for the corresponding period of 1!)14, consequently the daily average for 1915 shows an increase of 28','U over the figures for 1911. Up to the time of writing it cannot be said thai there has been (he marked decline in the number of criminals in New Zealand that appears to have occurred in Great Britain as a result of the war, although it is known that quite a percentage of men who have undergone imprisonment have enlisted witli the Expeditionary Forces. From the beginning of the war it has been apparent that a strong feeling of patriotism lias existed among those who have had to be segregated in the interest of the State, and there has been evidence that this feeling has continued after release. In last year's report i( was remarked that tin- large increase then noted on the figures for 1918 was confined entirely to male prisoners. In 1915, however, the position was altered, there being a substantial increase in the number of female prisoners compared with previous years. This is probably due to more drastic police action having been taken during the past year in regard to a certain class of offenders. 1- H. 20.

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The fluctuations in the prison population from 1881 to 1915 are shown in the table below: —

Prison Population.

In the interest of convenience and accuracy, and also in order to simplify the preparation of the figures, it has been decided that the annual return of expenditure and receipts published with the report shall in future cover the financial year and not the calendar year as heretofore. As this change necessitates a considerable adjustment in the arrangement of the figures, the table will not be printed in the present report, but will appear in its amended form next year. An analysis of the figures supplied by the Treasury for the financial year ended 31st March last shows that the net expenditure of the Prisons Department rose from £52,354 in 1914-15 to £59,192 in 1915-16, an increase of .£6,838. This increased charge for the year appears to be somewhat heavy, but when it is realized that the rise in the price of food products combined with the larger number of prisoners accounts for £3,692 of this amount it cannot be considered that the increase is excessive. • The following are the items in addition to rations upon which the largest increases have occurred : — Increase in Expenditure over 1914-15. £ (1.) Officers' uniforms and prisoners' bedding and clothing .... 506 (2.) Tools and materials for prison labour ... ... ... ... 1,096 (3.) Payment of gratuities to hard-labour prisoners on discharge and of earnings to reformative-detention and habitual prisoners on release ... ... ... ... ... "'..', ... 1,1.40 (4.) Prison farms ... ... ... ... ... .... 785 The increase in item No. 1 was largely due to the general rise that has taken place in the price of woollen and cotton goods. Item No. 2 was also affected by war-conditions, but was largely caused by the increased amount of work carried out during the year. No. 3 (payment of gratuities and earnings) resulted from the fact that a comparatively large number of prisoners became due for release or were released by the Prisons Board on probation during 1915-16. The increase in item No. 4 (prison farms) was caused by the purchase of stock and implements prior to the end of the financial year. No reliable estimate can ever be made of the exact amount required under this heading. The stock purchased are sold again at a profit and the expenditure recouped. As an indication of the steady increase in the cost of living during the past year it might be pointed out that whereas the cost of rations in the New Zealand prisons in 1914 averaged £11 per prisoner, the cost in 1915 was £14 ss. per head. While the expenditure for the year increased considerably, it is satisfactory to note that the cash receipts showed a substantial margin above those for the previous twelve months, and constituted a record for the Department. The cash credits Tor the last, financial year were £11,982, as against £9,586 for 1914-15. Among the largest contributions towards this total were the following: — Payment for tree-planting work. ... ... ...' ... .. 3,497 Manufacture of bricks for Parliamentary and other Government buildings ... ... ... .'.'.' ... ... 2,626 Sale of road-metal, dressed stone, and concrete blocks ... .... 2,990 Manufacture of boots, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 495 Sale of farm produce, stock, &c. ... ... ■'•'.".'. ... ... 782 With regard to the last item, the full credit due to the farms is not shown, because a lar«-e proportion of the vegetables grown is being sent to, other prisons. This- results in a savin"- in the general expenditure, hut no cash credit can be given to the supplying prison. As-has been pointed ouv, in previous reports, the Prisons Department carries on a lame amount of work for which no return is shown —road-formation, bridge-building, prison-construc-tion, and other undertakings are being, proceeded with each year in addition to the work for which payment is received. As time passes., it may be found necessary to show a credit for all work that is being carried out by prison labour, in order that the true position of the Department in regard to receipts and expenditure may be properly set out.

Daily Average') :if Prisoners in Bon niniou Prisons. Year. Males. Females. Total. 1881 .. 1891 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 631-66 459-22 799-08 .. j 855-28 .. : 826-69 916*09 931-33 94-37 58-39 64-18 64-07 66-55 63-72 76-79 726-03 517-61 863-26 919*35 893-24 979-81 4,008-12 Expenditure and Reck • ipt's.

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Progress during the Year. Buildings. — During the period since the last annual report was prepared a considerable advance has been made towards the completion ol' (lie buildings and works upon which the Department was then engaged, but war-conditions have Caused considerable delay in the delivery of necessary material, and consequently our building operations have progressed more slowly than -was anticipated. In spite of this', however, the first wing of our institution at Waikeria, together with the necessary offices, &v,., is now practically ready for occupation, and it will not be long before_ drafts will require to lie made from other prisons to till it. The administrative block, comprising the Gaoler's and clerks' offices, board-room, stores, library, lecture and drill hall, &c., has been commenced, and if funds are available fair progress should be made in its erection during the next twelve months. The building of the south-wing extension of the Mount. Eden Prison has proceeded methodically, and the work is approaching completion. When the additional accommodation provided in this wing is available an improvement can he made in the general arrangement ol' (In- Prison and the exercise and other yards. A considerable amount ol' preliminary work has been carried out during the year preparatory to commencing the erection of the new Canterbury Prison, at Templeton. As the building now proposed, together with subsequent additions, is intended to Ik- the principal penal establishment in the South Island, I he undertaking is one of some magnitude, and the completion of the whole of the buildings required will absorb a large amount of prison labour for some years to come. In the meantime temporary structures have been provided to accommodate the officers and prisoners employed upon the work. The extension to the Invercargill Prison building has been delayed owing to a variety of causes, but as all the material required is now in hand the work should advance more rapidly. A main wall round this institution has been under way during the year, and it is intended that internal dividing-walls and necessary outbuildings shall be commenced as soon as the main building is completed. Other Works. —As in 1914, the whole of the able-bodied prisoners have been very fully employed during the past year on work of various descriptions. As time passes the activities of the Department increase, and there is now no difficulty in finding ample employment of a useful character for every available man —in fact, our difficulty is to find enough men to adequately man the undertakings upon which we are engaged. This has been especially noticeable at Waikeria, where, in addition to the extensive building operations that are being carried on, we are making traffic roads and bridges, carrying on farming operations, and developing the property. Fair progress has been made in every direction, but the pace will be accelerated when the available labour is increased, as it will bo on the completion of the first wing of the building. The principal work at Auckland has been, as heretofore, i\m completion of the south wing of the building, stone-quarrying and stone-dressing. A commencement has also been made on ail extensive wall on the boundary between the Prison reserve and the Grammar School property. The making and repairing of boots for officers and prisoners lias employed a limited number of men. Progress on the Roto Aira Road between- Waimarino and Tokaanu has been well maintained. The slowest and most difficult parts of the work (bridges and heavy cuttings and fillings) have now been practically completed, and a connection made with the old and long-disused serviceroad to Tokaanu constructed by the Armed Constabulary over thirty years ago. As this road, with the bridges that were built at that time, has fallen into disrepair, ami in places has become almost obliterated, considerable work will require to be done before through connection with Tokaanu can be established. When that is accomplished there will be further work for the Prisons Department in constructing a deviation over the range round Lake Bote Aira that will shorten the journey between the northern and southern ends of the road by some miles. This deviation will take the road directly into Tokaanu Township, and in addition to being shorter will be fai- more picturesque than the old line, which joins the Waiouru Road about five miles from Lake Taupo. The brickworks at the Mount Cook branch prison, Wellington, have been fully employed during the' year.manufacturing bricks for the new Parliamentary Buildings and for other Government works. A gang of prisoners has recently been started on the work of excavating to prepare the Mount Cook site for its future purpose. The spoil from the excavation is being deposited on an adjoining low-lying section, that the Government is acquiring in order to provide an extension to the existing area of Crown land in this locality. A number of short-sentence men have been busily employed at Point Halswell excavating a site for the prison that is to be built there, erecting temporary buildings, and generally preparing for the erection of the permanent structure. -■; on. the farms and reserve acquired at Templeton for prison purposes lias been prosecuted as vigorously as circumstances, permitted, but the drought that prevailed in. Canterbury during the summer months prevented an adequate return being obtained for the labour expended. With the increased number of prisoners that will soon be available progress during 1916 should be more marked than il has been during the past year. The success of farming operations will necessarily depend upon the nature of the season, but if the weather-conditions prevailing in Canterbury during the last two years continue the question of providing a thorough system of irrigation for this property must be seriously considered at an early date.

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The reclamation embankments at Invereargill, which have engaged the attention of the Department for some time past, have progressed steadily during the year, and the question of draining and clearing the area now vested in the Department, as compensation for the labour involved in carrying out this work, will soon require attention. The making of concrete blocks for the prison buildings and for private sale has been continued, but owing to the small amount of building that has been undertaken by private owners since the commencement of the war there lias been a considerable reduction in the demand for this product of prison labour. TkKE-I'IjANTINO . Tree-planting operations at Kaingaroa and Waipa were carried on successfully, the amounts credited to the Prisons vote by the Forestry Department in payment for the labour of the prisoners employed being somewhat in. excess of last year's return. The total return from Kaingaroa was £1,795, compared with £1,568 in the preceding year, while that from Waipa was £1,702, compared with .£1,223 in 1911. In addition to afforestation work a crop of oats and some root crops were produced at Kaingaroa, and preparations have since been made for bringing a larger area into profitable cultivation during the present year. In addition to providing forage for the prison horses and so saving the heavy expenditure involved in obtaining supplies from elsewhere, the prison management has thus been able to further demonstrate the cultivability of the pumice lands of which the extensive Kaingaroa Plains are composed. When shelter-belts of suitable trees have readied a suitable height and a system of irrigation is available it should be quite possible for the plains to carry a reasonable amount of settlement. The progress and labour value of tree-planting operations since the inception of the work fifteen years ago are shown in the table below : —

In addition to the large number of trees planted, many miles of roads and tracks through the various plantations are constructed by prison labour each year. Future Provision for the Employment of Prison Labour. Experience has proved that the best means of employing prison labour in the interest alike of the State and of the prisoners is in agricultural pursuits, and it is becoming increasingly evident that if adequate employment in this direction is to be provided in the future provision must be made at an .early date for the acquisition of further areas for this purpose. I have therefore to repeat the recommendation contained in last year's report that a further block of land be obtained and utilized as an additional prison farm. It is possible that some of the swamp land at present lying idle in both Islands could be drained and. cultivated by prison labour, and thus converted into a valuable State asset. The reclamation-work now- being carried on at Invercargill is of this nature, and it would not be a difficult matter for the Department to extend its operations in other directions. Other Employment. —While the desire of the Department is to employ the bulk of the prisoners on reproductive agricultural work, there is always an appreciable percentage of criminals who cannot be given the liberty that outside employment involves. In order that these men may be profitably employed in the future it is advisable that the bootinaking, clothing, and other industries should be extended so that the principal articles of apparel and footwear required in all Government institutions might be made by prison labour. This is the practice in other countries, and there should be no objection to its being followed in New Zealand. Education and Drill. Where it has been possible to do so educational classes have been continued in the prisons during the year with fairly satisfactory results. The schoolmasters at Auckland and Invercargill have shown a commendable interest in their work, which, owing to the low standard of education among their pupils and to other disabilities common to prisoners, is by no means of an easy or encouraging nature. Drill. —The drill instructors at Auckland and Invercargill have carried out their duties satisfactorily, and their work has resulted in an improved physique and a greater alertness among the younger prisoners. Classification of Prisoners. Attention must again be drawn to the difficulty the Department lias in carrying out an effective primary classification so long as the Courts continue to give such a wide interpretation to the sections of the Crimes arid Crimes Amendment Acts relating to the sentencing of prisoners to reformative detention and to their declaration as habitual criminals or offenders. It has happened on several occasions during the past year that habitual criminals who have committed offences while out on probation have been recommitted by the Courts under sentences of reformative detention. It is needless to comment upon the difficulty with which the Department is faced in the reclassification of individuals who are dealt with in this way.

from 1901 to MarelM 9Hi.°"' umbt "' oi Trees planted. Labour-value of Prisoners' Work. 11,188 acres 33,091,425 £54,502.

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The line of demarcation between prisoners sentenced to terms of reformative detention and those serving ordinary hard-labour sentences is so slight that it appears advisable that the distinction between the two classes of sentences should be removed. This could be effected by carrying out the recommendation contained in last year's report that legislation should be introduced to enable hard-labour prisoners who had served a certain proportion of their sentences to be released on probation. Provision should also be made for the payment of a small wage to hardlabour prisoners at the same rate as is at present fixed for reformative-detention prisoners. This would remove an anomaly that is severely felt by many of the hard-labour men, and would give the management a greater hold over them. Extension of Existing Acts. Suggestions were made in last year's report regarding the advisability of amending the Prisons Act in the direction referred to in the preceding paragraph and in certain other directions, but owing no doubt to the exigencies of the situation al that time the necessary legislation was not proceeded with. Assistance to Prisoners on Release. The need for a Dominion organization to deal with Ihe whole question of assistance to prisoners on release, to which reference was made in last year's report, still exists, but until the cessation of the war enables public attention to be diverted into other channels there seems little probability that this most important branch of social work will be taken up with the energy that is required to effect the necessary revolution in existing methods. Inebriates. The inebriates' institutions on Pakatoa and Rotoroa Islands have been visited at intervals (.luring the year. Both places were well kept and the inmates well cared for, but 1 have seen no reason to change the opinion 1 expressed in my last report as to the necessity for providing State institutions to which the inebriate with many convictions against him could be committed, and where he could be compelled to labour for his own good and for that of the State. Transfer of Dunedin Prison Buildings to Police. Owing to the unfortunate situation of the Dunedin Prison and the consequent impossibility of providing employment for the prisoners confined there, the Department has found it necessary from time to time to reduce the daily average and the staff. As a result the buildings and the valuable site upon which they stand were only partly utilized, and during the year it, was decided, in the interest of general economy, to hand the premises over to the Police Department and to reduce the status of the Prison sufficiently to enable the small section of the building now required for the temporary confinement of short-sentence prisoners to be controlled by the Police. So far as the Prisons Department is concerned, this arrangement has resulted in the saving of the salaries and allowances of officers, a total of over £600 per annum, and in the reduction of expenditure in other directions. The Police Department is provided with a building suitable for all their requirements at Dunedin, while the present police-station buildings will soon be available foe general departmental purposes, thus saving the General Government a considerable sum per annum which is now being disbursed in rents to private owners. The Police took over the custody of the buildings in December last. Staff. In the Prisons, as in other Departments, the effects of the war are being felt in regard to the personnel of the various staffs. At the time of writing nine Prison officers have been granted leave of absence to join the Expeditionary Forces. Of this number six have left New Zealand With different drafts; two (Warders Collinson and Beck) have returned to New Zealand wounded. Both the last-named officers have been discharged as medically unfit for active service. A number of other Prison officers who have not desired to have their positions kept open for them have resigned and volunteered for active service. As it is impossible to carry on the effective supervision and control of prisoners with a reduced staff, a number of temporary officers have been employed to fill the places of those who have retired or who have been granted leave of absence to join the Forces. Owing to the number of camp prisons that are now in existence, the Department requires a percentage of single officers, as married men cannot be sent out to staff such places. Difficulty is already being experienced in keeping the tree-planting and farm prisons staffed, and if all single men, without exception, are called up in the near future the Department will be placed in a somewhat awkward position. The conduct of the officers generally has been very satisfactory. In certain eases there have been infractions of discipline or conduct that have been suitably dealt with after full inquiry. Since the presentation of the last report a commencement has been made at Auckland with the instruction of junior officers in Swedish drill and squad drill. As opportunity offers the system will be extended, but until the new prison buildings now under construction are further advanced the facilities for drilling either officers or prisoners arc decidedly limited. There have been no retirements among the senior officers of the Department during the year.

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General. Health of I'riaonera. —The figures regarding the health of prisoners are given in Table A. The daily average on the sick-list is shown Io have been considerably lower than for the previous year or for several years past. This is entirely satisfactory, but as the sick-returns in prisons are more largely affected by the state of health of offenders on admission than by illnesses having their origin within the prison, the annual statistical returns cannot be regarded as a reliable index of the general health of the inmates in any particular year. Deaths. —Eleven persons, including one suicide, died in prison during the year, compared with thirteen in 1914 and ten in 1913. First Offenders' Probation Act. The proposed change referred to in last year's report in regard Io Ihe appointment of gentlemen not connected officially with the Penal Departments as Probation Officers under the First Offenders' Probation Act has now been given effect to in the four chief centres. It is hoped that this alteration will satisfactorily meet the objection that has been raised from time Io time to the necessity that previously existed for this class of probationers to report to the Gaolers at the prisons. From the returns received from Probation Officers it appears that ninety-three persons were placed on. probation in 1915, compared with eighty-seven in 1911. Of these, twelve have now completed their terms without relapse, two have been rearrested and committed to prison, two absconded, and seventy-seven still remain under supervision. The total, sum. ordered to be paid by the Courts towards the cost of prosecutions amounted to £369 2s. 6d., of which £80 was due from one probationer, who absconded. The amount collected was £200 14s. 6d. C. E. Matthews, Inspector of Prisons.

EXTRACTS FROM GAOLERS' REPORTS FOR 1915. ADDINGTON PRISON. During the year two prisoners died, one suddenly, and one alter eleven days' illness. Inquests were held and verdicts in accordance with the medical evidence were returned. The women were employed in the vegetable and flower gardens, laundry, sewing-rooms, and in general cooking and cleaning. Grey drill dresses, with white facings for the first offenders, have been provided in place of the general prison dress. The room which was used for Divine service has been suitably furnished as a chapel. Apart from the ordinary prison sewing, the women have taken a great interest in the Red Cross work, &c, having made, since October, 46 dozen handkerchiefs for lied Cross and LadyLiverpool Fund, 30 garments for Red Cross, and 161 articles for District Hospital, besides several bundles of mending for same. With one or two exceptions the conduct of the prisoners has been very good.

AUCKLAND PRISON. During the year 1,296 males and 166 females were received, being a, decrease of 242 males and an increase of 7 females on the previous year. One male prisoner received the death sentence, which was afterwards commuted to imprisonment for life. Four of the females received were sentenced to reformative treatment. Five deaths took place during the year, and I prisoner committed suicide. The health of the prisoners has been good, the daily average on the sick-list being only 4 - 68 males and o*lB females, chiefly due 'to the number of admissions to the District Hospital— viz., 17 males and 1 female —some of whom were detained there for months. Cases treated in the Prison were of a minor nature. The conduct of the prisoners has, on the whole, been excellent. Physical drill and evening school for prisoners still continues to work well, the results being very satisfactory. The stonework of south-wing extension of the Prison has been completed, and a start made with roofing by putting the principals in position. As usual, most of the prisoners have been employed at quarry-work, dressing stone for the building, <fee. A stone Wall lias also been built enclosing the Prison reserve on the Clifton Road boundary. Stone-crushing, from which a good revenue is derived, did not come up to expectations this year. Owing Io the war local bodies have been curtailing expenditure, and fewer eiders were received.

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In the bootmaking industry excellent work has been done. Drill for junior officers was commenced in June last, and its good effects can be seen in the smart bearing of those taking part in it. First Offenders' Probation Act. I was relieved of this duty in July last by the appointment of the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys as Probation Officer. There were 17 males on probation at the commencement of the year; 1 was placed on probation by Magistrate's Court and 5 by Supreme Court, while 1 was received from another district. Of these, 4 completed their probation satisfactorily, 1 (a Maori) was discharged by the Magistrate on payment of the money stolen in order that he could join the Expeditionary Force, 7 were transferred to other districts, and 3 were sentenced for non-compliance with die condition of license and committing fresh offences, leaving 9 reporting when the books were handed over to Mr. Jeffreys.

DUNEDIN PRISON. In custody at the beginning of the year, 22 males; received during the year, 318 males and 36 females; discharged during the year, 296 males and 36 females. The health of the prisoners has been good, the daily average on the sick-list being o'ls. The conduct of the officers has been satisfactory. Divine service was conducted throughout the year by the Rev. Mr. Gumming or some member ■if one of the ('hurches. First Offenders' Probation Act. Three first offenders were placed on probation during the year.

GISBORNE PRISON. The health and conduct of the prisoners have been good. Ihe prisoners were employed during the year keeping the Prison clean, painting the roof of the building, also the male and female divisions. The building of a rein forced-concrete wall has been commenced. When completed it will enclose the whole of the Prison grounds. There is already erected a length of 500 ft. The grounds have also been improved by levelling, sowing of grass-seed, and the laying-out of flower-beds. There will now for some time to come be ample employment for the number of prisoners we receive here, as the building of the wall and attention to the grounds will keep them fully eniplo3 r ed. There were no punishments during the year.

GREYMOUTH PRISON. The general health of prisoners has been wry good, excepting 9 male prisoners received for i lical treatment and suffei ing from the effects of drink. The principal occupation of prisoners during the year was draining, fencing, digging, and cropping the area of land allotted to this Prison from the Police reserve. It is now well drained, and a portion cropped with potatoes and vegetables.

INVERCARGILL PRISON. The general health of Ihe prisoners has been good, except tint several males suffering from the effects of drink were received for medical treatment. When necessary these cases were removed to the District Hospital, where proper provision lias been made for the reception of such cases, and, when recovered, were dealt with in the usual manner. The quality of the rations supplied has been good, leaving no room for complaint. The variations in the scale of diet recently authorized by the Department have proved a welcome change, and appear to be much appreciated. A plentiful supply of vegetables has always been obtainable from the Prison gardens. The extension of the north-west wing is being pushed on as rapidly as circumstances will allow, and it should be ready for occupation (luring the ensuing year. The making of concrete blocks for prison buildings and also for sale to the general public still continues. During the year a large addition to the Garrison Hall was erected, no less than 4,500 blocks being supplied by the Prison for Ibis purpose. A warder's cottage of the same material was also built. The Prison lighter has now been in commission for the past five months, and has lieen used for conveying grit and shingle for hloekmaking, thus reducing the cost of building and blockmaking very considerably. In this connection a jetty, 70ft, in length, has been constructed at the river terminus, thus facilitating loading operations.

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The reclamation-work has been steadily pushed on during the year, about 70 chains of embankment, consisting of about 18,000 cubic yards of material, having been placed in position. I expect to have all tidal and river waters shut off within the next six months, when the drainage and breaking-in of the farm lands could be proceeded with. The instruction given in the Prison school still continues, with good results. Several of the men who have passed out of the school are continuing their studies and taking up a course with the International Correspondence Schools, thus proving that they are desirous of improving their position. During the school holidays several prominent citizens of Invercargill have been giving lectures to prisoners, which have proved both instructive and entertaining. The instruction of prisoners in Swedish drill is still carried on with much success. Those attending arc divided into two classes : all begin in No. 2 class, and promotion to No. 1 depends upon the progress made in No. 2. A spirit of rivalry is thus created. Drill instruction is given thrice weekly, and the men evidently take a keen interest in the work, and their conduct has been excellent, for during the past six months there have been no reports against prisoners while attending the classes. The holding of evening classes of instruction has one distinct advantage in that the youngmen are kept steadily engaged in healthy mental and physical exercises, instead of being locked up in a cell, which only tends to demoralize them. I am firmly of the opinion that the methods now in use are giving good results. First Offenders' Probation Act. On the Ist January, 1915, there were 2 males and no females on the register. Eight males were admitted to probation during the year, and 2 males completed their terms of probation satisfactorily. Five males were transferred to other districts; I failed to comply with the conditions of his probation, was arrested, and is at present in custody awaiting sentence, thus leaving 2 males on the register at the end of the year.

KATNGAROA PRISON. Eleven prisoners were reported for breaches of the regulations during the year, and 10 were subsequently transferred to the Auckland Prison. With the exception of the 11 prisoners mentioned above the general conduct and industry of the prisoners has been excellent, and the work done on the plantation has been highly satisfactory. Although the men have had a long walk to the planting-area, they have done exceedingly good work. The credit obtained from the Forestry Department for the year's work was £1,795 10s. The general health of the prisoners has been excellent, there being no serious sickness during the year. Dr. Bertram, of Botorua, has recently been appointed Medical Officer to this Prison. Divine service, both for Roman Catholics and Protestants, was conducted periodically throughout the year. The Prison garden is looking remarkably well, and there will be a plentiful supply of vegetables for the prisoners until next season. There are also under cultivation 10 acres of oats, 2 acres of swedes, and 1J acres of potatoes. Owing to a long spell of very dry weather the returns will not lie so good as they would have been had the season been more favourable. About 35 pigs were bred during the year, 28 of which were sold for the sum of £31 10s. lOd. The following is a summary of the work carried out by prisoners during the year, viz. : Pits dug, 2,199,350; trees planted, 1,380,250; heeling in trees, lining out, weeding, clearing for tree-planting, forming fire-breaks, fencing, road making and repairing, and the usual main-tenance-work.

LYTTELTON PRISON. No deaths occurred in the Prison during the year. The health of the prisoners has been good. Four cases were sent to the Christchurch District Hospital. 3 for hernia and I for appendicitis, and after successful treatment were returned to the Prison. The conduct and industry of prisoners generally has been good. There was only one case requiring serious punishment. As in previous years, employment was found in quarrying, stone-dressing, and wall-building for the Lyttelton Borough Council. Another section of the Simeon Quay wall has been finished; also two rctaining-walls, about 500 ft. long, with average height of 8 ft., in Upper Canterbury Street, have been completed. A stone-crushing plant has been erected at the new quarry, and is now in working-order and putting through a large quantity of stone for metal and screenings. The tailoring and bootmaking departments have been exceptionally busy, and have filled large orders for clothing and uniforms, &c, for the prisons throughout the Dominion, also boots and slippers for the Mental Hospitals at Nelson, Christchurch, Seacliff, and Dunedin. Divine service was held (-very Sunday by ministers of Ihe several denominations, and on Christmas Day by permission of Ihe Department an enterlainineiil was provided by Mr. Booth and several gentlemen from Christchurch.

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First Offenders' Probation Act There were no first offenders on the probation register of this district at the commencement of the year, and none were placed on probation by the local Court during the year. Those admitted to probation at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, were dealt with by the Probation Officer for that district. One first offender on probation was received on transfer from Wellington, and he, having complied with the conditions of his license satisfactorily, was discharged.

NAPIER PRISON. The health of the prisoners has been very good. The greatest number of cases of sickness at any one time was 3 males and 1 female. There were 4 admissions to District Hospital. During the year the prisoners have been employed in the Borough Council quarry, and in cleaning the Court buildings and the police-station. The sum of £318 13s. 3d. was banked to the credit of the Public Account for sale of stone, rubble, mortar, sand, &c. The spiritual needs of the prisoners were provided for, clergymen and lay readers of the various denominations visiting regularly. On occasions two services were held on Sundays. The First Offenders' Probation Act On the Ist January, 1915, there was 1 male probationer on the register of this district. Two males were placed on probation, and 6 were received on transfer from other districts (4 being on license under the Crimes Act). Four were transferred to other districts, 1 has failed to report since license was issued, and 1 completed his term satisfactorily. There were 3 males on the books on the last day of the year. No females were dealt with during the year.

NEW PLYMOUTH PRISON. The general conduct of prisoners during the year has on the whole been good. The employment at this Prison is quarrying, and metal to the value of £467 17s. 9<l. was sold. There is also a little gardening carried on, and vegetables to the value of £21 lis. Bd. have been supplied to Roto Aira Prison, also vegetables to the value of £4 13s. sd. have been sold, and the vegetables required for this Prison supplied. Boots, shirts, flannels, and drawers for prisoners' wear are also manufactured. The clergymen of the various denominations held their religious services regularly during the year. I have to thank the Rev. Frank Hales and Mr. C. Ahier, Visiting Justice, for gifts of books and magazines for the Prison library. First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908. There was 1 male reporting at the commencement of the year, and 1. was received on transfer. Of these, 1 was transferred to another district, leaving 1 reporting in this district on the 31st December, 1915. Probationers under the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910. There was 1 male reporting in this district at the commencement of the year, 9 males were placed on probation, and 2 received on transfer : total, 12. Of this number 10 were transferred to other districts, leaving 2 reporting on the 31st December, 1915.

PAPARUA PRISON. General farming and building operations were commenced with prison labour on the 20th January, 1915. The daily average number of prisoners during the year was 15:79. The health of the prisoners has been very good. There were no cases of sickness except of a trivial nature. During the year the following works were carried out by prison labour. A cell-house to accommodate 24 prisoners, with two rooms for officers, was built; a bathhouse, 26ft. by 12ft., containing bath and four shower-baths, also accommodation for dressing, was erected; alterations to cookhouse and erection of new kitchen with space to take a Roberts cooker; alterations to old cell-house to provide office, library, store-room, laundry, and officers' mess-room. An old stable was removed from Bowlker's farm to the prison-site. This was converted into a stable to accommodate six horses, also to provide granary, 34 ft. by 15 ft., with feed and harness rooms, also implement-shed with sufficient space to store all the farm implements, &c. An artesian well was sunk to a depth of 75 ft., and an 8 ft. windmill erected over same. The following works were carried out in connection with the new Prison. A tramway 20 chains in length has been laid for the conveyance of shingle for blockmaking and other material

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between shingle-pit, block-shed, and site. A shed, 60 ft. by 36 ft., has been erected and is now complete, in wdiich it is intended to manufacture the blocks for building the new Prison, &c. A carpenters' and smiths' shop has also been erected for the convenience of these trades. A gravelpit has been partly opened. Excavation for foundations of a cell range has been carried out. Work on the Prison farm was commenced at the beginning of the year, and later on a team comprising four draught horses, four sets of harness, a full complement of farm implements, and a farm dray were purchased. During October last an additional pair of draught horses were also procured. During the year 111 acres of land has been prepared for crops and sown as follows : Oats, 64 acres; mangels, 8J acres; potatoes, 12 acres; turnips, 24| acres; vegetables, 2 acres. The whole of these crops, with the exception of the turnips, were sown under favourable conditions and in good order. However, the season has been the worst experienced in this district for a great number of years. Strong winds continued to blow throughout the spring and summer, which, with the absence of rain, was ruinous to the growdng crops. About two months ago the oats looked fairly well, and gave promise of an average crop, but owing to the continued drought this crop will be exceptionally light. The mangels look healthy, and if rain fall there should be a fair crop. The potatoes came up remarkably well, and there was everj;' appearance of a heavy crop, but blight has since caused a reduced yield. The turnips, so far, are a failure, but should rain fall soon they may improve. Mr. A. Macpherson, Fields Instructor, frequently visits the* farm and gives instructions.

ROTO AIRA PRISON. During the year an advance camp has been established on the banks of the Whakapapanui. None of the prisoners at this camp are habitual criminals. The habitual prisoners at the main camp have been employed on road-construction works between the camps and in the vicinity of the Whakapapaiti Stream. The cutting beyond the Whakapapaiti second stream is Hearing completion. The road between the camp and the Whakapapaiti first stream is being graded : this has involved a good deal of heavy work, but will be the means of making a decided improvement in the road. Two bridges have been constructed. A stone-crusher has been installed, and is in readiness for crushing operations when required. Culverts are now being made of concrete: these will be much more serviceable than wood in the larger fillings. During the year additional huts have been erected at the main camp, and there is now accommodation for 35 prisoners. The conduct of the prisoners has, on the whole, been good. The conduct of the officers has been good. They have taken a keen interest in the work, and credit is due to them. Taking into consideration the amount of wet weather that is experienced here a considerable amount of work has been done. Divine service has been held on several occasions.

WAIKERIA PRISON. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very satisfactory. The health of the prisoners has been good. There were two admissions to the Hamilton Hospital, one of the cases being afterwards transferred to Auckland for special treatment. Other cases of illness, which were of a mild nature, were treated in the Prison. A power-house has been erected, and an electric-lighting plant installed. A large area has been fenced and shelter-belts planted in Pinus insignis, macrocarpa, and blue-gum trees. Several acres of land have been fenced for an orchard, and 700 fruit-trees planted. Thirty-two acres of new land has been broken in this year, 10 acres planted in potatoes, 3 acres in mangels, 1 acre in horse-beans, 4 acres in vegetable-garden, and 12 acres prepared for turnips. Of the old ground 46 acres has been sown in oats, and by their appearance we hope to have a record crop. A large quantity of hay has been cut and stacked. One acre of lucerne, sown in November for experimental purposes, is making good growth. The total area cleared and under cultivation is 482 acres, the value of the vegetables disposed of for cash and to other prisons amounted to £282 17s. A large number of pigs have been bred from pedigree stock, and two of them that were entered in the Hamilton Show received first prizes. The total cash received for pigs sold was £70 6s. The breadmaking has been a great success, the saving effected being considerable. 'I here is also a considerable reduction in the cost of meat since we have killed our own. A four-span bridge has been erected over the Waikeria Stream to give access to Ihe newroad. Several chains of this road are finished. Better progress would have been made if the weather had not been so wet. The new Settlers Road was completed and opened during tin? year. The main road and the Te Kawa Road have been kept in repair. Divine service was conducted every fifth Sunday by the Rev. D. J. A. Shaw, Presbyterian minister, and the Rev. J. Olphert, Methodist minister. The Roman Catholic service wits conducted by Rev. Father Lynch, or a substitute, every Sunday during the year.

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WAIPA PRISON. The conduct of the prisoners has been very good. The general health of the prisoners has been very good. Very good work has been done by the prisoners during the year. Considering the fact that most of the prisoners received here had no previous knowledge of outside work, the returns for the year, which amounted to £1,702, cannot but be looked upon with the utmost satisfaction. Owing to the very dry season the vegetable and potato crops were not up to the usual standard, although a small sum was also received this year for surplus vegetables sold. Divine service has been conducted throughout the year by a Church of England minister from Rotorua. The following are details of the work done by the prisoners for the Forestry Department during the year : Clearing for tree-planting, 597 acres; pits dug, 455,000; trees planted, 427,000; 299 chains of road and service-track made; clearing growth amongst trees, and general main-tenance-work.

WELLINGTON. The practice of sending persons to prison suffering from the effects of drink still obtains. Time and again Gaolers have pointed out the gross injustice of sending such persons to prison, but the practice still continues. There were no escapes or attempted escapes during the year. The health of the prisoners has on the whole been good, as is to be expected, but there are always a number of human derelicts drifting in and out of prison who require medical attention. Brickmaking is still being carried on at Mount Cook, but as the supply of suitable clay is rapidly diminishing it will not be long before this industry will have to cease. Bootmaking and gardening are the principal industries engaged in at the Terrace. During the year a considerable amount of work has been carried out at Point Halswell. The work of tree-planting has been continued, and the work of excavating a site for the proposed new building has been gone on with. A considerable amount of work has also been done towards widening and improving the road between the Miramar Wharf and Shelly Bay. Up to the present the principal work carried out has been the removing of some of the most dangerous corners. Once this road is completed it should prove a very popular drive, and will no doubt be very much used. Now that the additions to Mount Cook and Point Halswell Prisons have been completed, it has been found possible to entirely abolish the system of confining prisoners in association. There is now sufficient accommodation available to provide for every prisoner being given a separate cell. Sunday services have been held as usual by representatives of the various religious denominations, both at the Terrace, Mount Cook, and Point Halswell. First Offenders' Probation Act. At the beginning of the year there were 8 males on probation. During the year 24 males and 1 female were admitted to probation ; 5 males and 1. female completed their terms of probation satisfactorily ;11 males were transferred to other districts—6 left with Expeditionary Force, 4 failed to report leaving. There were 13 males (including 5 transferred from other districts) and no females on the register at the end of the year 1915.

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Table A. PRISON ACCOMMODATION AND PRISONERS. Table showing Accommodation, Number of Prisoners, etc., at the several Prisons of the Dominion during Year 1915.

Name of Prison. Number of Persons for whom there is Acci T „ c . ~ ,, t In Wards or Cells for In Separate Cells ior than 0ne One Pnsoner. Prisoner. Number of Persons for whom there is Accommodation. i Number of Persons at Beginning of Year. Number received during Year. i 1 1 Number discharged or transferred. Number in Prison at End of Year. Total. Addingti n Auckland Invercargill Lyttelton Napier New Plymouth Paparua (Templeton) Roto Aira (Waimarino) Waikeria Kaingaroa Waipa Wellington Minor prisons M. 284 : 91 175 7 54 24 34 50 54 33 198 118 F. 30 35 1 3 4 2 38 M. 4 3 59 18 7 3 59 F. 15 ".33 28 M. 324 95 178 66 54 24 52 57 54 33 201 177 F. M. 45 35 282 I 92 149 8 18 4 44 26 54 35 26 35 187 66 54 F. 32 10 32 4 T. 32 292 92 149 18 44 26 54 35 26 219 58 M. 1,296 129 595 250 90 - 49 65 . 48 41 30 1,351 1,284 F. T. H. 125 125 ! 166 1,462 J 1,357 129 ! 131 595 618 12 ■ 262 j 245 3 93 96 49 25 65 42 48 48 41 37 30 26 233 1,584 1,351 81 1,365 1,303 F. 126 154 9 3 242 82 T. 126 1,511 131 618 254 99 25 42 48 37 26 1,593 1,385 221 90 126 23 38 24 49 54 39 30 187 35 F. 31 22 23 3 T. 31 243 90 126 26 38 24 49 54 39 30 210 3S — — Totals 1,122 113 113 193 193 81 81 1,315 194 967 78 1.045 5,228 620 5,848 j 5,279 616 5,895 916 82 998 Sickness. Greatest Number in Prison at One Time. Least Number in Prison at One Time. Daily Average Number of Prisoners. (a.) Greatest Number ill at any One I Time. ib.) Admission to Hospital durin Year. (0.) Number of Distinct Prisoners ill 011 One or more Occasions, with Number of Occasions, Total Number of Separate Illnesses, Total Number of Days, and Daily Average on Sick-list. Nam© of Prison. Year. 0 ca I L i ■» I m . Number Total Dailv S .2 •; s« > § ! x 2 « S of Number Average = » .= B!oS K.S £.5§> Separate of on O fr Bfr I fe r< B j H c Illnesses. Days ill. Sick-list. Addington Auckland Invercargill Lyttelton .. Napier New Plymouth Paparua (Templeton) .. Roto Aira (Waimarino) Waikeria Kaingaroa Waipa Wellington Minor prisons Totals M. F. T. 48 48 296 9 305 96 96 165 .. 165 35 4 39 48 1 49 25 25 54 54 58 58 47 .. 47 32 32 203 30 233 131 13 144 1,190 105 1,295 M. 203 ' 82 114 16 32 8 25 46 33 21 154 22 F. I T. M. 31 31 11 i 214 ; 243 95 .. 82 I 9! 33 114 130 24 1 17 25-56 32 40 12 8 15 79 25 ! 4200 .. 46 53 49 .. 33 39 03 .. 21 26-72 13 j 167 175-61 .. 22 47-49 F. T. 38-10 38-10 14-58 258 53 91 -33 130 24 1 -53 2709 0 08 40-20 15-79 42 00 53 49 3903 26 72 20-41 196 02 2-09 49 58 M. j 14 9 7 3 - 3 1 2 I 2 I 3 ; 4 4 5 I F. 4 1 i 2 T. M. 4 IS 17 9 14 7 4 4 4 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 4 ! .. 6 ! 5 5 3 F. 1 1 T. 1 ; 3j 18 901 14 41; 4 28 4 , 14j 2 19 1 2 -2 I j 1 6 4 6 27 3 10 II 12 3 4 i 2 5 1 3 8 2 2 2 i 2 '2 i i* 16 49 129 1,754 115 394 42 489 21 299 27 283 2 78 5 54 5 205 6 26 15 92 37 806 : 10 95 014 4-81 1-08 1-34 0-82 0-77 0-22 014 0-56 0 07 0-25 2-21 0-25 756 56 I 812 931-33 39J 13 7 76-79 1.00812 57 8 65 53 3 j 56 252 5 1* 430 4,624 12-66

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Table A1. Table showing Particulars, for each Prison, of Prisoners at Beginning and End of Year, and received and discharged during Year 1915.

a < 4 5 d P "3 d rM '5 o a CD o o ri "S 55 a c c a o < o •> o * Q r- > OB O fa i 9 o to o a 0 i ii i i I I a.) Ia prison at beginning of yearSentenced to — ■ M. F. Simple imprisonment .. .. .. 4 .. Under three months' hard labour .. .. 22 ! 2 Three months' hard labour and under one year 75 5 One years hard labour and upwards .. 131 3 Habitual criminals in reformatory Criminals receiving reformative treatment .. ' 36 F. M. F. ...... 2 .. ! .. 5 5 .. 3 20 .. 10 26 10 26 .. M. " i 4 20 F. M. F. M. : F. . . i .. :: :: :: * :: 7 .. 5 .. ..• 30 .. 3 .. 33 .. .. 17 .. 1 .. M. F. M. F. .. .. 1 5 .. 8 .. 2 .. "2 :: M. 42 43 60 25 F. M. F. M. F. ' 2 ' .. 17 .. 1 12 .. 9 .. 17 37 .. 3 .. I 10 92 .. .'. '.'. I 'l ! 3 '.'. M. P. M. F. 1 .. 3 .. 8 .. .. 27 .. :: 51 :: M. V. 3 .. 20 2 9 2 1 .. M. 10 106 201 386 59 147 F. 22 33 16 i 10 128 234 402 59 148 ii 26 .. 26 .. Total criminals in prison under sentence 268 10 For trial or on remand .. .. .. 14 Total in prison for criminal offences .. 282 10 Debtors Lunatics Total persons in respective prisons .. 282 10 In transitu 35 3.5 .. 54 .. 44 .. .......... l i —nm — i ,— .. 54 j .. 44 ' .. ........ .. i .... : 26 .. 18 .. 187 32 .. 32 149 92 .. 54 4 967 78 1.045 18 .. 187 32 .. 32 149 .. .... 92 .. 54 4 967 78 1.045 18 .. 187 j 32 .. 32 149 92 .. 54 ; 4 967 78 ! 1.045 6 .. 39J 2 .... 10 j 6 .. 19 1 121 3 124 75 .. 894 !133 .. 41 270 : 16 .. 611 47 2,617 ! 329 3,916 50 5 113 38 .. 26 81 ; 10 .. 87 6 492 101 593 7 1 49 16 -.. 3 27 : 5 .. 29 .. 186 23 209 .. .- 1 .. .. 1 .. 1 6 1 24 2 . .j .. .. 6 .. 29 2 76 4 80 8 .. 19 3 .. 2 7.J.... 9 .. 12 1 90 8 98 17 .. 1 .. I 170 17 29 .. ' 29 146 .. 3 .. 3 3 .. i ■ .. .. 90 .. .. 2 33 4 I 21 .. j 909 58 72 6 981 64 ** | *• *_*_ 10 | 26 35 .. 54 .. 44 .. 26 i .. ...... | .. 54 .. 44 .. Total persons in custody on 1st Jan., 1914 282 10 10 26 .. 35 26 .. b.) Prisoners received during the year — Sentenced to— Simple imprisonment .. .. .. 39 I .. Under three months' hard labour .. .. 728 108 Three months' hard labour and under one year 141 25 One year's hard labour and upwards .. 67 ! 3 Death .. .. .. .. .. .... Under conviction for sentence .. .. 7 .. Criminals for reformative treatment only .. 35 2 .. j .. 2 .. 23 .. 10 1 .. | .. ........ .. ...... 2 i .. ...... .. j 1 Total new criminals received .. .. ! 1,017 138 For trial or on remand .. .. .. | 222 I 28 i 138 28 138 .. i .. I loo :..;..[ ■• I •■ 39 2 19 1 •• 152 ! 7 81 5 1,139 192 .. 141 40 .. 1,280 232 .. .. 7 i:: - 72 397 .. 22 130 .. 94 527 .. 1 .. .. ..52 .. .. .. | 35 .. .. .. 87 .. 787 57 282 20 1.069 77 58 1 8 ! .. 3,-83 468 I 910 116 j I 4.051 j 1,026 98 ! .. I .. 28 .. j .. | .. .. I — h I 58 3 6 i .. 1 .. 65 1 3 25 j .. 233 12 4 493 584 112 1 11 .. 4.626 585 612 35 Total received for criminal offences .. 1,239 166 Debtors .. .. .. .. .. 24 .. Lunatics .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. Total new persons received .. .. 1,264 166 On transfer or in transitu (including habitual 32 criminals sent to reformatory) Totals received at respective prisons .. 1,296 166 166 .. .. 166 I .. .. .. 30 166 30 .. .. -. .. .. ii :: ..... ** ** 48 '.'. 65 I ' £50 12 1,287 ! 232 .. .. .. | 64 1 .. 250 i 12 1,351 233 .. •• •■ •• •- ...... 94 528 .. 31 67 I .. .. .. 87 49 .. 42 .. 1.135 76 149 3 5,077 113 11 5,201 647 41 j .. t~ 90 3 65 125 595 .. 5,228 620 5,848 49 .. 129 .. 1.284 81 " *• I —

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Table A1— continued. Table showing Particulars, for each Prison, of Prisoners at Beginning and End of Year, and received and discharged during Year 1915— continued.

3 is d d s c o o a o a o H ID > c c i O O h 03 S5 | | | I || (c.) Discharged during the year — m. *• M - '• M - '• M - I F - M - F - M - r - M - On expiration of sentence, not including habitual i 940 123 j 15 .. 11 .. 18 .. 37 .. 3 .. 121 criminals or prisoners sentenced to reformative treatment On bail or probation .. .. .. 26 .. ! 4 Died .. .. .. .. .. 5 .. | 1 Executed .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..'... I Absconded and not retaken .. .. .. . .. ! .. ..!.... 1 2 Committed suicide .. .. .. .. 1 Released on recommendation of Prisons Board .. 26 .. 6 ; .. 15 | .. 22 .. 9 .. 22 .. j .. F. 3 M. F. M. i F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1,094 179 .. 91 390 .. 20 .. 39 .. 28 7 .. ! 1 5 10 .. 1 .- .. 2 2 .. 1 i 8 .. .. 6 ; 3 '.'. 2 '.'. 34 '.'. \ M. | F. M. F. 713 51 3,401 447 3,848 32 2 105 10 115 .... 9 2 11 .... 1 .. I 1 .... 3 .. ! 3 .. i 1 .. 1 ..... j 147 6 153 •• I .. i Total criminals discharged to freedom .. 998 123 21 j .. 26 .. 41 I .. 47 .. j 27 .. ,125 Acquitted and after remand .. .. .. 197 26 .. 20 2 j .. ..45 26 .. 41 I .. I 47 ... 27 .. ;125 ..20 2 j .. ..45 3 4 1,132 186 .. ,100 J398 .. 49 15 .. j 20 ;115 .. 22 .. 85 .. 25 .. 745 ! 53 54 .. 3,667 505 465 67 4,132 572 — — ■ — i Total persons discharged to freedom .. 1,195 149 21 ..26 .. 41 .. ' 67 2 27 .. 170 Debtors .. .. .. .. .. 25 .. j .. .. '6 ...... 15 Lunatics transferred to mental hospitals .. 4 1 .... 3 Total persons discharged from prison .. 1,224 150 21 ..26 .. 41 ..73 2 27 | .. 188 Transferred to other prisons or police .. .. 133-4 5 .. j 11 .. 7 ..23 1 15 .. 57 Totals discharged from respective prisons .. 1,357 154 26 ..37 .. 48 ... 96 3 42 .. 245 (d.) In prison at the end of yearSentenced to— Simple imprisonment .. .. .. 8 .. j .. .. 1 .. 1 Under three months' hard labour .. .. 22 10 ; 3 Three months' hard labour and under one year 45 9 2 7 . * 7 5 1 .. 8 One year's hard labour and upwards .. 93 2 21 .. 29 ' .. 38 13 .. 3 I Habitual criminals . . .. .. 18 .. 1 I .. 33 .. 31 .. Criminals receiving reformative treatment .. 24 .. 7 .. 3 j .. 8 3 .. .. ! .. 37 .. 48 j I .. 26 41 41 7 ..167 2 I 27 .. 170 .. | 6 .. I .. j .. 15 I .. I .. 3 ........ - ..73 .. 23 i 96 I 3 42 .. '245 j J ! _ _ 2 27 I .. 188 1 15 .. 57 2 9 7 1,351 1,181 201 .. 120 513 .. 10 .. . . I .. I 2 .. 2 .. .. | .. | .. .. 1,193 201 . . 158 41 : .. i242 ! .. I 120 515 . . 1 6 103 j .. |126 ;618 j .. 25 ! .. 131 .. 1,303 I 2 .. 3 .. 12 9 .. I 12 ! .. ! 11 15 .. 21 j .. | 22 .. 1.110 .. .. .. I 5 .. .. .. 1 .. I 22 .. 416 .. 3 ..15 .. 799 59 7 865 438 53 I *• ! 53 ! 29 I 82 4,172 122 17 : 4,311 968 5,279 616 5,895 • 532 4,704 122 1 18 533 4,844 83 j 1,051 I I I 7 | .; 7 .. 29 ' .. 38 .. .. i .. 1 3 ! .. 8 5 .... l .. i 5 .. 1 .. 8 .. .. 13 .. 3 | 33 .. 31 .. .. I .. .. 3 .. .. 1 3 8 3 i 11 36 31 66 14 14 1 .. 2 10 .. 110 .. 2 7 11 33 13 62 .. 10 5 7 2 1 23 3 : 26 83 15 98 171 31 202 361 25 : 386 107 1 108 116 5 121 .'. 33 i .'. '. . . '. 50 .. .. i Total criminals in prison .. .. j 210 21 30 .. 39 .. 54 i .. | 38 .. 49 .. 15 For trial or on remand .. .. .. 11 1 .. i 8 .. 39 .. 54 ..38 L_J 38 .. 49 .. 15 1 o 15 2 8 1 172 15 23 ! .. 31 119 i ..7 i i i ; 24 .. | 88 ! .. ! 2 I 23 10 3 ' 861 80 941 53 2 j 55 ......... 8 I •■ ■• -r-H —!—: | ! 23 i 3 3 914 82 996 Total in prison for criminal offences .. 221 22 j 30 .. 39 j .. 54 I .. ! 38 .. 49 .. 23 221 22 30 .. 39 .. 54 -_ .. 38 J 38 .. 49 .. i 23 j 187 23 .. 31 126 24 ..90 .. 33 •• i Debtors .. .. .. .. .. | .. .. j Lunatics .. .. .. .. .. .......... ' ■ • ! .. ! .. ; .. .. .. •• I • • ... •■ •* i * Total persons in prison .. .. .. 221 22 30 .. 39 .. 54 .. 38 .. 49 .. 23 In transitu .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ........ .. I I ' - I ! : I— i 221 22 30 .. 39 .. 54 .. 38 38 .. 49 .. 23 23 3 187 23 .. 31 126 .. 24 ! .. 90 j .. .... 33 2 3 914 2 I 82 i 99( "l"l ••■!•• 1 - I •• I " •• Total persons in custody at respective prisons 221 22 30 .. 39 . .. 54 .. 38 .. j 49 .. 23 38 ..49 .. 23 31 126 .. 24 .. ! 90 35 3 916 82 99! 221 22 30 | .. 39 ] .. 54 .. 38 23 3 187 23 I .. I I I

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Table B (omitted), Details of Expenditure

Table C. Table showing the Offences and Degree of Education of Distinct Convicted Prisoners (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1915.

Table D. Table showing the Actual Number of Distinct Convicted Prisoners (exclusive of Maoris) received into Prison during the Year 1915, classified according to Principal Offence, Birthplace, and Age.

15

Offences. Offences. SuEdu Supi Educi iperior ucabion. irior ibion. Able to re writ ead and te. Able to onl; d read Unable to ly. read. > read le to id. Tote 9,18. Offences against the person — Convicted on indictment .. Summarily convicted M. 1 M. 1 F. ir. M. 71 94 F. 7 1 M. i F. M. F. 1 2 F. F. M. 73 97 F. 7 1 Offences against property— Theft and deceit Misohief 3 3 548 31 19 3 2 4 557 31 19 3 Miscellaneous— Vagrancy Drunkenness Others I 287 740 797 106 57 77 1 (i 7 8 19 4 26 296 766 830 100 61 77 Totals .. 5 2,568 270 17 60 4 2,650 274 I I

Offei ices a Pen gainst the ion. samst.ne againsv Miscellaneous. Offences against Property. Oonvii on Indictr sted rent, j Summarily Theft and «*i.„v,i.» v.,™,.,,.., *Drunken- Othi convicted' Deceit. Mischief. Vagrancy. Qess oflen( M. P. M. P. M. P. M. P. M. F. M. I •r ces. Totals. M. P. F. M. P. Birthplaces— England anil Wales Scotland Ireland Now Zealand Australian States Other British possessions China Other countries At sea 18 2 2 36 7 2 I 5 6 1 14 4 8 52 6 2 I 116 34 34 289 49 4 2 29 2 2 1 14 4 3 4 15 2 68 19 33 118 31 7 II I 8 63 17 210 120 104 217 59 7 1(1 6 12 27 4 1 200 66 75 204 71 17 9 91 1 10 4 12 I 39 3 3 16 4 12 39 3 630 40 248 1.4 260 33 1,021 150 225 26 39 I 12 208 9 I 1 11 3 20 5 I 49 1 3 Totals 73 7 97 1 557 19 31 3 3 296 106 (il 830 77 2,650 274 766 Ages— Under 10 years 10 and under 12 years .. 12 and under 15 years .. 15 and under 20 years .. 20 and under 25 years .. 25 and under 30 years .. 30 and under 40 years .. 40 and under 50 years .. 50 and under 60 years .. 60 years and over10 12 12 21 13 3 2 I 5 1 3 16 13 32 16 9 8 46 71 97 204 93 31 15 3 . 4 ! 5 5 3 12 3 6 2 5 4 9 32 110 67 37 37 3 2 20 13 63 33 239 35 208 16 145 4 91 20 63 239 208 145 91 6 21 17 13 4 16 81 120 273 187 100 53 1 3 11 30 17 11 4 79 214 340 891 587 331 208 8 9 37 91 77 40 12 I ,2 12 3 3 6 •• i __!. l Totals 73 7 97 I 557 19 31 31 3 296 106 766 766 61 830 77 2,650 274 Totals, 1914 62 106 I. 098 29 | 25 2 305 120 967 967 56 951 64 3,114 272 * It must be remembore tables do not represent the f id that ( full nuni irunl iber ( keiiness :>f pcrso is p mnishec ii n i shed I mor for tl re by fl hat off) i ine t inn imp irisonment, si that the til ;ures in the prison ills pi mce.

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Table E. Table showing the Number of Distinct New-Zealand-born Convicted Prisoners of each Sex (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1915, classified according to Ages and Offences.

Table F. Table showing Distinct Persons (excluding Maoris) imprisoned after Conviction for Eight Years.

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Under 10 and 12 and 15, 10. under 12. under 15. undi Offences. ; M. P. M. P. M. P. U. md 20 and 251 ir 20. under 25. und. md ir30. 3lli und( a (e: ind ir 40. 40 l upwi Lnd irds. Toti ,1s. P. M. P. M. P. M. P. M. P. M. M. !•'. M. P. P. M. P. Iffences against the person— Convicted on indictment 10 Summarily convicted Iffences against property— Theft and deceit 40 Mischief .. li 10 2 1 6 II) 4 10 5 13 20 3 10 36 52 Vagrancy .. .. .. 2 )runkonness* .. )ther offences .. 3 40 2 3 2 49 5 7 12 39 4 2 61 2 19 31 48 I 11 6 8 100 4 57 79 117 3 28 12 22 39 4 33 95 87 3 1 20 9 6 289 15 118 217 294 14 I 63 27 39 3 3 Totals, 1915 57 57 6 128 9 175 31 390 271 39 1.1)21 150 65 Totals, 1914 .... .... 2 . . 75 2 75 4 157 6 216 33 416 58 268 47 1,134 146 Totals, 1913 1 1 81 1 81 7 172 10 183 20 :i!ii 58 200 30 1,028 126 1 Totals, 1912 1 I . 92 1 I . 92 4 197 7 197 25 351 48 176 32 1.017 117 Totals, 1911 4 .. 69 4 69 3 158 13 189 17 333 44 173 SO 916 107 Totals, 1910 2 .. 75 2 75 3 199 35 331 51 182 28 1,038 12 6 9 249 Totals, 1909 2 .. 66 2 66 4 174 15 236 28 298 53 192 28 !)(iS 128 Totals, 1908 1 .. 5 .. 71 1 5 71 ■ 4 Kin 17 203 24 287 43 118 22 875 110 Totals, 1907 2 1 79 2 1 79 5 181 23 213 33 256 44 113 19 844 125 Totals, 1906 2 .. 82 9 20 219 26 24!) :>,!) 120 18 861 112 2 82 189 Totals, 1905 1 .. 76 1 76 8 172 25 27 195 99 17 739 115 196 38 Totals, 1904 .. 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. 83 1 •2 3 83 9 172 25 219 19 187 34 73 17 740 104 Totals, (903 .. .. 2 .. 5 . . 79 5 79 9 191 16 187 21 177 36 60 21 701 103 2 Totals, 1902 2 .. 77 2 77 5 192 9 147 17 128 35 57 12 903 78 Totals, 1901 . 5 .. 74 5 - 74 7 175 22 20 143 38 40 8 551 95 114 Totals, 1900 7 .. 79 79 8 166 19 110 15 120 30 9 518 79 7 28 Totals, 189!) 3 2 91. 3 91 9 147 14 101 16 116 36 9 69 2 19 494 Totals, 1898 1 .. 9 .. 87 9 87 7 143 19 17 93 18 29 8 69 1 111 453 Totals, 1897 . . 1 .. 1 .. 3 .. 82 1 1 3 82 11 15 17 77 13 26 5 404 61 129 88 Totals, 1896 . . 1 .. 1 . 2 .. 100 1 1 2 100 120 7 19 67 15 18 7 59 11 105 414 * It must be remembered that ;ables do not represent the full num Irun] ier o: ienni E pen 398 il ions puni amis! shed hedf more 'or thf by n: ,t off< le thai mce. illl irisoument. so t at the figures i: the pi ■ison

Year. 1908 1909 1910 1911 Prisoners. 3,009 3,159 3,242 2,877 Proportion per 10,000 of Mean Population. 31-84 32-51 32-66 28-35 Year. 1912 1913 1914 1915 I I Prisoners. 3,023 3,229 3,386 2,924 Proportion per 10,0(IC of Mean Population. 29-10 3022 31-05 26-60

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H.—'2o

TABLE G. Table showing Distinct Convicted Prisoners (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1915, and sentenced to Reformative Treatment or declared Habitual Criminals, classified according to Sentences.

Sentenced to Reformative Treatment for a Period not exceeding Head Sentence. 6 Months. 12 Months. 18 Months. 2 Years. 3 Years. 4 Y ears. ! I 5 Years. 6 Years. 7 Years. 8 Years. 9 Years. 10 Years. Habitual Criminals. Totals. Reformative treatment only .. Under 1 week 1 week and under 1 month 1 month „ 3 months 3 months .. 6 „ 6 ,. ..9 9 „ „ 12 1 year ,, 2 years 2 years ., 3 „ 3 „ ..4 ,. 4 „ 5 „ 5 ... „ 7 „ 7 .. 10 „ 10 ,. 12 „ 12 .. 15 ., 15 20 Totals M. F. H. F. | H. 7 .. 13 4 i 4 I •- 2 .. 5 1.. .. 9 .. 19 6 4 F. ! M. F. ..17 3 ...... .. .. .. .. 2 1 .. M. F. M. F. M. F, M, F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 25 | .. 2 .. 5 .. .... ..[..!.. 1 74 7 1* .. .. I .. | .. ! .. .. ! ! .. .. 1 .. .. 1* -. •■ •• 1 1 3 1 .. 6 3 I 6 .. 23 1 1 , 1 .. ! .. .. i 1 9* .. ! 9 1 22 1 .. | 1 .. I 3 .. 5 .. 2* 2 :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: l . :: .1 :: 41 : .. 3 .. 7 ! .. I 1 .. 23 1 137 10 ; I ...... ....... .... .. .. j .. .. - •• •■ .... .. ...... .. 30 3 * Includes a prisoner for breach of probationary license.

H.—2o.

Table H. Return of Prison Offences for the Year ended 31st December, 1915.

Table I. FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908. Ages and Terms of Probation of Offenders placed under the Act during the Year 1915.

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Prison. Against Officers. Offences. Disobedience of Orders, and Idleness. Other Breaches of Regulations. Total Offences. Number Total Number ofPr&a S punished. dU Y ™f r t,,e Iddington "ruckland Dunedin [nveroargill Kaingaroa Lyttelton Mapier Sew Plymouth .. Paparua Roto Aira iVaikoria vVaipa .. Wellington 1 5 46 3 ' 78 3 82 5 28 3 12 1 3 10 1 42 5 237 4 181 6 03 8 41 9 320 7 308 11 109 13 62 1 9 71 1 239 7 204 5 208 11 53 9 29 1 7 48 1 161 157 1,754 332 221 70 744 280 137 49 91 102 50 1,803 18 2 9 1 19 5 42 23 174 Totals .. 123 744 5,802 271 766 1,160 i

.-__ Montns »ix iweive r-iineen liignceen two , rx«ti Ae<3S - and Months. Months. Months. Months. ' Years. v "f 1 '* under. voais. Four Months and under. Six Months. Twelve Months. Fifteen Months. Eighteen Months. Two Years. Two and a Half Yoars. Three Years rnri Yeai Total. under. " I 1 )ver 10 and under 15 years .. .. 1 ,15 „ 20 „ .. 2 9 .. 1 12 .,20 „ 25 „ .. .. 5 9 .. .. 4 „ 25 „ 30 „ ..1 2 4 1 1 7 „ 30 „ 40 „ .. 1 1 5 .. 2 7 ..40 „ 50 2 .. .. .. 1 „ 50 „ 60 „ .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 1 >0 years and upwards .. .. .. .. .. 1 2 5 2 1 2 1 9 9 4 5 i 12 4 7 7 1 8 1 1. 1 8 1 1 32 19 16 17 4 3 1 1 1 1 l 2 1. 1 2 1 1 Totals .. ..2 12 30 1 5 31 1 11 93 i i Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £16. By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—1916. 'rice 9d.)