H.—2o.

Good conduct and industry enables inmates to qualify for membership of the special class which is permitted to indulge in appropriate games during the evenings. Religious services were again provided during the year by visiting chaplains from Te Awamutu and Kihikihi and the Maori Mission parties. During the year the Institution library was carefully overhauled and a large number of books rebound. There is ample reading-matter of all classes available, and donations of useful books come to hand fairly regularly. The old power-house building was reconstructed into a four-roomed cottage and immediately occupied by a married officer. Other new buildings erected during the year were a butcher's shop, tobacco air-curing barn, implement-shed, farm store building and yard, and new pheasant runs and coops. All of these buildings were erected by inmates under the supervision of a tradesman officer, and together with usual maintenance work, provided ample useful work for all inmates skilled at the building trade. All buildings were completed to the satisfaction of the Inspector of the Public Works Department. Footwear repairs continue to be executed in the bootshop. Repair work to the value of £140 10s. lid. was carried out for the Tokanui Mental Hospital. Harness repairs were also attended to in the saddler's shop. The activities on the farm continue to expand, and each year, as further areas are brought into cultivation, the need for increased attention to maintenance and for additional farm equipment becomes more pronounced. The various industries pursued on the farm are as follow : Dairying, raising of fat stock, sheep-farming, pig-raising, breeding of horses, cropping, market-gardening, orchard, apiary, tobacco-culture, and the rearing of pheasants and poultry. It will be evident, therefore, that ample productive work is available for the inmates committed to the Institution. There are now four dairies on the property at each of which over 100 cows are milked by hand. To enable the herds to be milked expeditiously it is essential to employ a large number of inmates at each milking-shed. This causes a heavy demand on the volume of available labour. With the exception of sheep, wool, and lambs which showed a substantial improvement towards the end of the year, prices for farm products remained at very low and unprofitable levels, making it impracticable to improve the revenue position. However, the prospects for the coming year appear definitely brighter, and higher price-levels will be welcomed owing to the need for additional finance to effect necessary improvements and re placements which have been deferred on the score of economy. An area of 253 acres was laid down in permanent pasture. Further subdivision of paddocks is essential before improved production on an acreage basis can be achieved, but before this can be done it is necessary to provide an adequate supply of water for each paddock. This matter is at present receiving the attention of the engineers, and it is anticipated that a report on the subject will be available at an early date. A considerable amount of labour was again employed on the destruction of ragwort and 7 cwt. of sodium chlorate was used for the purpose. Favoured with a good season, it has been possible to record a substantial increase in dairy production. During the season ended 31st July, 1933, an average of 454 cows were milked, resulting in a milk yield of 3,469,771 lb. at an average test of 4 per cent. The average factory cream test was 40-33 per cent., and the average estimated butterfat yield per cow was 294-66 lb. Compared with the previous season, there are increases of 118 in the number of cows milked, of 925,892 lb. in the milk-yield, of 33,046 lb. in the quantity of butterfat supplied to the factory, and 1-28 lb. in the average butterfat production per cow. A slight decrease of 0-03 per cent, in the average milk test is recorded. A wool-clip of 25 bales, weighing 9,585 lb., was obtained from 1,024 sheep, and 849 lambs were reared. During the year the supply of mutton and beef for ration requirements of Auckland Prison was continued with satisfactory results. Good prices were obtained for all hides, skins, and tallow disposed of through the auction-rooms. An agreement was concluded between the Department and the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Ltd., regarding the disposal of pigs, whereby the Institution would secure similar benefits to those enjoyed by private shareholders of the company. There were 532 pigs sold during the year and ten killed for rations. The garden continues to show a substantial cash profit, notwithstanding the steady decline in value of sales. The growing crops during the current season were severely affected by severe late frosts. In the nursery section, ample supplies of young trees were grown for planting out on the farm for shelter and other potential requirements. The tobacco crop was harvested in March, 1933, and 3,377 lb. of dried leaf was secured from an area of slightly under 3 acres. This leaf was sold and realized £239 Bs. 6d. This industry promises to be extremely profitable to the Department. During the current season the area under cultivation was increased to 6 acres so as to provide sufficient leaf for the requirements of all institutions. Unfortunately, this crop was also affected by late frosts, but nevertheless it is looking very well and a good yield is assured. For the season ended May, 1933, a yield of 1,965 cases of apples was obtained from the orchard, which, together with windfalls and other low-grade apples disposed of in sugar-bags, realized £363. The average price per case was 3s. 4d. The crop for the current season was almost completely destroyed by frost. An increase in production from the apiary was recorded, and 2,6741b. of honey was received for disposal. During the year, the rearing of pheasants for the Internal Affairs Department was undertaken and the construction of suitable breeding and accommodation pens was completed. At the end of the year 104 pheasant chicks had been reared.

22