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1933. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1932-33.

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 GovernorGeneral. Wellington, 7th November, 1933. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Prisons Department for the year 1932-33. I have, &c, John G. Cobbe, Minister in Charge of Prisons Department.

The Controller-General of Prisons to the Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department. Sir,— I have the honour to present the annual report of the Prisons Department for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1933, together with extracts from the reports of Controlling Officers, and the criminal statistics for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1932. The institutional reports have been abridged on account of the need fcr economy. Prison Statistics. The tables of statistics which are appended to this report show that at the beginning of the year there were 1,657 persons in custody in the various institutions controlled by the Department throughout the Dominion. Summarized the statistics show that during the year 5,198 prisoners were received into custody, as against 5,340 in 1931, showing a decrease of 142. The number of persons released unconditionally, or on probationary license, was 4,654, and at the end of the year there remained in custody a total of 1,583 (1,492 males and 91 females) a reduction of 71 on the figures for the previous year. The statistics of receptions, the number of distinct persons, and the daily average for the past five years are summarized in the following table : —

The receptions during 1932 include 102 persona who were arrested for offences committed during the riots which occurred at Auckland and Wellington in April and May of that year. The disturbances which occurred at Christchurcli during the tramway strike in that city, and the unemployed demonstrations at Dunedin and Huntly, account for a further thirty-nine committals. But for the inflation of the totals by these receptions, the committals during 1932 would have been 5,059, or a decrease of 283 on the number received into custody during the previous year. The normal receptions thus show a reduction of slightly over 5 per cent.

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Y Total Offenders Total Distinct Daily Average received. Offenders. in Custody. ]932 .. .. .. .. 5,198 3,401 1669-17 1931 .. .. .. .. 5,340 3,203 1634-39 1930 .. .. .. .. 4,909 2,864 1466-02 1929 4,357 2,596 1438-26 1928 .. .. .. .. 4,365 2,548 1499-58