PRISONS (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1924-25.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1925 Session I, H-20

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1925. NEW ZEALAND

PRISONS (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1924-25.

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

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department to His Excellency the Governor-General. Wellington, 10th August, 1925. I itave the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Prisons Department for the year 1924-25. I have, &c., C. J. Parr, Minister in Charge of Prisons Department.

The Controller-General of Prisons to the Hon. the Minister in Charge op Prisons Department. Sir, — Prisons Department, Wellington, 6th August, 1925. I have the honour to present the forty-fourth annual report of the Prisons Department, covering the financial year 1924-25, together with extracts from the reports of the controlling officers of the different prison institutions, reports regarding the. activities of Prisoners Aid Societies in the larger centres, and the criminal statistics for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1924. Prison Population : Comparative Figures. The returns furnished by the Government Statistician, which appear as an appendix to this report, show that the number of distinct persons received into the prisons and prison institutions of the Dominion during the year ended 31st December, 1924, was 3,966, compared with 3,957 in 1923 and 3,830 in 1922. The daily average number of prisoners in custody in the whole of the prison institutions for the year 1924 was 1,196-49, against 1,127-47 in 1923 —an increase of 69-02. Although the latter figures indicate an increase in the prison population, it is satisfactory to find that the proportion of offenders to the Dominion's total population shows little or no increase. In 1914 the proportion of criminals (excluding Maoris) per 10,000 of mean population was 31-05, as compared with 17-78 in 1924. It will be observed that last year there were fewer offenders under the age of twenty years than in either 1923 or 1922, but as a set-off against this there is a marked increase in the number of offenders who were over the age of forty years. It is difficult to account for the increase in older offenders, and more particularly as a large proportion of them had not previously been convicted of any offence. There has been little movement in the criminal population during the past year calling for special comment, but it is evident that crime in proportion to population is not increasing. The results of the Department's efforts in the treatment of male offenders at the Invercargill and Waikeria institutions have been recorded during the past nine years. Youthful offenders only have been dealt with at the Invercargill Borstal Institution, but men of all ages —principally wellconducted prisoners and first offenders —have been in detention at Waikeria. The departmental statistics show that of youths who served terms of reformative detention at the Invercargill institution between the Ist January ,1916, and the 31st December, 1924, only 6-64 per cent, were reconvicted for further offences. Of those who served terms of hard labour to be followed by reformative detention during the same period 11-11 per cent, were reconvicted, which would indicate that the offenders whose cases were considered less hopeful by the Courts were given terms of hard labour. During the nine years to the 31st December last 1,247 youths passed through the Invercargill Borstal Institution, and, of these, 77 only were reconvicted, making the percentage of successes 93-83 and failures 6-17. The results obtained from the Waikeria institution are even more satisfactory, but this is explained by the fact that in the past numerous first offenders of the more hopeful type were detained there, while all classes of young offenders were given a trial at Invercargill before

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being transferred to other prison institutions when found incorrigible. All such offenders go through the Invercargill institution's records and accordingly help to swell the number of failures. A summary of the figures for the Waikeria institution for the past nine years shows that 871 men serving terms of reformative detention, hard labour, or both, passed through the institution, and of these 40 only have been reconvicted for further offences, making the percentage of failures 4-59. It must be remembered, however, that our statistics are confined to reconvictions within the Dominion, and we have little information regarding the subsequent conduct of ex-inmates who leave New Zealand after completing their terms of probation. The fluctuations in the prison population of the Dominion from 1911 to 1924 (inclusive) are shown in the table below :—

Daily Average, 1911 to 1924.

Expenditube and Receipts. The gross expenditure for the past financial year under all heads amounted to £144,484, as against £131,609 for the preceding year, an increase of £12,785. The items which contributed most largely towards the increase were : Salaries and allowances (£4,497), prisoners' industry earnings (£3,525), payments to prisoners' dependants (£1,627), expenditure on prison farms (£1,046), and brickmaking expenses (£1,721). The general increase in officers' salaries consequent upon the regrading of the Public Service in April, 1924, is mainly responsible for the additional expenditure under the heading of salaries and allowances. The increase in the prison population accounts for the expenditure in prisoners' industry earnings as well as in the payments to dependants of prisoners in respect of the latter's wages. The resumption of brickmaking, with additional plant, at the Wi Tako Prison, Trentham, necessitated extra expenditure in the purchase of coal, but the increased revenue derived from the sale of bricks more than compensated for expenditure in fuel. The increased outlays in connection with prison farms is principally due to the purchase of store stock for fattening purposes —expenditure which is reproductive, as evidenced by the increased revenue from that source. The policy of developing new country by prison labour, commenced in 1912, although somewhat costly in the initial stages, is now producing considerable revenue, and, in addition to the actual cash receipts and the creation of valuable State assets, the farms provide a large portion of the prisoners' rations. The growing of vegetables and the fattening of stock from which the meat ration is obtained lessen considerably the annual food-bill. The following table indicates the actual expenditure on items on the prison dietary scale, upon commodities which cannot be produced on the Department's properties : —

Average Expenditure per Head on Prisoners' Rations from 1911 to the 31st March, 1925.

The receipts for the past financial year again constitute a record, being £14,940 in excess of the highest revenue obtained during any previous year. The greater portion of the additional receipts was obtained from the quarry at Mount Eden, where the annual income increased from £15,558 to £21,115. The Invercargill, Waikeria, and Paparua farms produced satisfactory returns, and the roadmaking w-ork carried on for the Public Works Department in the Waimarino district substantially increased the annual revenue. The bootmaking, tailoring, and mail-bag industries at the Auckland Prison produced £4,596, which is very satisfactory in view of the many difficulties experienced by the prison officials in adapting the available labour to these occupations.

Daily Average of Prisoners in Daily Average of Prisoners in Dominion Prisons. Dominion Prisons. Year. j Year. 1 Males. Females. Totals. j Males. | Females. Totals. 1911 .. 799-08 64-18 863-26 1918 .. 89698 84-97 981*95 1912 .. 855-28 64-07 919-35 1919 .. 936-28 68-06 1,004-34 1913 .. 826-69 66-55 893-24 1920 .. 872-59 67-10 939-69 1914 .. 916-09 63-72 979-81 1921 .. 992-04 73-56 1,065-60 1915 .. 931*33 76*79 1,008*12 1922 .. 1,052-54 60-91 1,113-45 1916 .. 859-99 82-78 942-77 1923 .. 1,074-34 53-13 1,127-47 1917 .. 817-27 96-99 914-26 1924 .. 1,127-50 63-99 1,196-49

v I Tf To *f. 1 . j Number of Cost per v u, Number of Cost per Year. Expenditure ! p risoners Head. Year ' ! Expenditure prisoners _ He ad. on .Rations. I on Rations. £ £ £ £ 1911 .. 8,494 863-26 9"83 1918-19 .. 16,473 1,003-43 1641 1912 .. 9,405 919-35 10-23 1919-20.. 17,294 965-07 17-93 1913 .. 9,754 893-24 10 91 1920-21 .. 18,766 965-03 19-44 1914 .. 11,555 979 81 11*79 1921-22.. 17,962 1,075-34 16-70 1915 .. 15,099 1,008-12 14 97 1922-23.. 16,80-3 1,103-95 15-22 1916-17.. 15,092 920-15 16 41 1923-24.. 17,441 1,145-46 15-23 1917-18.. 15,522 941-11 16*64 1924-25.. 18,332 1,227-50 14-93

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Cash Receipts credited to " Prisons " Vote. £ £ 1913 .. .. .. 7,382 1919-20.. .. .. 31,177 1914 .. .. .. 9,162 1920-21.. .. .. 39,136 1915 .. .. .. 11,982 1921-22.. .. .. 49,866 1916-17 .. .. 9,867 1922-23.. .. .. 46,060 1917-18 .. .. 15,083 1923-24.. .. .. 53,178 1918-19 .. .. 21,654 1924-25.. .. .. 68,118

Gash received and credited to Vote "Prisons" for Year ended 31st March, 1925.

Analysis of Prison Labour employed on Works, Industries, and Institutional Duties, for the Year ended 31st March, 1925.

Industry. 00 . ! 1 <8 rrt . | .0 w •£ 8 • S "2 . a a ® i . o O d -a Institution. ' Coir S| % JNf | | a | | P§ J Boots. Bricks. Ma(s o EH £j «|||| | g a|gl| f Jj B !srf SV* 8 <3 § <3 rj 2 § S sh ,3 dq -Ss2 ST m g a C?23 « £*0^ Q hh : " i ; I o3 £££££££££ £ ££ Addington .. .. 15 . . .. .. . . . . . . 15 Auckland .. 1,961 .. 28 1,625 .. 2,635 21,115 .. .. .. .. 27,364 Hautu .. .. 55 .. .. .. .. .. .. 55 Invercargill 4 41 5,576 .. 179 787 .. 415 80 7,082 Napier . . .. . . .. 214 . . . . . . .. 214 New Plymouth .. 129 .. 1,246 .. .. 11 .. 1,386 Paparua . . .. . . . . 459 3,484 .. .. .. .. .. 3,943 Point Halswell .. 311 .. . . .. .. 64 . . 375 Waikeria .. .. 4,445 .. .. .. .. 945 .. 5,390 Waikune 25 .. .. 8,649 2,443 .. ..11,117 Wellington .... 39 6 237 6 1,843 .. .. 422 .. 2,553 WiTako .. .. 2,809 .. .. 1,219 .. 2 .. 586 .. 4,616 Minor gaols 12 .. 1,384 .. .. 411 .. 1,807 Miscellaneous 1,637 564 2,201 1,961 2,848 38 2,362 15,277 2,635 25,983 9,436 2,443 4,491 644 68,118

Works and Industries. Institutional Maintenance, &c. |p g « 5= lid .•"*! ° institution. 1 J| 1. SI g 11 U A $* 111 !§? §3,3 a| ft * g -g-g -2 ac-g §-a "Spqg „-gc Jfiffl o.SS IsS £3 I1« 11 fl I I 5 II III '*£$ °J§ - *$* I ll ii * I! |a t|l |?i ill m i ° i a « s I J S W 6* - g- H i u i ® pa M P5 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ ! £ Addington .. .. .. .. 127 .. .. .. 237 17 381 Auckland .. 718 .. 1,356 468 242 7,858 .. 2,504* 970 69 3,264 244 17,693 Hautu .. .. 1,517 103 93 .. .. 94 20 425 .. 2,252 Invercargill .. 1,433 456 705 5,532 290 l,546f 2,576 58j; . 128 2,060 131 14,915 Napier .. 60 20 72 .. 442 .. 71 331 33 1,029 New Plymouth .. .. 54 616 .. 2.284 .. .. 143 35 419 171 3,722 -p f 3,401 316 91 2,635 778 293 993 333 10,318 Paparua .. | M78§ Point Halswell 369 . . .. .. 53|l .. .. 556 373 1,351 Waikeria .. 27 20 110 4,465 .. .. 917 ..' 851 205 1,268 103 7,966 Waikune .. 1,007 .. 2 25 .. .. 3,5902,713$ 213 .. 529 .. 8,079 Wanganui . . .. .. .. 34 .. 353 .. .. 186 258 .. 831 Wellington .. 2,743 .. 209 504 106 785 1,012 .. 13 1,006 153 7,709 Wi Tako .. 430 .. .. 2,3623,275** 403 .. 274 .. 6,744 Greymouth .. .. .. .. 32 .. .. .. 12 55 9 108 Gisborne .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 122 .. 112 .. 234 j 10,867 2,309 2,650 15,4021,416 12,915 10,9048,603 4,205 707 11,7871,567 83,332 ■ 11 J ■ ■ j . i * Made up as follows : Mail-bag repairs, £625 ; mat-making, £36 ; tailoring, £1,843. f Dredge and lighters. t Sawmilling. § Roads, &c. || Washing, <fcc. Tf Includes Point Halswell, £238. ** Brickmaking; includes £914 capital.expenditure.

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Analysis of Farm and Industry Productions used for Institutional Purposes.

As the reports of the controlling officers indicate the progress made in various directions during the past year, it is not necessary that I should say anything further than to remark that in every direction progress has been well maintained since the last report was presented. There are, however, one or two matters worthy of special reference. In the first place, the policy initiated by the present Government a few years ago of bringing in pumice lands which were formerly considered of little or no value and, by utilizing the labour of prisoners, rendering such lands productive has now passed the experimental stage. The results fully demonstrate that such lands, if properly handled, can be made commercially valuable. The first block of 680 acres is now almost ready for disposal, and arrangements are being made for the sale of this, the first farm. As some doubt has from time to time been expressed as to whether such land could be successfully treated, the Minister's direction that a thorough and exhaustive examination should be made into the whole subject has been given effect to, and the verdict of an independent expert (with fifty years' experience) who went specially into the matter has turned out to be distinctly favourable to the project. It is now intended to press on more expeditiously with the work of bringing in further areas and making them ready for intending settlers by commencing operations on three additional farm areas. It is hoped by this means that the Department will be in a position to hand over ready for settlement at least two additional farms of from 400 to 600 acres each every year. In this matter valuable pioneering work is being done, and at the same time those who have fallen are being converted into useful workers and given the opportunity of gaining a practical knowledge of farming in all its branches. Utilization op Prison Labour. One of the greatest difficulties encountered by the Prisons Department is that of finding suitable remunerative work for prisoners, owing to the difficulty experienced in disposing of the prison-made products. On the one hand we have those who constantly demand that prisons should be made self-supporting, while on the other are those who strenuously object to the sale of anything produced by prison labour. The question is, Are the prisons to be run solely as a money-making concern or in the best interests of those committed there ? It is not likely that the former method should find favour when the moral and not the financial value of the men conies to be considered, and when — to quote Sir Ruggles-Brise —the principal aim of imprisonment is to secure moral reform of the prisoner and not to make money to enable the Treasury to meet the expenses of prisons. It is only of recent years that the theory of a self-supporting prison has ceased to be attractive. Sir RugglesBrise goes on to say, " The sentiment against prison labour is to a large extent a legacy of the past when conditions were widely different. It is difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile the prohibition of useful and productive labour without a system of earning with the insistant and reasonable demand that the conditions of prison life shall be made as reformative as possible. From the dawn of prison reform labour was predicated as the most essential element of reform. The outcry against undue competition with free labour is to be condemned as inhuman, because it is contrary to the law of humanity, which cannot be attenuated even in the case of a criminal. The outcry is unreasonable for the following reasons : (a) That the amount of competition by prison labour is so small as to be hardly appreciable ; (h) that all productivity from any source is a gain to the community ; (c) that the product of prison labour relieves the cost of maintaining prisons ; (a) that the importance of reforming prisoners by labour outweighs all economic considerations." It would therefore appear that, in the opinion of one who is recognized as being one of the foremost men in the world where the welfare of prisoners is concerned, useful remunerative work is one of the greatest agencies in connection with the rehabilitation of men and women who have been sent to prison ; and after forty years' experience in prisons and amongst prisoners I have formed the same conclusion. There is no use, however, in producing commodities if the sale of such is prohibited. Many years ago I, myself, have seen men breaking roacl-metal which was afterwards wheeled into pits and covered up with clay. I have also seen heaps of clay (100 yards of it) wheeled for 50 yards and stacked, and the same clay wheeled back to its former position again, just for the sake of giving the men something to do. The baneful effects of such action upon both officers and prisoners can be readily imagined.

r ... .. -o i. m 4-w Timber ancl Farm and rr , , , Institution. Boots. Clothmg Firewood . Garden Produce. Tota1 ' j j I ' I | I £ : £ £ £ £ Auckland .. .. 1,736 5,267 .. 219 7,222 Hautu .. .. .. .. .. 129 129 Invercargill .. .. 893 j 37 1,071 2,001 Napier .. .. . . . . . . 10 10 New Plymouth . . . . . . .. 59 59 Paparua .. .. .. j .. . • 666 666 Point Halswell . . .. .. .. 129 129 Waikeria .. .. .. ; .. .. 634 634 Waikune .. .. .. .. 868* .. 868 Wi Tako .... .. .. 78 22 100 2,629 5,267 | 983 2,939 11,818 * Includes £393 011 mill buildings and tram-lines.

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Payment of Wages. Closely and inseparably allied with the question of prison labour is that of payment to prisoners in the form of earnings or wages. It is clear that the prisoner has no right to payment as against the taxpayer who is heavily taxed in contributing to his support, but the idea of some definite reward following effort is generally accepted in all prison systems. In this respect New Zealand leads the way. In some countries we have heard of habitual criminals being enabled to earn considerable sums of money while in prison ; but, taking prisoners as a whole, the payments to prisoners, and especially to their dependants, the New Zealand system is one of the most humane. Last year approximately £7,000 was paid to prisoners' wives or mothers for the support of their families, while about £4,500 was paid in the form of earnings to the prisoners themselves, either on discharge from prison or subsequently through Probation Officers in suitable instalments. This arrangement has been found necessary in the interests of the prisoners themselves. The payment of wages has come to stay, but the greatest care has to be exercised in the matter of seeing that only deserving cases are helped, as otherwise abuses are liable to occur. Prisoners' Aid Societies. The work of aiding prisoners on discharge is one of supreme importance. To be effective, however, it is necessary that the prisoner whom it is desired to aid should not only be met on discharge but visited whilst in prison, and a, personal interest taken in him and his family. By such means only is it possible for a social worker to really help a prisoner on his release. The holding-out of a helping hand, and the realization that some one takes an interest in him or her and is really concerned as to whether he or she makes good or not, has saved many from again drifting back into prison. We are fortunate indeed in New Zealand in having men and women who are ever willing to devote both time and money in trying to help their fallen brothers and sisters, and I cannot speak too highly of the good work performed by the Prisoners' Aid Societies. Their help is invaluable, and is given at the time when it is most needed. It is in dealing with short-sentenced prisoners that the help of the society is most needed. In the cases of the longer-sentenced prisoners monetary help is not required, but those sentenced to terms not exceeding three months are not credited with earnings and are often penniless when discharged. After-care of Prisoners. The question of the care and supervision of prisoners subsequent to their release from prison has had the Department's attention for some years back. From time to time suggestions relating to after-care have been made by social workers, but the Department is unable to give effect to them. The conditions in this Dominion are different in many respects, from those existing in other countries, and the time has not arrived for establishing an extravagant system, which some people consider desirable. In dealing with the treatment of criminals a more than superficial knowledge is very necessary, and the views put forward by persons who profess an interest in criminal reform are often of very little assistance to the Department. In the case of short-sentenced prisoners the Prisoners' Aid Societies and other bodies of Christian men and women look after their welfare, while in that of the longer-sentenced prisoners after-care is attended to by the Probation Officers, who are ever ready with kindly advice and help in the matter of obtaining employment; and, as the average payments to prisoners on release amount to £15 per head (varying from £5 to £35, according to length of sentence) it follows that no offender has occasion to revert to crime on his release through lack of food or clothing. The men are well provided for, and quite capable of looking after themselves. Almost every one is willing to help a young man to make good, but in the cases of young female offenders it is much more difficult. lam therefore of the opinion that for the latter class the providing of a home or hostel to which they could go on their discharge from prison is a real necessity, and would save quite a number from again lapsing into crime. Classification. Considerable progress has been made of late years in the matter of classifying prisoners. Experience has taught that classification should be according to age and character, irrespective of the nature of the offence ; further, that instead pf one large building divided into sections for the treatment of each class, separate institutions give much better results, especially in the case of the young offender. Therefore year by year the work continues of setting apart separate institutions wherein the treatment of those who are more often unfortunate than really criminal can be attended to with a reasonable prospect of success. During the past year a Borstal institution for the treatment of girls and young women between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five has been established at Point Halswell, and. arrangements are at present being made for a second Borstal institution for young men, which is to be located in the North Island. Invercargill will then deal with all youths bet.ween the ages of sixteen and. twenty, while the North Island institution will receive those between twenty and twenty-five. Classification on proper lines is a great preventive against recidivism. Awaiting-tp.ial and Remand Prisoners. Provision has been made for the erection of a building set apart for the treatment of awaitingtrial and remand prisoners. Such a building is now in course of erection near Wellington, and should be ready for occupation in about six months' time. This is a decided advantage on the usual system of housing the unbailed trial and rema ndprisoners together, and it is hoped to do more in the way of segregation during the coming year.

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Indeterminate Sentences and Conditional Release. The releasing of prisoners on probation after having served a portion of their sentences continues to work satisfactorily. Wherever it has .been tried, provided due care is taken with the object of ensuring that only those entitled to it by reason of the fact that they have made an earnest effort to make good are given their release, the results have been distinctly encouraging. In this connection I cannot do better than quote from the work entitled " Prison Reform at Home and Abroad " : "We must have a free hand to hold out hope and make it plain to the prisoner that his day of liberation will come only when his hostile will is broken —when he can be discharged with safety to mix again with his fellow-creatures as an honest man and a good citizen. This day may come sooner or later. The destiny of the prisoner is in his own hands. The moral regeneration of the prisoner should be the primary aim of prison discipline, and for this purpose hope must always be a more powerful agent than fear, and anything that inflicts unnecessary pain or humilitation should be abolished. The indeterminate sentence has therefore much to recommend it provided it is properly administered." Probation System. As this matter has been fully dealt with in the annual report regarding the adult probation system I do not intend going further into the matter, but simply to confine myself to referring all interested to that report, and to add that as a result of long experience I am satisfied that the probation system as applied in New Zealand has been the means of saving many young people from the stigma of imprisonment, and, if used judiciously and under proper guarantees and safeguards for the protection of society —especially in the case of casual offenders, but more particularly young persons in the early stages of crime—nothing but good can result. The practice of sending people to prison for short sentences should, as far as possible, be avoided. I again quote from Sir Ruggles-Brise's work 011 the treatment of crime : "I have been struck by the mischief wrought by short sentences of imprisonment. There is no time to instruct or reform such prisoners, but unhappily there is time to corrupt them ; as their numbers are large they are costly to the State. Their families suffer, and they are driven to repeat their offences by want. Probation in the majority of such cases is invaluable." My experience leads me to endorse Sir Ruggles-Prise's opinion. Resumption op Tree-planting by Prisoners. The advantages of again employing prisoners at tree-planting has been brought forward, and the necessary arrangement for the resumption of tree-planting on a large scale put in hand, and it is hoped before long to have operations in full swing once again. The advantages of employing prisoners at tree-planting from the prison-management point of view are very considerable. The camp system, of housing prisoners is comparatively inexpensive. The portable huts—which the prisoners much prefer to the cell system —are easy to construct, and the Department has both the timber and labour available. There is also the fact that all prisoners who have no serious physical defects can efficiently plant trees although they may have had no former experience in outside work. The work performed by each man can be seen and checked at a glance, and the loafer is unable to rely on the steady worker to make up his own deficiency. The clerical work required in a tree-planting camp can be attended to by the officer in charge, with occasional assistance from a disciplinary officer. No elaborate system of accounting is required. I may also point out that the camp system lends itself to the development of methods of classifying prisoners. For instance, a tree-planting camp set apart for first offenders would be an excellent adjunct to our present arrangements, and no time should be lost in again getting to work. Health of Prisoners. The returns of sickness given in Table A show that the daily average number 011 the sick-list in all prisons and prison institutions of the Dominion in 1924 was 25-70. The slight increase when compared with the previous year's figures is accounted for by a mild influenza epidemic which occurred in November last, and which affected to a greater extent the inmates of the Auckland Prison. Old vagrants suffering from numerous infirmities are often received into prisons when they are found in the streets destitute and ill, and when they refuse to remain in the Homes to which they are committed. Such cases help to increase the returns of sickness, and add to the Department's expenditure when their maintenance in public hospitals, as frequently happens, has to be met. The health of those prisoners who are received in a physically fit condition invariably continues satisfactory. Prisoners Detention Act, 1915. There were no prisoners dealt with under the provisions of the Prisoners Detention Act during the past year. The total number who have been detained under the provisions of the Act since it was first passed is thirty-one. In conclusion, I wish to refer to the irreparable loss sustained by the Prisons Department through the death of Mr. C. E. Matthews, late Controller-General of Prisons. 111 connection with the administration of prisons Mr. Matthews's work was of great value to the community. Having been closely associated with the late Controller-General for nearly twelve years I am in a position to say that he was eminently fitted for the dual position he occupied, and it will be difficult indeed to fill his place. He took great pleasure in his work, which always came foremost in his thoughts, and he ever tried to do his best for the unfortunates under his care, and never spared himself where their interests were

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concerned. Mr. Matthews's loss will be felt not only by the officers but also by many of the prisoners, to whom he was always a sympathetic friend. He was possessed of a broad outlook, and was of an optimistic turn of mind. It is chiefly owing to his exertions that the Prisons Department of New Zealand has attained to its present high standard of efficiency, and it is to be hoped that the result of his life's work will still continue to bear fruit. M. Hawkins, Controller-General of Prisons.

PRISONS AND PRISON INSTITUTIONS: EPITOME OF REPORTS OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS. Auckland Prison. At the commencement of the year there were 352 males and 13 females in custody; during the year 1,483 males and 107 females were received, and 1,462 males and 106 females discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in prison on the night of the 31st December, 1924, 373 males and 14 females. Eleven habitual criminals (male), twenty-one reformative (male), one reformative (female), as well as twenty-four hard-labour prisoners (males), were released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board. Three male prisoners died in the prison during the year, and two males in the District Public Hospital —the customary inquest being held in each case. One male prisoner who was sentenced to death was executed within the prison. The daily average on the sick-muster was —Males, seventeen ; females, nil. The large number of males is accounted for b_y the fact that in this prison there is always a goodly sprinkling of aged and infirm derelicts who, on account of being too old to work, are placed on the casual list, and are in need oi constant medical attention. In addition, an influenza ej>idemic in the month of November tended to raise the average for the year, for in that month the daily average was thirty-five. The number of " remands " from the Magistrates' Court for medical observation, or treatment, as the case may be, must be taken into consideration. With the exception of a few days' sickness during the whole year the female division has remained practically free from illness. The Esperanto class continues to be held under the immediate control of a prisoner student, and those attending appear to derive much benefit from this particular study. Continued thanks are due to Mr. Edmanson, of Wellington, for his unfailing interest in the prisoners' Esperanto work. Two further cottages at Clive Road have been completed, and officers are now in occupation of same. The foundations for an additional two are now under way. The whole of the interior of the prison has been renovated. A grey plastered dado has been run around all the walls, and the remainder of same has been whitewashed. The ceilings have also been whitened and the floors plastered—the whole effect being very pleasing to the eye when compared with the previous drab colouring of the interior. Furthermore, the renovation has made conditions more sanitary. The external paintwork is also being renovated. The garden continues to be a good asset to the institution —the quantity and quality has been well maintained, and, as in the previous year, only potatoes were purchased outside. The bootmaking industry continues active : the installation of modern machinery, mentioned in last year's report, has been fully justified by results. In regard to this industry it must be taken into consideration that the working profit on the output would be greater if the men were all experienced hands. The Principal Warder, who is in charge, is in my opinion deserving of credit for the excellent standard of the output. An addition to the work carried on during 1924 has been the repairing of postmen's and messengers' satchels for the Post and Telegraph Department, the work being carried out satisfactorily and expeditiously. The tailoring industry is being continued with satisfactory results to the Department. The requirements of our own and other Departments are being met, in spite of the fact that a number of the hands are inexperienced. One feature of this industry is that men not suitable for heavy work can be profitably employed at tailoring. During the year we were able to effect repairs to 4,526 mail and 3,453 parcel bags —credits against material and labour being £1,634 lis. 6d. for the twelve months. The work has grown greatly, and the repairs for the whole of the Dominion are effected with satisfaction and expedition, although many of the bags received are in a very poor condition. An excellent concrete roofing tile is being manufactured from the special material available from the prison quarry, and we are now ready to meet a large order from the Education Department. During the twelve months 36,978 tiles were made at a value of £482 12s. lOd. Excellent results have been obtained from the prisoners employed at concrete-block making both in respect of the quantity and quality of the output. During the twelve months 34.400 blocks were manufactured, the value being £2,014 Is., and we have already received payment of £1,523 7s. 4d. for blocks supplied to the Education Board. The prison quarry, which is the principal means of employing our prisoners, continues to thrive under the management of Mr. Meehan, and an excellent standard has been maintained in connection with this industry. The return for the current financial year should be in the vicinity of £20,000 in respect of metal sold to local bodies, &c.

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Concerts continue to be held periodically in the evenings and also on most of the prison holidays —the programmes, which are arranged by Mr. J. Stewart and others, being noteworthy for their excellence, and the prisoners show much appreciation of the efforts on their behalf. An innovation during 1924 has been cinematograph entertainments, and this further concession by the Department has been warranted by the appreciation of the inmates. Thanks are due to Mr. Hayward and others for the arrangement of these programmes. The several organizations responsible for the excellent Christmas gifts in the shape of additional comforts are deserving of commendation for their continued spirit of self-sacrifice, and their kindness during the festive season was deeply appreciated by the prisoners. The Prisoners' Aid Society, the Salvation Army, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and many others are always ready to assist prisoners on release, thereby rendering a great service to ex-prisoners and the community. I may state that I have been very well satisfied, more so this year than any other since I have had charge of this institution, with the conduct of the staff, and the manner in which the discipline has been maintained and the various works carried on under their supervision. In conclusion, may I be permitted to place on record, on behalf of each member of the staff and myself, our deepest regret at the untimely death of our late revered chief —Mr. C. E. Matthews. Schoolmaster's Report on Work in Prison School. I beg to submit, for the year ending 31st March, 1925, the following report on the work of the school, H.M. Prison, Mount Eden, Auckland :— Although the instruction throughout last year was considerably hampered through my continued ill health, which ultimately necessitated my securing a month's leave of absence for the purpose of undergoing operative treatment, the men evinced commendable keenness in their studies, and, by diligent application to the various tasks allotted them, accomplished much good work. As in the past, the major portion of the time was devoted to the teaching of English and arithmetic, in which subjects a steady advance was maintained, the majority of the students securing welldeserved promotion at the conclusion of the school year. Unfortunately for our record, two wellprepared candidates, who would, in the ordinary course of events, have been presented for proficiency in Standard VI, at some time during the period of my enforced absence in December, were later withdrawn, so that, through my inability to make arrangements for their examination, the year was very probably deprived of an honour enjoyed by its predecessor. It is pleasing to record such fine progress in that all-important subject of the school curriculum, English, which, as set down in last year's report, was much below the standard of arithmetic. By calling into play the perceptual and conseptual activities of those undergoing instruction in the matter of securing oral reproduction of lessons, stories, &c., this happy result has been brought about. Debates, too, were held at frequent intervals, the various participants displaying the keenest enthusiasm both in their search for subject-matter and in the manner of its presentment; hence from this practice very beneficial results accrued. Owing to the success of the venture in 1923, an attempt was again made to stimulate interest by arranging competitions in spelling, geography, and general knowledge ; the spirit of rivalry thus aroused resulting in information of considerable educational value. Towards the close of the year several additional Chinamen, among whom was one of exceptional ability, were admitted, and owing to lack of accommodation (the roll number having risen to thirtytwo) they were catered for in a room adjoining the schoolroom proper. Under the tuition of their gifted countryman the Chinese element (seven in number) have made such remarkable progress in the matter of learning to read and write English that I feel the action of the prison authorities in this connection is worthy of some commendation. The Assistant Schoolmaster has been most assiduous throughout the year in his devotion to duty, and he has proved an acquisition to the staff, while the disciplinary officers rendered faithful service. In conclusion, sir, T. desire to express my sincere thanks for the confidence displayed in me, together with the support so readily given me, and at the same time to extend to your Department my best wishes for the successful manipulation of the business of the ensuing year. Hautu Prison Land-development Camp, Tokaanu. The health of the prisoners has been good, there being no cases of sickness during the past year. The daily average in custody during the year was 30 15. The general conduct of the prisoners has been very satisfactory, there being only one man punished for a breach of the Prison Regulations. There were no escapes or attempts to escape during the year. The industry of the prisoners has been exceptionally good. I have pleasure to again record that the majority of the prisoners continue to take a keen interest in the farm-work. The prison vegetablegarden continues to be a success ; more than sufficient fresh vegetables for local requirements have been grown, the surplus sent to the Waikune Prison for rations, and also for feeding live-stock at Hautu. The following is a summary of the work carried out during the year : 276 acres cleared and stumped and burned off ready for ploughing ; 219 acres ploughed, disked, tine-harrowed, 100 acres of which was sown in grass, 57 in oats, 4 in potatoes, 2 in swedes, and 1 acre in mangolds; the balance, 55 acres, is being prepared for sowing down in grass in the coming autumn. Forest-trees, consisting of 100 gums and 5,000 Pinus radiata, were planted in various parts of the farm for the purpose of shelter-belts; also 20,000 Pinus radiata grown in the Hautu Nursery were lined out for planting in the coming autumn.jf&pAn orchard was established during the year, and fifty-six fruit-trees were planted and are growing well. Three miles and a half of fencing were erected, consisting of three

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posts to the chain and five wires. Half a mile of road was metalled, and six miles of dray-track cleared, stumped, and formed 15 ft. wide from the camp to the bush. Six miles of the main TaupoTokaanu Road and three miles of the Tokaanu-Waimarino Road have been repaired and graded. The following buildings were completed during the year, viz. : Residence for the Officer in Charge, implement-shed, motor-shed, and piggeries. The various officers carried out their duties satisfactorily. Invercargill Borstal Institution. At the beginning of the year there were 176 male inmates in custody ; during the year 154 inmates were received and 143 inmates discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving 187 inmates in custody at the end of the year. The daily average number in custody was 175-38. The health of the inmates has been extremely good. There were four admissions to the Southland Public Hospital during the year, three of which were sufferers from septic hands as the result of accidents on the works. The fourth admission was a slight surgical case. The conduct of the inmates has been remarkably good, the number of offences dealt with being 49, as against 124 in the previous year, which is a gratifying improvement. Two inmates escaped at night while employed on the dredge, and were recaptured by the police some days afterwards in Central Otago. Both of the escapees were sentenced to further terms of reformative detention. One other inmate escaped during the day from a party working on the farm, and was recaptured the same day, and is at present awaiting sentence. Entertainments were again provided by local musical societies, and proved very popidar. Frequent gramophone concerts were given by members of th.e staff. Members of the Rotary Club have taken a great interest in the inmates during the last six months, and have visited the institution weekly in the evenings. The institution band continues to make good progress. Mr. Page, physical instructor, still attends regularly for the purpose of imparting physical instruction to the boys, and the benefit derived by them is very marked. The Association Class, consisting of the best-behaved youths of the institution, is still a great incentive to good behaviour, and admission to the class is eagerly sought after on account of the extra privileges enjoyed by its members. The hour or more spent by its members in the evening in the social room, where various games are played and where a plentiful 3upply of magazines, &c., is provided is greatly enjoyed and appreciated. Football and cricket in season are also played by the class on the institution recreation-grouncl on Saturday afternoon and holidays. Instruction in carpentry and plumbing by members of the staff was carried out during the year in the evenings, and the eagerness of the classes to avail themselves of the opportunity to learn is very noticeable. In addition to the evening educational classes, which were carried on regula.rly under the direction of qualified teachers, the opportunity to study in their cubicles art night is also given to those that desire to do so, and quite a number avail themselves of the facilities provided. A series of lectures on the functions and management of the human body were given by Dr. Garfield Crawford, and great attention and interest was paid to them by the inmates. The bootmaking class, under a qualified officer-tradesman, is doing good work. All the boots and slippers worn by the inmates in the institution are made in the shop, and all future supplies for Paparua Prison are to be made here. Uniform boots for all prison officers in the South Island are also made in the shop. Quite a number of the inmates have expressed themselves as being quite confident of being able to take up the trade of bootmaking after their release. Breadmaking is still being carried on with satisfactory results by an inmate who learnt to bake since his admission to the institution, and a substantial reduction in the cost of this commodity is noticeable when compared with the price of bread locally. During the year a portion of the institution was declared a Borstal Institution under the Prevention of Crime (Borstal Institutions Establishment) Act, and two inmates were received under the Act. In addition to the practical training received in blocklaving, carpentry, plumbing, &c., in connection with the various building operations, the inmates also received instruction in farming on our extensive farm. All milking is now being done by hand, about two hundred cows being milked twice daily, which provides employment for a number of inmates. The following is a detailed statement of the work undertaken or completed during the year : — The Stead Street roading contract has been completed, the following material being used: 3,150 tons rubble, 1,224 cubic yards gravel, and 400 cubic yards clay. Forty chains of road on No. 1 Corporation section were formed and gravelled, 600 cubic yards of gravel being used in the formation. All the farm-roads were pitched with rubble, and half of them gravelled. The sections around the stables, No. 1 dairy, pigsties, and behind the ranch-house have been levelled. A new ditch, 13 ft. wide by 3 ft. deep and 28 chains long, has been put in, running north and south past the slaughterhouse. A contour drain, 10 ft. by 4 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in., and 69 chains long, on the west side of the rifle range, has been completed, and all the drains on the property cleaned out. An officer's cottage and a new residence for the Deputy Superintendent were completed in concrete blocks. On the farm an additional cow-shed and new sheep-yards and dip were erected. A powder-magazine for the Internal Affairs Department was also built. The new rifle range is practically completed. The new system of water-supply to the farm was pushed on, and it is now nearing completion. The dredge continues to do good work, and large quantities of gravel are being pumped, over the wall for use on the roads. There is an area of 6 chains by 6 chains by 3 ft. deep levelled north of the main farm-road and running from the western wall towards the garden. An area of 6 chains by 6 chains by 2f ft. deep has been filled in but not yet levelled. All blocks and tiles for the new buildings have been made in the block-shed. Manuka is still being obtained from Bushy Point and cut into lengths in the firewood-yard for sale. Revenue for the year ended 31st December for firewood sold amounted to £188. Timber for boxing and rough lining

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used in connection with the works in progress is being obtained from Bushy Point and cut at the Department's sawmill, credit for same being obtained from the Public Works Department. The new baths building is being pushed on rapidly, and considerable progress has been made in its erection. The lighters have brought up 1,180 cubic yards gravel, 100 cubic yards sand, 653 cubic yards rubble, 83 cubic yards shell, and 228 cords of firewood. Borstal Institution School : Report of Senior Schoolmaster. I beg to send report of evening classes held at the Borstal Institution, Invercargill, during the year ended 31st March, 1925. The total number of pupils in the various classes from Primer 3 to Standard VI is at present 130 Six of this year's pupils were classed as illiterates, and several newcomers had to enter the primer classes. The results obtained are gratifying in that there are no longer any illiterates. A special class has been formed for dealing with the very backward. During the last term of the year special attention was given to arithmetic in each class, and the testing of pupils resulted in a new classification, several receiving promotion. The English, so far as reading is concerned, has not been found to give a suitable standard for promotion. In all the standards the books read are more advanced than is usual for primary-school lads, and intelligent reading of prose and of poetry is general. It is difficult to get answers from the inmates, who appear very self-conscious before their fellow-students. Written intellige ;ce tests, the answers of which are made brief, have been adopted to encourage response. The general tone and discipline are good, while nearly a ll give evidence of interest in their work. Napier Prison. On the Ist January, 1924, there were in custody 13 male prisoners ; received during the year, 153 male and 7 female prisoners—total, 160. The health of prisoners has been generally good. One male, prisoner, a Maori, was sent to district hospital suffering from an incurable abscess, and two other prisoners suffering with less serious complaints. One was discharged on remission, and the other was in hospital until expiry of sentence. Prisoners have been employed at quarry-work, building a 430 ft. retaining-wall on Marine Parade frontage of Prison Reserve, with steps and approaches to terrace forming a part of the wall. The wall is 5 ft. 6 in. high, averaging 2 ft. at base and .18 in. wide on top, finished with cement. The wall is a great improvement to the prison property and the Marine Parade generally. The only sources from which the Department receives revenue are from the quarry, garden, boot-repairing, and maintenance of prisoners remanded for medical treatment, and rent of one of the prison cottages. The revenue received for the financial year Ist April, 1924, till 31st March, 1925, was as follows : Prom private firms and Borough Council for quarry material, £215 3s. ; maintenance of prisoners undergoing medical treatment, £6 18s. 6d. ; rent of prison cottage, £65: total, £287 Is. 6d. Supplied from quarry for constructing wall, Marine Parade—value of materials, £80 ; value of vegetables supplied from garden to prison local rate, £9 15s. 2d. : total, £89 15s. 2d. The vegetables supplied from prison garden represent about three-fourths of the total supply required. Owing to the dry weather experienced here, and the variety of pests we have to contend with, it is a difficult matter to keep up a good supply. The conduct of the officers has been good, and they have carried out their duties in an efficient manner. No offences have been recorded against them. In conclusion, I desire to place on record the very deep and sincere regret of myself and fellowofficers at the unexpected and sudden death of our highly respected late Controller-General, Mr. C. E. Matthews, whose work for prison reform will ever live in our memories. New Plymouth Prison. Fifty-six male prisoners were in custody at the beginning of the year ; 100 males and 3 females were received ; 67 males were discharged or handed to the police, 26 transferred to other prisons, 7 admitted to bail or probation, 1 died, and 10 released on recommendation of the Prisons Board ; of the females, 2 were discharged and 1 admitted to probation ; leaving 45 male prisoners in custody on the 31st December. A number of old men and a few of the derelict class of prisoners were transferred to Wanganui Prison, in order that they may be kept under conditions more suitable to their old age and infirmities. The supplies of rations under tender contracts have been satisfactory. There were no escapes or attempted escapes during the year. The general conduct of the prisoners has been very good, and there has been but little need for the assistance of the Visiting Justices in the maintenance of discipline. One man who was undergoing life imprisonment died as the result of an epileptic seizure. He had been subject to these fits for years, and has been known to have as many as eight in one day. The District Coroner held, an inquest into the death, and returned a verdict as above, adding that everything possible had been done for the man. The general health of the men has been good, and with the exception of the above fatal case there was no serious illness. Amongst so many sexual cases as are assembled here it is inevitable to have a few men who suffer from physical and mental disabilities caused by their own perverted habits ; these men by their oft-repeated reporting sick cause the return of sick to appear comparatively high. Three prisoners were sent to the public hospital for operative treatment. One of these was suffering from a long-standing hernia. He has been cured, and on his discharge was physically fit to earn an honest livelihood. The spiritual welfare of the prisoners has been zealously cared for by the ministers of the various denominations.

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Several concerts of a high-class order have been held during the year. These have been mostly provided by the members of the Male Choir and the Orchestral Society, and have been much appreciated by all. As in previous years, the main industry of the prison has been the quarrying of road-metal for the New Plymouth Borough Council. As the supply of metal becomes scarcer it has become necessary to go deeper with the excavation, and in order to facilitate the working of the lower level the Borough Council have supplied an electric motor and pump. These were installed in October last, and are working satisfactorily. One of the Borough Council reserves, Marsland Hill, has been kept in good order and clear of noxious weeds. The garden, in common with other local gardens, suffered tremendous damage in a gale that occurred last March ; still the financial results of the year's working are quite satisfactory. So as to provide useful means of consuming the waste from the garden and kitchen, several pigs have been bred, and as these become saleable they are sold at market rates. Practically the whole of the corrugated iron on the roof of the prison has been renewed, and the roof generally renovated and repaired, and it is now in first-class order. All the inside walls have been sither painted or whitewashed. The cell-floors in the south and east wings have been covered with malthoid : this has proved a distinct improvement on the old worn concrete floors. New coppers have been fitted in the kitchen and laundry, and the whole of the prison generally renovated. It was very gratifying to hear the late Controller-General of Prisons say on his last inspection of the prison that he had never seen it look in such good order before. The news of the death of the late Controller-General of Prisons, Mr. C. E. Matthews, came as a painful shock, and was received with deep regret. By his death all those connected with prison-work have suffered a great loss, and to those who knew him best the loss is greatest. Paparua Prison. At the beginning of the year there were 131 prisoners in custody ; during the year 359 were received and 367 were discharged, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, leaving a total of 123 in custody at the end of the year. The daily average for the year was 121-24. The health of the prisoners has been excellent. The largest number on the sick-list at any time was six. Three prisoners were admitted to the Christchurch Hospital during the year. There was one death in prison—a prisoner sentenced to five years hard labour hanged himself in his cell the night after receiving sentence. An inquest was held by the Coroner, and a verdict was returned of suicide. There were two escapes during the year. One prisoner succeeded in reaching Australia, where he is now serving a sentence of three years for a fresh offence. The other prisoner escaped from the cookhouse and was at large seven days before being recaptured by the police and returned to prison. The spiritual welfare of the men has been well attended to by the ministers of the various denominations. The Richmond Mission (Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Smith), have held monthly meetings, which have been well attended by the prisoners. Fortnightly concerts were continued during the year, and many thanks are due to the ladies and gentlemen led by Mrs. W. J. Hunter and Mrs. Holmes, who have devoted their time to this, and their efforts to relieve the monotony of prison life were much appreciated by the prisoners. The school classes conducted by Mr. W. 0. Gilmour have been continued during the year and many of those attending the classes have shown a decided improvement. The schoolmaster's annual report is reproduced below. The, " honour system " is continuing to give satisfaction here, and although there have been one or two instances of broken faith, the vast majority appreciate and never abuse the privileges obtained from this system. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been excellent. Very few punishments for breaches of discipline were found necessary. Progress on the construction of the buildings has been continued. During the year the East Cell Range has been almost completed except for the four porches. The building is now fully occupied. The administrative block of buildings is in course of erection. The first story has been erected and part of the second story has also been constructed. The exercise yards have been laid out with concrete borders, but progress with the walls has been delayed owing to the shortage in New Zealand of expanded metal which has just come to hand. All the drainage-work has been completed and connected up with the main septic tank. The water-supply to the new dairy has been completed. The farm is producing good results : 410 acres of the poorer ground have been placed under lucerne, which has made the farm practically independent of the droughts which are so prevalent in Canterbury. The dairying industry is still being carried on with a measure of success. A number of the cows have been culled and the best retained. This industry, besides being a satisfactory source of revenue, provides instructive and congenial labour for a number of prisoners. The cash revenue produced from this source during the year was £948 7s. The pig industry profited by the skim-milk from the dairy. The cash revenue from this industry amounted to ,£5OB Bs. 4d. This industry also provides instructive work for the men. After the year's operations the number of pigs on hand was 139. The sheep flock was reduced to the half-bred ewes only and the stud Corrieda'es. The year has been most satisfactory for this class of farming, and the cash received from this industry was £1,081. The lambs sold particularly well at from 355. to 425. and the average per head worked out at 375. 4d. The garden is now well established, and besides supplying the prison with vegetables for rations the sum of £68 17s. 6d. was received for cash sales. The poultry industry has been under the direct control of an officer during the year and the cash revenue amounted to £82 10s. 7d. The conduct of the officers has been satisfactory. During the year one officer was fined for disobedience of orders.

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Schoolmaster's Report on the Work in Ihe Prison School. I have the honour to report on the work of the Prison School for the year ended 31st March, 1925. The aim of the work has been to give the men a good grounding in English, arithmetic, geography, and commercial correspondence. The material to work on varied considerably. Some of them readily gripped the work and rapidly attained to the standard of proficiency certificate, but quite half of them had never been beyond Standard IV, while a few could barely read or write. In all classes the interest in the work was well maintained, and a number advanced from Standard IV to Standard VI. At intervals a debate was held : this proved to be a source of additional interest, and was a valuable training in oral expression and logical reasoning. For those men who had advanced beyond Standard VI a course of bookkeeping and higher mathematics was provided. The fine spirit with which the men entered into the work has been a most pleasing feature, and has considerably lightened my labours. They seem to realize that while in prison they have a chance to improve their knowledge and so have a better chance, at the expiration, of their term of imprisonment, of earning their living. The discipline of the men at school has been all that I could desire, this being mainly due to the firm yet tactful manner in which they were handled by the warder in charge. My best thanks are due to you, sir, for the facilities you have placed at my disposal and to the officers of the prison for the kind and courteous manner in which they have aided me at all times. Waikeria Reformatory. There were 83 inmates in custody on the Ist January, 1924, and 96 were received during the year. The discharges were 20 hard labour and 3 reformative-detention prisoners on expiration of sentence, while 11 hard-labour and 24 reformative-detention prisoners were released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, and 13 were transferred to other prisons, leaving a total of 108 remaining in custody at the 31st December. The daily average number of inmates in confinement during the year was 95-37. Progress during the year can, I think, be regarded as satisfactory. The " honour system " has further demonstrated its efficacy in the work done and in the fact that the liberty allowed has been seldom abused. There has actually been only one escape during the year. Under cover of night inmate K. H. Armstrong dashed from the main building, but was recaptured two days later. The inmates who on discharge have been placed in employment have in all cases done well. Unfortunately, the prejudice in the public mind against the individual who has broken the law dies hard, and as a result it is not always possible to find positions for men who might be expected to acquit themselves creditably. However, nothing but time and the continued success of the system will overcome this. The main avenue of employment for inmates is farm-work, and in this department the year has been successful. The dairy herds by their increased returns have shown very forcibly what can be achieved even in a short time by culling and attention to feeding. Tree-planting for timber and shelter was carried out during the winter, and should, I think, be continued from year to year. The varieties mostly planted have been Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus viminalis, and Eucalyptus Macarthuri. Unfortunately, the seeds obtained through the High Commissioner have not, for some reason, germinated satisfactorily. There has been a considerable amount of work carried out on the Mental Hospital property by Waikeria inmates, who, in addition to ordinary farming operations, have been engaged in roadwork and blockmaking, and have broken in some 300 acres of virgin country. The co-operation between the two institutions has been of material benefit to both, and I am convinced that this policy is of concrete advantage to the State. In addition the experience gained by inmates fits them for employment in the country, which supplies a much more hopeful environment than does work in the towns. From the kitchen-garden, in addition to our own requirements, vegetables have been supplied to other institutions. The growing of tomatoes as a crop on a considerable scale has been discontinued. The prices realized have been very variable, and this, combined with the risks of deterioration in transport and the distance from the railway, makes the proposition too risky for the amount of labour which must be employed. I must express my indebtedness to Superintendent Vincent of the Auckland Prison for his careful selection of cases transferred here. My thanks are also due to members of the staff, to whoso loyalty and energy such success as has attended the year's operations is largely due. Wang an ui Prison. At the commencement of the year there were 29 males in custody and no females ; there were 144 males and 7 females received during the year, against 130 males and 12 females for 1923 ; there were 144 males and 7 females discharged during the year, leaving in custody 29 males at the end of the year. The health of the prisoners, who are nearly all old men, has been wonderfully good. With good food, clean bodies and clothing it is wonderful how well they keep. Not only do they keep well, but they often improve considerably after admission. There was one death during the year, of an old man of eighty years, who was ill with an incurable disease when received here. An inquest was held before the Coroner, and the verdict of " Death from natural causes " was returned. During the year Dr. Earle was appointed Medical Officer to the prison. The electric light has been installed during the year, and is much appreciated by the inmates and staff. The work that is now in progress is that of a new dining-room, dormitory, bath-room with new plunge and shower baths, also the painting of the exterior and interior of the prison, and other minor repairs. Good work lias also been done by the prisoners in keeping the grounds in order, laundry and cleaning work, &c., and a party has been employed by the Wanganui City Council in stumping and levelling plantation grounds, adjoining the Prison Reserve. The work was only started in April, and what was a menace to the city is now a valuable asset. The sum of £340 Bs. has been received in cash from the Council for the work that has been done, and the Council has suppled all tools, &c.

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Waikune Prison Camp, Ertta. At the commencement of the year there were 57 prisoners in custody ; 90 were received during the year, while 16 were released at the expiration of their sentence, 16 were released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, 26 were transferred to other prisons, and 7 absconded, leaving a total of 82 men in custody at Waikune Prison on the night of the 31st December, 1924. The daily average number of prisoners in camp throughout the year was 67-8. The general conduct of the men —with few exceptions—was satisfactory. The seven prisoners who escaped were recaptured after brief liberty, arraigned before Court, and punished for escaping from legal custody. It is gratifying to report that the health of the men throughout the year was very good —subject to minor complaints, which, of course, is to be expected in a rigorous climate such as this. The spiritual welfare of the men has been well attended to. During the year Divine service was held in camp by the following clergymen, viz. : Rev. P. W. Spencer and Rev. H. E. Jones (Church of England), Rev. Father Broughton (Roman Catholic), Rev. F. Bickerton (Taumarunui Branch Plymouth Brethren), Rev. W. H. Nicholas (Anglican), and the Rev. Jasper Calder (City Missioner of Auckland). With kind permission of the late Controller-General of Prisons the Ohakune Choral Society journeyed to Waikune and rendered a most enjoyable entertainment to the men. The Rev. Jasper Calder, assisted by the Rev. H. E. Jones, visited camp and provided a lengthy musical programme, which was highly appreciated by the inmates. It is regretted that the isolated position of this camp prevents more entertainments being given by the outside public. More amusement on lines similar to those already reviewed would prove welcome, as I consider such help to brighten the lives of those confined here. During the year certain camp improvements have been carried out with a view of making the prison buildings and groundsjmore convenient and attractive. As in previous years, a considerable amount of roadwork has been carried out by prison labour, under the direction of the Public Works Department. The st.one-crusher installed at Waikune during the latter part of 1923 has quite fulfilled the early promise shown. The Waimarino-Ohakune Road has been metalled a further four miles from this quarry. Ample supply of metal is still available from that source, and is continually being used on the stretch of highway between Raurimu Spiral and the Manganui Stream. The road between the seven-mile and the nine-mile peg has been formed preparatory to placing the metal thereon. Five concrete culverts —three each of 35 ft. in length by 3 ft. in diameter, and two each 50 ft. in length by 4 ft. in diameter —were constructed by prison labour at various points on the Waimarino-Ohakune Road, in accordance with plans furnished by the Public Works Department. A. fairly large and important bridge was built over the Waimarino Stream. A novel method of constructing the bridge in question was introduced, whereby the whole of the framework was built on the bank of the stream, and eventually launched into position. Large sheerlegs were erected and used in that operation. Time saved in constructing together with extra safety given to prison workers were a feature favouring the style adopted. The bridge is 73 ft. 6 in. long, and was constructed from plans supplied by the Public Works Department, who have expressed entire satisfaction with the job. The contract obtained by the Prisons Department to keep the stretch of road between Waimarino and Tokaanu in repair has received attention throughout the year. Concentration in that direction has been the means of keeping the road open for motor traffic. During the winter months washouts were constantly a feature of the damage done, but prompt action in rectifying the trouble has drawn high commendation from those constantly using the road. The bridge <at Otukou Pa has frequently called for attention, and minor temporary repairs have been carried out. The constant erosion of the banks of the creek under the bridge calls for the erection of a new bridge at a different point of the road. During the year arrangements were made for the forming of a road from the junction of the main Waimarino-Tokaanu Road to the Whakapapa huts on behalf of the National Park Board. Although the plans for the proposed road were not made available until the middle of the year, it is pleasing to report that 1 mile 40 chains of the road has been formed and is now frequently used for traffic. Smaller undertakings have also been received from the Park Board —the erection of bath buildings, the installation of water-service to same, and the erection of a suspension bridge over the Whakapapa Stream —all of which have been carried out to the entire satisfaction of the members of the National Park Board. Sawmilling operations continue to be carried out by prisoners detained at Waikune. It is considered that the sawmilling industry will prove a valuable asset to the State, and it will fit the men engaged in that class of work for similar employment after their release. Another year's review of the " honour system " adds further evidence of its success. There are, of course, setbacks and disappointments. These are inevitable, but they do not detract from the advantages which this method of treatment confers on the majority of inmates, who respond gratefully to the trust reposed in them. Wellington Prisons. There was in custody at commencement of the year 116 males ; during the year 932 males were received and 949 were discharged; there remained in custody at end of the year 99 males. Of those discharged, 577 were on expiration or remission of sentence; on recommendation of the Prisons Board, 9 hard-labour and 6 reformative-detention prisoners; transferred to mental hospital, 5; acquitted, and after remand, 126 ; transferred to other prisons, 190; debtors, 15.

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The health of the prisoners generally has been good. As in previous years, many men received were suffering from the effects of drink and had to be medically treated (an unusual number of men received this year from the S.M. Court, charged with drunkenness, were, found to be suffering from the effects of drinking methylated spirit). Seven men were sent to the public hospital for treatment ; one, a Maori, died there. Several of the hospital cases were from Wi Tako Prison. The conduct and industry of prisoners has been good. No oflences of an aggravated nature occurred, and the minor offences were dealt with by the Visiting Justices. The total number of offences was sixty-two, and the individual charges forty-nine. The food supplied has been of good quality, and sufficient in quantity. Where men are employed on extra-heavy work an extra allowance has been authorized by the Controller-General of Prisons. At the Terrace the demolition of the old prison is being continued. The site of the female division has been excavated to the permanent level; a considerable quantity of clay has been removed in the garden and deposited in the gully on the north end ; a small amount of filling only is now required to complete this section of the grounds. At Mount Cook a party has been employed filling in and levelling the gully to provide tenniscourts, &c. The last of the prison cottages has now been removed, and the sites are available for the erection of any buildings required by the Technical College Board. At Seatoun a party is still employed in the gravel-quarry, and a steady output is being maintained. Gravel from this quarry is supplied for the manufacture of concrete blocks required for the building of the new prison at Mount Crawford. In connection with this work it would greatly reduce the cost of haulage if a road could be formed from the end of Miramar Valley direct to the prison-site. At Wellington Prison No. 2 (near Mount Crawford) a party is now permanently located, and good progress has been made in excavating the foundations for the prison, and building operations are being proceeded with. The plant for the manufacture of concrete blocks and tiles has been installed in a large shed, and the output of blocks is being steadily maintained. In connection with block and tile making, I wish to commend the interest and industry displayed by the prisoners connected with this branch of prison industry. I regret to record the death of Mr. E. Arnold, senior Visiting Justice to this prison. Up to a short period before his death he was a frequent visitor, and as secretary of the Prisoners' Aid Society interviewed prisoners when due for release, and those requiring assistance and advice always received it. Divine service by ministers of the several denominations was held on Sundays during the year, and, by special permission, a Christmas dinner was provided by the members of the Presbyterian Social Service Association. Entertainments were also provided by the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Salvation Army Band. These entertainments are greatly appreciated, and provide a welcome break in the monotony of prison routine. On behalf of the staff of this prison I wish to express our deep regret at the death of the late Controller-General (Mr. C. E. Matthews), who was ever sympathetic for those within his jurisdiction whether officers, inmates, or their dependents. Wi Tako Prison, Tbentham. There were in custody at the commencement of the year 49 males; 104 were received during the year, 83 were discharged, 15 were transferred. The general conduct of«the men has been very satisfactory. The average on sick-muster was four. One man was transferred to the Public Hospital at Wellington on account of an accident on the works. Several very important improvements have been made to the brickworks. A railway-siding has been laid, with the result that we can now bring all trucks up to the kiln, which means a great saving in labour and carting, and also the bricks are not damaged so much in handling. Several alterations were made to the kiln, and a much better class of burning is now being carried out. Improvements were made in the mixing of the clay, and adjustments made to the machinery. A superior class of brick is now being put on the market. An oil-engine was set up during the year, and a large quantity of firewood cut into short lengths and trucked to Wellington and disposed of there. In addition to brickmaking, farming operations have been carried on during the year. The vegetable-garden has been kept in hand, and a large supply of vegetables, mostly of a root-crop nature, should be available for the winter market, and this in spite of the fact that the recent heavy floods have done a great deal of damage to the potato crop. The mangolds and swedes are showing up well. A number of fat bullocks were sold and realized a satisfactory price. Several hundred sheep were purchased early in the year. The yield of lambs was over 80 per cent. In addition to the wool a number of lambs and fat ewes have been sold. The prices realized were very satisfactory. Our thanks are due to Mr. Chappie, of the Y.M.C.A., the Rev. Mr. Holmes, of the Persbyterian Church, and Major Greenfield, of the Salvation Army, who were instrumental in getting or directly responsible for several entertainments held during the year, and which have been thoroughly appreciated by the men. We desire also to thank Mr. I. Salek, Visiting Justice, who takes an especial interest in this institution, not only giving his assistance in maintaining discipline but also materially assisting the men on their release. The Rev. Mr. Holmes and others arranged special Christmas cheer for the men at the Y.M.C.A. Hall. The entertainment on this occasion was postponed out of respect to the memory of the late Mr. C. E. Matthews, Controller-General of Prisons. His death came as a great shock to all concerned, and is deeply regretted by both staff and inmates.

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Prison Institutions for Women. Addington Reformatory for Women. At the beginning of the year there were 6 inmates in residence ; 71 were admitted during the year, making a total of 77. 41 were discharged on the expiration of their sentence, 12 on remand, 1 released on the recommendation of the Prison's Board, 8 transferred to other institutions, leaving 15 inmates in residence at the 31st. December, 1924. The inmates' work consists of domestic work, milking, feeding poultry, and attending to the flower and vegetable gardens. On account of all young prisoners being transferred, and the majority of inmates being short-sentenced prisoners, no special occupation could be undertaken. The health of the prisoners has been good. The concerts have been kept up all the year, and have been very helpful in brightening the lives of the inmates. The Official Visitors have given high teas on holidays and entertained the inmates. Every prisoner wanting work has been found employment. The social work amongst the ex-prisoners is still being carried out with fair results. lam sorry to state that some prisoners refuse to work on release. Two of these are of evil influence and do great harm both in and out of prison. If only they could be given long sentences and made to work it would be better for them and the community. Books, magazines, and papers are well supplied to the institution by the many friends that take an interest in the work. The religious services are held regularly by Rev. Revel!, Father McEwan, Salvation Army, and the Sisters of the Mission, enabling every inmate to attend a service once a week. Point Halsivell Reformatory. There were in custody at the beginning of the year 40 inmates; during the year 73 were received into the institution. The health of the inmates has been good, and all rations of good quality. Motor transport is provided by the Department for all clergy, Official Visitors, Visiting Justices, and Mrs. Ohatfield, who visits the girls every third Sunday. Mrs. Chatfield arranged several entertainments for the girls in the way of moving pictures, which have been much appreciated. Mrs. Yeates, 0.V., gives the girls bi-weekly health talks, also instruction in bandaging, &c. Towards the end of the year the Borstal Institution was opened, with accommodation for twenty girls. Eight girls were received on transfer from the Education Department, and two were sent here direct from the Court. Plans are prepared for the erection of a gymnasium for the Borstal girls, and the building will be commenced immediately. Three evenings a week we have school ; the remaining evenings are given over to sewing and recreation. The girls are all very keen to get together a suitable outfit for wear on discharge. Out of their earnings most of the material is purchased, and with help from friends the girls are able to make a very creditable appearance. The majority of the girls are employed in the garden and dairy. One girl looks after the pigs and attends to the boiling of the food. This position is a much coveted one, and for it I have many applicants- partly, no doubt, because the girl so employed has to be given a great deal of liberty, especially at week-ends, and is left with little or no supervision. It is only natural they like to feel they are being trusted. All the outside work is very popular, but all duties (except the milkers) are made interchangeable. One can understand the girls preferring gardening to housework, because in the vegetable-garden one can always see a return for ones labour, and there is an openness and freedom about the outside life which appeals to the girls.

REPORTS OF PRISONERS' AID SOCIETIES. Southland District (Invercargill). The object of this society is to employ an agent for special work in the private life of the community; to visit the local hospitals ; and to encourage and instruct, by means of religious services and otherwise, the inmates of the Invercargill Borstal Institution, and to aid persons discharged from this institution to make a fresh start in life. In submitting a brief report of the work overtaken in relation to the Borstal Institution during this, the twenty-second year of the society's operations, I beg to state that every Saturday afternoon and Sunday until noon are spent with the inmates, with frequent visits on other days or evenings throughout the year, and Sunday afternoons are devoted to the inmates of the Borstal Farm Ranch. Divine services are conducted at the institution and Farm Ranch on Sunday mornings and afternoons respectively. All Protestant services are united irrespective of denomination. This system has worked harmoniously throughout the years, and has the hearty co-operation and assistance of the ministers of the various churches. The society's minister also personally conducts a religiousinstruction class at the institution every Sunday tnorning, attendance at which is quite voluntary on the part of inmates. During the year many visits were made to the institution and Farm Ranch, and opportunities given and facilities provided for personal interviews and quiet talks with inmates. The purpose of these personal talks with individual inmates is to encourage and inspire to renewed endeavour ; to

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raise the standard of thought and to enlarge the outlook. The personal element is an important factor in the work of reformation, and to really assist the individual one must understand his difficulties and point of view, and the first step in this direction is to become personally acquainted with and to gain the confidence of each inmate ; hence the value of personal work among them. The method adopted is to encourage the inmate to'discuss matters concerning his future welfare and prospects; to receive, sympathetically, any and every voluntary disclosure of his more intimate personal desires and aspirations; and to assist him. to recover the self-respect which constitutes true manhood, by the discovery of himself. Experience teaches that the most effective method is to appeal to their finer and nobler instincts. Personal interests and a sense of duty, though ethically on a lower plane, are useful factors. Their confidences are never forced : the work is more of the nature of moral suasion than dictating—to convince by reason as well as through conscience. Though the results of the many interviews and talks —numbered by the hundred in the course of a year —with the inmates cannot always be gauged or tabulated, the cumulative effects will be apparent in later years. The material aid branch of the society's work with inmates, stated briefly, is that the society stands ready to help as occasion may require, and to furnish inmates on release with clothing, outfits, travelling-expenses, &c., and by personal effort in finding suitable employment. None leave the institution to find themselves adrift and at a loss where to look for work, or to find ways and means of reaching their destinations. Not every inmate, however, requires assistance on his release : in most cases the inmate has his earnings, and returns to his home or employment in other parts of the Dominion. Where it is desirable that one should remain in this district employment is found for him, and, if necessary, he is provided with the requisite outfit. The society anticipates their requirements, and has the necessary personal effects and employment awaiting their release. Frequently the inmate in unaware of the assistance given him until the hour of his release. This little act of consideration makes all the difference between retaining his self-respect and becoming an object of charity. The recipient may make refund, but that is not made a condition. If he is without relatives or friends, or if his home is perhaps a thousand miles away, he has in the agent of the society a friend to whom he can appeal, and with whom he may at all times correspond, and whose time and personal effort is at his service as guide and councillor. While carefully observing the rules governing religious instruction in the institution, no distinction of creed, nationality, or conduct is observed in giving assistance to stranded ones, either materially or by personal effort: the more unworthy, the greater need for a helping hand. In this work failure must never be permitted to weaken endeavour nor to chill enthusiasm ; yet enthusiasm without judgment may be disastrous. In any case, failure is not defeat. The financial side of the society is maintained by voluntary contributions from private subscribers and the business portion of the town and district. Prom time to time the agent of the society holds public and drawing-room meetings in town and in country centres and more remote places throughout the province. At these meetings the work of the society and its claims is placed before representative men and women, and by these means supporters and subscribers are secured. On these occasions the interest of prospective employers is gained, and a sympathetic atmosphere is created in the institution, its work and inmates. I desire to gratefully acknowledge the sympathy and ready helpfulness the society has always received from the authorities and staff of the institution throughout the years. A. McLean, Agent and Missionary. Auckland City. The work of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society is not so well known, nor so well supported, as it deserves. Too much publicity is not desirable. We cannot give full particulars of the " cases," successful or otherwise, with which we have to deal. The only persons who really know what is being done are the prison officers and the members of the committee. The honorary secretary visits the prison four times a week to interview dischargees. Much time and thought are given to these men, and all the money and material assistance available utilized for their benefit. There is no hard-and-fast rule. Whatever the need, an attempt is made to supply that need. Something is done, too, to assist the unfortunate wives and families of men serving three months and under, but our limited income is too small for much to be done in this direction. For the year ending 31st December, 1923, the number of men and women discharged from the Auckland Prison was about 1,200. On this date there were 350 men and 13 women in the prison, and this has been about the daily average for the year. Of the- " habitual criminals," more than half of the Dominion's total are in the local prison. Ours "is a strictly penal prison where all our worst offenders are confined." Most of the younger men are transferred to the Invercargill Borstal Institution, others are sent to the Waikeria Reformatory Farm or to one of the camps. Old men, or those prematurely old and unfit, are now sent to Wanganui. Whilst homes for the aged poor cannot or will not receive them, to send them to Wanganui —now more a refuge or old men's home than a prison—is the kindest course to take. A suggestion is made to wealthy persons, when making a will, to remember this Society, which cares for the outcast, the criminal, the unfortunate. We fear the need for this work will always remain. The committee is composed of responsible citizens. There are no office expenses, no agent is paid ; all contributions go directly to carry out the purposes of the society. We wish to thank the Controller-General and the officers of the prison for their kind co-operation. A. W. Auckland, President. E. C, Budd, Hon. Secretary.

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Christchubch (Prison-gate Mission). During the year tie work of the Prison-gate Mission has increased. As a result of his visits to the Paparua and Addington Prisons, and his talks to the inmates, the secretary, Rev. P. Revell, has dealt personally with 171 cases, a record, for some years. It must not be inferred there has been an increase of crime. The mission has had increased opportunities for service. Of these. 100 were definite after-care cases; the remainder were helped in various ways, the most important being care of the families and keeping in touch with relatives. Work was found, or fares to work (found mainly by themselves), were paid, for 37 of these cases. Board and lodging was paid for 76 cases, many of whom were thus able to get work for themselves : this involved about 150 beds and 456 meals being paid for. Clothes were found for 18 men ; the families of 27 were looked after; 42 cases received advice of one kind or another, or letters were written for them ; 9 cases had help obtained for them from other societies. The president of the Social Welfare Guild is a member of our committee to prevent overlapping. During the year she has dealt with 22 cases, being mainly the wives and families of prisoners ; homes were found for them, clothing provided, and baby-clothes and help given to the wives when confined. The Lady Visitors of Addington Reformatory continue their good work in the after-care of the female prisoners. In addition to keeping in touch with previous cases now fairly well established in a decent life, they have met and befriended the women discharged this year. Most have had homes of their own to go to ; some have refused any help, four were placed in situations, and five (too old for work) were placed in homes. A member of the Mothers' Union was able to get the various branches to provide sufficient kneelers for the Paparua Prison services. The clergyman who takes the Church of England services at Paparua visits his men in the cells and is able also to keep them in touch With their friends. The manager of the Salvation Army Men's Home and his predecessor, have co-operated with the mission in every way. It may be said that no prisoner, male or female, is allowed to leave prison unhelped or uncared for if they wish to go straight. S. B. McCarthy, Chairman. Dunedin City. Extracts from Secretary's Report to the Committee. I have pleasure in submitting a very brief report of the work done by the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society and Victoria Jubilee Convalescent Fund for the year 1923. This report covers the forty-fifth year of the society's activities, and probably, from the stand-point of practical work, may stand unique in view of the fact that the scope of the society's activities is daily increasing. This, of course, means greater demands upon your agent, and furthermore, the financing of the society is not be any means a small thing. lam pleased to put on record a year of useful and successful work in all the varied departments. Probation work : At the present time I am controlling something like eighty probationers, and lam pleased to say that this branch of social reform is decidedly worth while. It certainly takes up a good deal of your agent's time : nevertheless it is worth the effort when you look at what has been actually achieved, as I am pleased to put on record that not more than 5 per cent, of the men placed on probation are returned to prison during their probationary period. This is surely satisfactory. The work of the Court is not by any means easy, yet it is pleasing to know that the Magistrates and police do their very utmost to help in the good work of reform, and no chance is lost by me in seeking to do good in the name of Him Who is able to redeem the worst. I regret that I am finishing lip the year on the wrong side of the ledger, but hope that during the present year to at least square matters before our next annual balance. I hope the society is not going to suffer in carrying on its philanthropic activities for the want of the wherewithal to successfully achieve what it has set out to do. I can assure the public that every penny received is spent to the very best advantage. F. G. Cumming, General Secretary. Wellington City. In the period just closed (eleven months) the expenses have been well met in spite of the fact that more assistance has been given than in any other year. Many ex-prisoners have been bridged over a very critical period, and though some have not proved as satisfactory as one would like, still in many instances where work has been obtained and financial assistance given there has been much encouragement. This is particularly the experience with married men. Wives have often undergone hardships during the time of their breadwinner's imprisonment and have been forced to dispose of his clothing and tools to procure the necessities of life. On his release, but for the timely assistance of this society, he would be an added burden to a much impoverished family. To one man in particular tools and clothing were given. He soon obtained constant employment, has settled down well, is keeping sober, and promises well for the future. During the year 223 discharged prisoners were assisted, 402 beds supplied, 489 meals provided, 20 were helped with clothes and tools, 25 with fares, and 21 found employment. The usefulness of the society, owing to the efforts of the late Mr. Edwin Arnold, its secretary since its inception, is well established ; the difficulty, however, of finding employment for these men is still with us. It would prove most acceptable if any well-disposed person would inform the society

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of any work that may be offering. To some extent the difficulty is being overcome by paying the fares to most likely places, registry-office fees, permits for shipping office, or union charges. A good proportion have been set on their feet in this way. During the year a Christmas treat was given to the inmates of the Point Halswell Reformatory. The funds of the society are rarely needed to help these women on discharge, most of them leaving with earnings sufficiently large to meet their immediate wants. In the exceptional cases help has always been forthcoming. The usefulness of the society could well be extended to meet cases of distress occasioned by a breadwinner's imprisonment; in fact, money applied that way would sometimes be more acceptable than 011 the prisoner's release. Care is exercised to avoid imposition, and those assisted are being encouraged to show their appreciation by making refunds when in a position to do so. So far the amounts refunded have been small, but it must be remembered that even the best of these men find it difficult to obtain permanent employment at first, and are often faced with debt for some time afterwards. Many, of course, have little conscience in the matter, and soon forget the bridge that helped them over a difficult crossing. But from whatever point of view the question of assisting these unfortunates is regarded it is safe to say that it has been worth while. Thanks must be accorded to all who have contributed to the society's funds : to the T. G. Macartliy Trustees, who granted £100 ; to the Superintendent of the prison, who supplies weekly a list of those about to be discharged ; to other prison officials who so willingly co-operate with the work of the society ; and to Mr. F. W. Hart, Clerk of the Court, who has kindly audited the accounts. T. P. Mills, Secretary.

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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 the Year 1924.

19

Number of Persons for whom there is Accommodation v * T> • Number of Persons at Number received during Number discharged or Number in Prison at jName or prison. r „ f.n. w In Wards or Cells for Beginning of Year. Year. transferred. End of Year. In Separate Cells for mme thm Qne Total one Frisonei. Prisoner. JVi. F. M. F. M. F. M. j F. T. M. F. T. j M. F. " T. M. F. T. Addington (Women's Reformatory) .. 32 .. .. .. 32 ; 12 12 .. 69 69 .. 66 66 .. 15 15 Auckland .. .. 298 22 102 3 400 25 352 i 13 365 1,491 99 1,590 1,471 98 1,569 372 14 386 Invercargill .. .. .. 36 1 12 .. 96 1 176 176 154 154 145 .. 145 185 .. 185 Invercargill (Borstal Institution) .. 132 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 .. 2 .. .. .. 2 .. 2 Napier .. .. .. 5 .. 45 8 50 8 14 14 154 6 160 151 5 156 17 1 18 New Plymouth .. .. .. 55 3 10 .. 65 3 56 56 100 3 103 112 3 115 44 .. 44 Wanganui .. .. .... 3 40 .. 40 3 .. .. 144 6 150 144 6 150 29 29 Paparua (Templeton) .. .. 184 12 .. 196 .. 131 .. 131 362 .. 362 370 .. 370 123 .. 123 Pt. Halswell (Women's Reformatory) .. 19 .. 2 21 40 40 72 72 83 83 25 25 Point Halswell (Borstal Institution) .. 19 .. 4 .. 23 .. .. .. •. 2 2 .. .. .. .. 2 2 Waikeria (Reformatory) .. .. 102 .. 38 .. 140 .. 83 .. 83 96 .. 96 71 . . 71 108 .. 108 Hautu (Tokaanu) .. .. 3 .. 33 .. 36 31 ' 31 31 .. 31 35 .. 35 27 .. 27 Waikune (Erua) .. .. 17 .. 75 .. 92 1 57 .. 57 90 .. 90 65 .. 65 82 .. 82 Wellington .. .. .. 60 .. 28 .. 88 116 116 934 .. 934 951 .. 951 99 .. 99 Wi Tako (Trentham) .. .. 55 .. 12 .. 67 .. 49 49 104 .. 104 83 .. 83 70 .. 70 Minor prisons .. .. .. 85 24 57 7 142 31 63 63 701 11 712 705 11 716 30 .. 30 Police look-ups* ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 j 2 109 3 112 109 3 112 2 .. 2 Totals „ 1,032 123 464 24 1,496 I 157 1,130 1 65 1,195 4,472 ! 271 4,743 4,412 275 4,687 1,190 57 1,247 Sickness. (•.) Number of Distinct Prisoners ill on One or More Occasions, Graatest Number in TNnmh fl r in with Number of Occasions, Total Number of Separate Name of Prison Prison Prison Daily Average Number of Illnesses, Total Number of Days, and Daily Average on Name of Pr.son. One Time at S t ™ Prisoners. (a.) Greatest Number (6.) Admissions Sick-list. atuueilme. at One lime. ill at any One to Hospital during Time. Year. . m Number Total Daily • o ® 2 32 52 * 2 r a £ of Number Average a % jqj rg! £.§ Separate of on. O H Eh B Illnesses Days ill. Sick-list. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F T. Addington (Women's Reformatory) .. 15 15 4 4 .. 11-52 11-52 .. 1 1 .. 2 2 5 .. j .. I 5 82 0-22 Auckland .. .. . 384 16 400 317 11 328 355-09 - 17-52 372-61 52 2 54 8 1 9 170 53 25 6 7 5 442 5,988 16-36 Invercargill .. .. .. 196 196 159 .. 159 175-38 .. 175-38 11 .. 11 4 .. 4 50 10 4 .. 1 91 1,129 3-08 Invercargill (Borstal Institution) .. 2 2 2 2 0-26 .. 0-26 .. .. .. .. .. Napier .. . . . 27 .. 27 10 10 17-20 0-23 17-43 3 3 3 .. 3 6 1 8 160 0-44 New Plvmoutb .. .. .. 61 1 62 42 42 52-96 0-01 52-97 7 .. 7 3 .. 3 22 4 3 1 .. 43 430 1-17 Wanganui .. .. .. 33 1 34 23 23 29 22 0-10 29-32 1 .. 1 1 1 14 0-04 Paparua (Templeton) .. .. 140 140 107 .. 107 121-24 .. 121-24 6 .. 6 3 .. 3 18 3 .. 24 151 0-41 Pt. Halswell (Women's Reformatory) .. 46 46 31 31 .. 37-60 37-60 .. 2 2 .. 1 1 Point Halswell (Borstal Institution) .. 2 2 2 2 .. 2-00 2-00 .. .. .. .. .. ■ Waikeria (Reformatory) .. .. 110 .. 110 79 .. 79 95-37 .. 95-37 3 .. 3 3 .. 3 12 3 18 219 0-60 Hautu (Tokaanu) .. .. 37 37 24 24 30-15 .. 30-15 Waikune (Erua) .. .. 86 86 53 53 67-80 67-80 8 .. 8 1 .. 1 19 8 7 4 4 2 106 515 1-41 Wellington .. .. .. 126 126 76 76 95-40 .. 95-40 25 .. 25 7 .. 7 29 1 2 .... j .. 37 504 1-38 Wi Tako (Trentham) .. .. 71 71 44 44 54-00 .. 54-00 4 .. 4 17 4 2 .. .. j .. 31 174 0-48 Minor prisons .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 33-43 0-01 33-44 .. .. .. 5 .. 5 8 .. 8 39 0-11 Totals 1,127-50 68-99 1,196-49 37 4 41 357 87 43 11 11 ' 8 1 814 9,405 25-7 0 * Deemed to be prisons under the provisions of section 17 of the Statute Law Amendment Act, 1917.

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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 1924.

i s.~.: 3 s a> ® ! g a P. di i 'i 1 ! Ill I |I ! pi | i §1 i I I J | 1 i tfn s o «e £2 43 •' — ps fcd Ph >"« f-i w ! y Br 0-4 • a I SH g |°s s * 8§ S .Ss 5 5 S) -9 Us g * « -g 3 O s- » 5*-S a Is 0-H .5 5" 2 =S •; 3 ? a -2 5 § ■§ s • a g S h * o <s- s 5 5 ; £ £ A S. a so o £ ! «j . .o M 5 E- O (a.) In prison at beginning oi year: — Undergoing M. F. M. If. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. Simple imprisonment .. .. .. 4 1 1 1 6 1 7 Under three months' hard labour .. 44 3 1 .. I .. 7 .. .. 3 30 11 .. 2 .. 96 6 102 Three months' hard labour and under one year .. .. 8 59 4 1 9 .. 2 .. 18 .. .. 4 .. .. 1 .. 4 35 .. 13 .. 15 157 14 171 Under OHe year'! hard labour and upwards 145 1 18 .. 9 40 .. 38 .. .. 5 .. .. 31 .. 25 18 .. 19 .. 12 355 6 301 Detention as habitual criminals .. .. 29 .. 1 4 .. 2 .... 1 5 1 1 43 1 44 Reformative detention .. .. .. .. 6 53 3 11 .. 164 1 .. 9 .. 52 .... 26 .... 50 .. 23 21 .. 17 .. 12 413 35 448 Detention under Prisoners Detention Act, 1915 Sentenced to death .. .. .. Total criminals in prison .. .. .. .. 12 334 11 31 .. 174 11 .. 56 .. 117 .... 40 .... 82 .. 57 105 .. 49 .. 52 .. 2 ..1,070 63 1,133 For trial or on remand .. .. 16 2 .. .. 2 3 14 7 9 .. .. .. 51 2 53 In transitu .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. : . .. . 3 ...... 1 4 .. 4 Total in prison for criminal offences .. .. 12 350 13 31 ..176 .. .. .. 14 .. 56 ..131 .. .. 40 .. .. 82 .. 57 115 .. 49 .. 62 .... 2 ..1,125 65 1,190 Debtors .. .. .. .. 2 1 ...... 1 4 .. 4 Lunatics .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 Total persons in prison .. .. .. 12 352 13 31 .. 176 14 .. 56 .. 131 .... 40 .... 83 .. 57 116 .. 49 .. 63 .. 2 ..1,130 65 1,195 (b.) Received during the year: — Sentenced to— Simple imprisonment .. .. .. .. .. 2 21 1 1.. 1.. 2 5 15 1 53 2 98 6 104 Under three months' hard labour .. .. ..42 761 64 .... 21 51 1 31 1 111 .. .. 28 .. .. 2 49 3457 264 1 56 1 1,803 141 1,944 Three months' hard labour and under one year .. .. 3 170 11 .. .. 6 25 1 9 .. 47 .. .. 7.. .. 1 6.. 126 52 1 .. .. 442 23 465 One year's hard labour and upwards .. .. .. 2 63 8 13 .. 4 .. 24 11 ..38 20 181 2 183 Hard labour and reformative detention .. 16 2 1 1 3 .. 7 4 32 2 34 Simple imprisonment and sent to an industrial school j Hard labour and sent to an industrial school Hard labour and declared habitual criminal 8 1 5 1 .. 5 20 .. 20 Habitual criminal without further sentence shown Death .. .. .. .. .... 1 1 .. 1 Under conviction for sentence . . . . 12 2 5 2 .. 6 25 2 27 Criminals for reformative detention only .. .. .. 2 65 5 .... 11 .. 2 .. 10 .. 7 .. 27 .. .. 9 .. 2 1 8 .. 38 31 3 .. .. 200 21 221 Hard labour,- also flogged .. .. 2 2 .. 2 Total new prisoners received .. .. ..51 1,118 85 .... 46 .. 2 .. 102 2 52 1 222 .... 44 .. 2 4 80 3 682 387 6 109 3 2,804 197 3,001 On remand or for trial .. .. .. .... 16 217 13 .. ..27 47 4 25 1 50 .. ..20 43 3 143 209 5 .. .. 761 62 813 Total .. .. .. .. .... 67 1,335 98 .... 73 .. 2 .. 149 6 77 2 272 .... 64 .. 2 4 123 6825 .. .. ..596 11 109 33,565 259 3,824 Debtors .. .. .. .... 49 1 3 .. 8 1 9 3 .. 17 50 139 2 141 Lunatics' .. .. .. .. .. .... .. 1 1 .. 1 Total new persons received .. .. .. 67 1,384 99 .... 73 .. 2 .. 152 6 85 3 281 .... 64 .. 2 4 127 6842 646 11 109 3 3,705 261 3,966 On transfer or in transitu .. .. 2 107 .. 31 .. 81 2 .. 15 .. 81 .. .. 8 .. .. 92 .. 90 .. 17 .. 92 .. 104 .. 55 1 767 10 777 Grand totals .. .. .. .... 69 1,491 99 31 .. 154 .. 2 .. 154 6 100 3 362 .... 72 .. 2 96 .. 90 ..144 6934 ..104 ..701 11 109 3 ! 4,472 27 1 4,743 ! * Figures for beginning of year included in " Minor Prisons." The total number was 29 males. f Figures for beginning of year included in Point Halswell. J Deemed to be prisons under the provisions of section 17 of the Statute Law Amendment Act, 1917$

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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 1924—continued.

03 oo $ =3- e8 S fl cc a _; 3 o fc £ ~ S3 rtSo 13 g -o s $ a|'g a „!_ 1 ■ill d ojB '3 s c s -2 | ° ~ f I J g ill g s sa 5 21! II I a Is 3 » S .2 — & >m £ •- £® a -3 .-2 a s E-EH ° o "S a res o g > a a % £ -S -S c -J *s g © c s -5 « frt 2 d £, hH 1-1 <D c3 —' ° O t» £ -C f> -T vr O O SS <J W & £ d< 0. CU £ £ £ £ £ § P< H 0 (c.) Discharged during the year: — On expiration of sentence — M. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. Hard labour .. .. .. .. .. ..40 948 73 8 .. 20 70 1 39 .. 185 .... 30 .... 20 .. 15 .. 60 2- 577 .. 21 .. 252 2 56 1 2,272 149 2,420 Reformative detention .. .. 8 4 1 .. 15 .. 2 .. 3 . . .. 2 ... . 3 .. 1 1 34 (3 40 Simple imprisonment .. .. .. .. .. 1 16 ]...... 1 3 1 .. 1 2 . .\ .... 6 2 53 2 81 8 89 G:i bail or probation .. .. .. .. .... 52 2 ...... 8 .. 7 .. 11 . . .. 3 10 .. 17 19 126 1 127 Died .. .. .. .. 5 1 1 1 .. 3 1 9 .. 9 Executed .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. 1 Absconded and not retaken .. .. 1 j 2 . . j 7 .... 30 .. 10 Committed suicide .. .. .. I 1 1 . . 1 Released on recommendation of Prisons Board — Hard labour .. .. .. .. 24 .. 5 .. 2 2 .. 6 .. 15 . . 11 .. 4 9 .. 30 .. .. 108 .. 108 Reformative detention .. .. .. .. i 21 .. 5 .. 64 1 .. 2 .. 18 . .: .. 22 .. .. 24 . . 12 1 .. 1 .. 6 .. 16 .. 2 3j .. .. 172 26 198 Habitual criminals ;. .. .. 11 2 .. 1 13 1 14 Total criminals discharged to freedom .. .. 421,087 77 19 .. 104 .. ... 82 4 60 .. 236 .. .. 56 .. .. 58 .. 39 .. 72 2 613 .. 68 ..280 7 109 3 2,827 191 3,018 Acquitted and after remand .. .. 39 2 .. .. 2 .. .. .. 4 .. 18 1 36 .... 19 34 4 126 48 2 .. .. 307 28 335 Debtors .. .. .. .. .. ..12 35 1 .. 3 .. 7 1 6 4 .. 15 52 122 14 136 Lunatics transferred to mental hospitals .. 5 1 .. .. 2 1 .. 5 12 2 14 Total persons discharged from prison .. .. 541,166 80 19 .. 106 89 4 85 2 279 . .. 77 .. .. 58 .. 39 .. Ill 6 759 .. 68 ..380 9109 3 3,268 235 3,503 Transferred to other prisons or to the police .. .. 12 305 18 16 .. 39 62 1 27 1 91 .. .. 6 .. .. 13 .. 26 .. 33 .. 192 .. IE ..325 2 .. .. 1,144 40 1,184 Grand totals .. .. .. .. .. 661,471 98 35 ..146 151 5 112 3370 .. .. 83 .. .. 71 .. 65 ..144 6951 .. 83 ..705 11 109 3 1,412 275 4,687 (d.) In prison at end of year: — Undergoing— Simple imprisonment .. .. .. .. .. 1 8 2 1 1 1 1 .. 2 .. 15 2 17 Under three months' hard labour .. .. .. 5 44 4 ... . 4 2 1 .. . . 1 .... 1 6 .. 16 12 91 11 102 Three months' hard labour and under one year .. .. 2 56 5 .. .. 4 5 .. 2 .. 23 .. .. 3 .. .. 5 . . 3 . . 2 .. 24 .. 7 .. 6 137 10 147 One year's hard labour and upwards .. .. ..2 154 1 10 .. 12 3 .. 31 . . 49 . . .. 2 .. .. 51 .. 37 . . 10 .. 32 .. 28 .. 2 419 5 424 Detention as habitual criminals .. .. 34 .. 2 2 . . 3 7 .. 2 1 51 .. 51 Reformative detention .. .. .. .. 4 56 3 15 .. 163 .. 2 .. 2 .. 8 .. 35 . . . . 16 .. 2 52 .. 35 .. 9 .. 18 .. 34 429 25 454 Detention under Prisoners Detention Act, 1915 Sentenced to death .. .. .. .. Total criminals in prison .. .. .. .. 14 352 13 27 ..185 .. 2 .. 12 1 44 ..117 .. .. 23 .. 2 108 ..82 .. 29 .. 91 .. 70 .. 21 1 .. 2 ..1,142 53 1,195 For trial or on remand .. .. .. .. .. 1 19 1 5 5 .. .. 2 8 9 46 4 50 In transitu .. .. .. .. .. Total in prison for criminal offences .. .. 15 371 14 27 ,. 185 .. 2 .. 17 1 44 .. 122 .. . . 25 .. 2 108 .. 82 .. 29 .. 99 . . 70 .. 30 .. 2 .. 1,188 57 1,245 Debtors .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 .. 1 2 .. 2 Lunatics .. .. .. .. Total persons in prison .. .. .. ..15 372 14 27 ..185 .. 2 .. 17 1 44 1 .. 123 .. .. 25 .. 2 108 .. 82 .. 29 .. 99 .. 70 .. 30 .. 2 ..1,190 57 1,247

H.—2o,

22

Table B. Analysis of Expenditure under Vote, "Prisons," and Allocation of Credits for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1925.

. i I I — Addington. Auckland. Hautu. Invercargill. Napier. Plymouth Paparua. Haiswell Waikeria. Waikune. | Wanganui. Wellington. Wi Tako. Charges Totals. Daily average number of prisoners (both sexes) 11-51 382-56 28-74 179-35 18-32 51-633 118-82 | 49-69 97-90 72-10 29-00 97-00 57-64 33-246 .. 1,227-509 Daily average number of able-bodied male .. 314-58 27-50 172-25 15-08 44-41 107-75 | .. 96-25 71-16 8-08 78-16 56-91 19-24 .. 1,011-370 prisoners (working) Prisons and Institutional Upkeep. £££££££££ ££ £££££ Salaries and allowances (including uniforms) .. 468 13,858 1,406 8,816 805 2,168 5,191 1,416 5,150 2,421 1,074 6,757 2,384 1,744 .. 53,658 Advertising, purchase newspapers, books .. 8 44 3 72 9 21 10 45 6 7 18 13 .. 256 Office fittings and requisites .. .... 22 1 1 6 7 1 1 15 1 55 Clothing, bedding, and furniture .. .. 13 538 59 207 20 113 167 223 165 184 38 215 138 15 .. 2,095 Rations .. .. .. .. 81 5,602 481 1,318 281 570 1,025 444 943 1,719 350 1,212 886 1.S20 .. 16^732 Tobacco .. .. .. .. 1 476 74 184 14 76 153 1 204 190 46 116 64 J .. 1,600 Fuel, light, water, power, and sanitary services 168 1,441 26 760 109 230 697 252 405 199 99 322 147 -i28 .. 5,2£3 Medicines and maintenance of prisoners in 38 293 10 240 41 j 49 45 38 52 41 24 95 29 88 .. 1,083 public hospitals Printing and stationery, postages and tele- 12 123 39 74 7 22 54 17 59 118 12 42 66 24 . . 669 grams, telephones,! &c. Maintenance of prison buildings, expenses of 6 174 130 221 8 130 123 44 144 216 23 198 . 162 36 .. 1,615 prison works, workshop-equipment, and instructional work Transport charges .. .. .. 25 1,165 145 676 30 124 342 78 465 385 103 1,771 154 154 .. 5,617 Gratuities on release, assistance after discharge, 4 66 2 1 10 5 1 1 15 20 1 2 95 223 grants to Prisoners' Aid Societies, burials Contingencies .. .. .. .. .. 10 1 1 .. .. 2 1 .. 4 1 • • I 20 Overhead expenditure distributed among 54 1,891 143 883 89 257 587 247 483 355 143 479 j 286 163 .. 6,060 prisons on basis of prison population Gross expenditure .. .. 878 25,703 2,517 13,455 1,405 3,765 8,410 2,778 8,118 5,836 1,935 11,264 4,331 4,476 95 94,966 Less credits-in-aid .. .. 3 120 15 18 4 2 851 224 523 102 8 20 289 22 .. 2,201 Net expenditure .. .. 875 25,583 2,502 13,437 1,401 3,763 7,559 2,554 7,595 5,734 1,927 11,244 4,042 4,454 95 92,765 Grimes Amendment and Borstal Institutions Acts. Administrative expenses .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. 403 403 Payments to dependants .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,999 6,999 Industry earnings of prisoners .. .. 68 1,303 18 872 41 147 332 166 315 427 22 343 224 234 38 4,550 Probation Branch .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 631 631 Total .. .. .. 68 1,303 18 872 41 147 332 166 315 427 22 343 224 234 8,071 12,583 General Prison Industries : Rents, materials, equipment, &c„, royalties and other expenses. Salaries and allowances .. .. .. .. 1,535 . . 1,283 .. .. 844 173 1,374 750 .. .. 1,057 .. .. 7,016 Block and tile making .. .. .. 872 .. - . 1 .. . . 570 .. .. .. .. 4 .. .. .. 1,447 Bootnaking .. .. .. .. .. 1,430 .. 519 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,949

23

H.—2o

Brickmaking .. . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . 3,355 . . . . 3,355 Farms, gardens, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 100 2,975 .. .. 1,790 251 2,104 21 .. 1,307 .. .. 8,557 Invercargill Borstal Institution: Construction . .. .. 355 .. .. .. . . ■ ■ • . . . . . . . 355 of rifle-range Mail-bags, mats, and general repairs .. .. 850 .. • ■ .. .. ■ • • • ■ • .. ■ ■ .. .. .. ■ ■ 850 Quarries and gravel pits .. .. .. .. 4,419 .. ... 3 27 .. .. .. .. 1,188 .. 96 5,733 Road-construction and other contracts .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. 1,819 .. .. . . .. .. 1,819 Sawmills .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,940 . . . . .. . . .. 1,940 Tailoring .. .. .. .. .. 3,914 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,914 Gross expenditure .. . .. 13,020 109 5,133 3 27 3,204 424 3,478 4,530 .. 1,192 5,719 96 36,935 Less credits for produce sold and 15 27,364 55 7,082 214 1,386 3,943 375 5,390 11,117 412 2,553 4,616 1,395 . 65,917 services rendered Excess of receipts over expenditure 15 14,344 .. 1,949 211 1,359 739 .. 1,912 6,587 412 1,361 .. 1,299 .. 28,982 Excess of expenditure over receipts • • I ■ • 54 .. .. .. • • 49 .. .. ,. . . 1,103 Total expenditure on all items .. 946 40,026 2,643 19,459 1,450 3,940 11,946 3,369 11,911 10,792 1,957 12.799 10,274 4,805 8,167 144,484 Total credits from all sources .. 18 27,484 70 7,100 218 1,388 4,794 599 5,913 11,219 420 2,573 4,905 1,417 .. 68,118 Net total expenditure .. .. 928 12,542 2,573 12,359 1,232 2,552 7,152 2,770 5,998 Or. 427 1,537 10,226 5,369 3,38S 8,167 76,366

H.—2o.

Table C. Table showing the Offences and Degree of Education of Distinct Convicted Prisoners received during the Year 1924.

Table D. Table showing the Actual Number of Distinct Convicted Prisoners received into Gaol during the Year 1921, classified according to Principal Offences, Birthplace, and Age.

24

I Superior Able to read and I Able to read Unable to I 0fle " oes - ' Brtuoation. write. ! only. read. j Totals ' Offences against the person — M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M, F. Convicted on indictment .. .. .. .. 103 .. .. .. 2 .. 105 Convicted summarily ... .... .. 97 2 . . .... .. 97 2 Offences against property — Theft and deceit .. .. .. 1 . . 007 37 2 2 4 I 614 40 Mischief .. .. .. .. .. 48 3 .. .. .. .. 48 3 Miscellaneous offences — Vagrancy* .. .. .. .. . . 187 27 .. .. 1 .. 188 27 Drunkenness .. .. .. 1 . . 451 26 .. .. .. .. 452 26 Others .. .. .. 7(59 25 2 .. 6 1 777 26 Totals .. .. 2 .. 2,262 120 4 2 13 2 2,281 | 124 Maoris included above .. .. .. .. 101 2 .. .. 2 .. 103 | 2 * Including importuning, consorting with rogues, &e.

Offences against the Offences against Person. Property. Miscellaneous. Totals. Convicted Summarily Theft and Mischief Vaaranev » Drunkenness t 0ther Indictment. convicted. Deceit. Miscniei. \ a„rancy. Drunkenness.? offences. Birthplaces— M. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. England and Wales .. 14 .. 31 .. 109 5 9 34 8 116 1 205 3 518 17 Scotland .. .. 4 .. 4 .. 35 1 3 . 17 2 51 1 55 1 169 5 Ireland .. .. 7 .. 2 .. 19 2 3 .. 21 60 4 38 150 6 New Zealand .. 72 .. 40 2 395 28 28 3 83 13 163 18 383 22 1,164 86 Australia .. .. 7 7 41 4 2 13 2 32 .. 37 139 6 Other British posses- 1 2 5 1 4 3 2 16 32 2 sions China .. 1 1 .. . . 10 12 Other countries 10 7 2 .. 15 2 22 .. 32 88 2 At sea .. .... .. 1 1 Not stated .. .... 2 1 .. 4 .. 1 8 Totals .. 105 .. 97 2 014 40 48 3 188 27 452 26 777 26 2,281 124 Ages —• 10 and under 12 years .. .. 12 and under 15 years 15 and under 20 years 7 4 1 76 8 3 1 3 .. 15 3 106 15 20 and under 25 years 15 17 1 131 5 9 1 12 3 16 .. 117 1 317 11 25 and under 30 years 16 19 94 4 10 1 19 2 32 1 122 2 312 10 30 and under 40 years 28 .. 22 .. 159 6 11 1 35 4 88 6 212 5 555 22 40 and under 50 years 23 20 96 10 8 48 18 145 14' 194 12 534 54 50 and under 60 years 11 9 42 5 4 40 3 110 3 86 1 302 12 60 and over .. 5 6 16 2 3 33 4 61 2 30 2 154 10 Not stated .. .. I .. .. 1 1 Totals .. 105 .. 97 2 614 40 48 3 188 37 452 26 777 26 2,281 134 Maoris included above .. 4 5 36 .. 1 4 .. j 5 .. 49 1 103 2 * Including importuning, consorting with rogues, &c. f It must be remembered that drunkenness is punished more by fine than by imprisonment, so that the figures in the gaol tables do not represent the full number of persons punished for that offence.

H.— 20.

Table E. PRISONS.—NEW-ZEALAND-BORN PRISONERS RECEIVED, 1924. Table showing the Number of Distinct New-Zealand-born Convicted Prisoners of each Sex recieved during the Year 1924, classified according to Ages and Offences.

Table E1 PRISONS.—MAORI PRISONERS RECEIVED, 1924 Table showing the Number, Ages, and Offences of Distinct Convicted Maoris (Male and Female) RECEIVED INTO THE VARIOUS GAOLS DURING THE YEAR 1924.

4—H. 20.

25

Under 10. 1C ! and „ 12 and 1 ® and 20 and I 25 and I 30 and 40 and Not T . . under 12. under 15. J under 20. under 25. ; under 30. j under 40. upwards, stated. lotais. Offences. ! J I . M. | F. M. F. M F. M. F. M. F. M. j F. j M. j F. M. F. M. F. M. F Offences against the person— Convicted on indictment 7 .. 11 .. 12 .. 23 .. 19 72 Convicted summarily 4 1 9 1 10 .. 5 .. 12 40 2 Offences against property— Theft and deceit 68 7 103 5 61 2 96 3 67 11 .. .. 395 28 Mischief .. 3.. 5-1 9 1 6 1 5 28 3 Vagrancy* .. 1 2 10 2 12 1 21 3 39 15 .. 83 23 Drunkenness .. 5 .. 15 1 40 4 103 13 .. .. 163 18 Other offences .. 9 3 66 1 66 2 121 5 120 11 1 .. 383 22 Totals, 1924 92 13 209 10 185 7 312 16 365 50 1 ..1,164 96 Totals, 1923 1 106 9 209 7 199 8 324 30 345 34 1 .. 1.184 89 Totals, 1922 .. .. 137 9 241 18 166 5 281 23 283 29 .. .. 1,108 84 Totals, 1921 84 6 160 5 138 4 260 29 273 27 2 1 917 72 Totals, 1920 I .. 74 9 170 7 144 6 224 29 264 25 .. .. 877 76 ♦Including importuning, consorting with rogues, &c.

i i I Under 10 and 12 and 15 and 20 and 25 and 30 and 40 and No. Tr»taie 10. under 12. under 15. under 20. under 25. under 30. j under 40. | upwads. stated. J-otais. Offences. j j [_ j M. F. M. F. : M. | F. M. F. M. F. M. j F. M. F. j M. j F, M. F. M. P. Offences against the person — Convicted on indictment 2 .. 1 . . ! 1 4 Summarily convicted .. 2 1 .. 1 .. 1 5 Theft and deceit .. 11 .. 14 .. 4 . . 3 . . 4 36 Mischief .. .. 1 1 Vagrancy .. .. 2 1 . . ] 4 Drunkenness .. .. 2 .. 2 1 5 Other offences .. .. 19 . . 10 .. 10 . . 6 1 1 .. 49 1 Totals .. • • • • 16 • • 37 1 19 .. 16 .. 14 1 1 .. 103 2

H.—2o,

Table F. Table showing Distinct Persons imprisoned after Conviction during each of the last Ten Year.

Table G. Table showing Distinct Convicted Prisoners received during the Year 1924 and sentenced to Reformative Treatment or declared Habitual Criminals, classified according to Sentences.

26

Sentenced to Reformative Treatment for a Period not exceeding : r . 1 , :—; 1 :— : : Declared Head Sentence. Habitual Totals. 6 Months. ! 12 Months. 18 Months. 2 Years. 3 Years. 4 Years. 5 Years. 6 Years. 7 Years. 8 Years. 9 Years. 10 Years. Criminals. Jjpe I 1 ' Ts - t : ! M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Reformative treatment only .. .. .. .. | 5 .. 43 12 9 1 65 12 69 4 6 4 1 202 29 Declared habitual criminals .. .. .. .. j .. Under 1 week .. .. .. •. .. j 1 week and under 1 month .. .. 1 •• 1 .. 2 .. 1 month „ 3 months .. .. 2 .. . . 1 .. 2 .. 3 2 3 montns „ 6 „ .. .. 5 1 .. 1 4 0 „ „ „ 1 • • 2 .. 2 2 1 2 .. 10 9 „ „ 12 „ 1 i 1 year „ 2 years .. .. 1 1 3 .. 5 2 years „ 3 „ .. .. 1 1 4 .. % 3 „ ,, 4 „ .. .. 2 1 g _, 9 4 > > 5 ,, . • .. .... .... 5 ,, . ■ 7 ,, .. .. .. ( .. • • | • • ■ • ■ ■ • • • • ■ • • - .. .. .. .. . . .. . . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 1 .. 1 7 „ „ 10 „ ; 15 „ „ 20 „ j I ' Totals .. .. .. .. ; 6 .. 51 14 | 11 1 73 12 76 4 6 .. 5 1 21 .. 250 31 Maoris included above .. .. .. .. 1 .. 6 1:2 .. 6 .. 2 ! j .. I 3 .. 20 1 I ; 1

JLEN I EARS. Prisoners. 3j«K*£g» 1915 3,039 26-44 1920 1,955 15-74 1916 2,481 21-59 1921 2,120 16-61 1917 2,468 21-48 1922 I 2,249 17-23 1918 1,783 15-47 1923 i 2,358 17-75 1919 1,833 15-37 1924 2,405 17 78

H.—2o.

Table H. Return of Prison Offences and Punishments for the Year ended 31st December, 1924.

Table I. Visits of the Visiting Justices to the Larger Prisons during the Year 1924.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Prepaiation not given; printing (675 copies), £39 10s.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinner. Government Printer* Wellington.—l92s.

Price 9d.]

27

Offences. Total Number Total Number of Prisoners Prison. Disobedience Other Offences of Prisoners in Custody Against D o7orde rs Breaches of ° punished. during the Officers. and idleness. Regulations. Year. Addington ...... Ill 1 3 3 81 Auckland .. .. .. 29 71 134 234 208 1,955 Hautu ...... 1 2 1 4 2 62 Iuvereargill .. .. .. 8 13 28 49 36 332 Napier ...... 2 2 5 9 8 174 New Plymouth .. .. .. 4,9 20 33 17 159 Paparua .. .. .. 9 6 27 42 33 493 Point Halswell .. .. .. 4 10 39 53 27 124 Waikeria .. - .. 11 29 48 88 51 179 Waikune ...... 10 20 29 59 52 147 Wanganui .. .. .. 3 4 12 19 7 150 Wellington ...... 15 16 31 62 49 1,050 Wi Tako ...... 14 j 9 37 60 47 153 Totals.. .. .. Ill 192 412 715 540 5,059

• >> ® . j* 0> Prisons and Visiting PIS- a «5 a "2 Justices - I ! I | S * § i E I | I I 3 O-lSso a & " ,2 ,S ° j (-6 [ fi| S < A hj Fa -«3 CO O P H A ddington— W. Wilson, S.M 1 1 Auckland— J. W. Poynton, S.M... 3 3 6 2 1 6 4 5 30 F. K. Hunt, S.M. 1 . . 1 2 5 3 1 2 .. 1 1 17 W. R. McKean, S.M 3 2 2 7 Hautu— F. V. Acheson .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 1 I nnercargill— G. Cruickshank, S.M. .. 2 3 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 6 R. Officer .. .. 1 .. 1 1 .. 1 1 2 .. .. 7 W. A. Ott .. .. 1 3 .. 1 5 Napier—■ R. W. Dyer, S.M 1 1 J. P. Thomson .. | 1 1 2 .. 1 .. .. 2 .. 1 1 3 12 New Plymouth— P. G. J. Bellringer .. 1 1 1 1 2 6 C. H. Burgess . . 1 .. •. ■ . ■ . . . .. . . .. . . . . 1 A. M. Mowlem, S.M... .. 1 1 .. .. 1 1 .. 1 .. .. 2 7 Paparua— J. A. A. Caesar .. 1 .. .. 1 1 1 .. 2 j 1 .. 7 W. J. Jenkin .. .. 1 1 1 1 .. 1 ..il .. 1 .. 7 W. Wilson, S.M 1 . . .. 1 Point Halswell — E. Arnold .. .. ! 3 3 1 3 .. j .. .. i .. .. .. 10 C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M. .. .. 1 . . .. i . . ...... 1 I. Salek .. .. I 2 .. : 1 . . | .. | .. 3 Waikeria — S. H. Dunkley .. i . . 1 1 . . j .. I .. I 2 Waikune — J. Cullen .. .. . ■ • • • • • • • • 1 • • ■ • ■ • . . .... ] Wanganui— J. S. Barton, S.M 1 .. 1 ., 2 .. .. .. .. [ .. o W ellington— E. Arnold .. .. 5 5 4 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 I. Salek .. 1 2 2 3 .. 1 1 10 Wi Tako— C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M. 1 .. .. .. . .. .. .... .. . . .. 1 I. Salek .. 1 .. •' | 2 1 2 1 7 —— s