H— 20a

Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: PRISONS BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF) FOR 1917.

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

Sir,— 29th June, 1918. I have the honour to forward herewith the report of the Prisons Board for the year 1917. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Justice, Wellington. Robert Stout, President.

REPORT. During the year 1917 the Board held meetings at Kaingaroa, Waikeria, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Addington, Paparua (Templeton), and Invercargill. The following table shows the elates of the meetings and the cases considered : —

The total number of cases considered was 438, of which 95 were habitual criminals and 329 persons undergoing reformative detention. Under the provisions of section 14 of the Statute Law Amendment Act, 1917, the cases erf 14 prisoners who were serving sentences of hard labour were also considered by the Board. The cases of several prisoners were brought before the Board on more

C }ases considered eif Date. Place of Meeting. Habitual Criminals and Offenders. Persons undergoing Reformative Detention. Hard-labour Prisoners. Totals. Mar. 5 .. „ 7 .. „ 9, 10 May 25 .. July 6 .. Sept. 28 .. Oct. 26 .. Dec. 12 .. „ 12, 13 „ 12 .. „ 14, 15 Kaingaroa .. Waikeria Auckland Wellington .. 1 J 75 130 205 ») • ■ 5 2 5 1 ■ 22 4 55 5 27 6 60 6 ?> • • Lyttelton Addington .. Paparua Invercargill .. ! 7 113 14 134 J Totals 95 329 14 438