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H—2o

In the discussions, class encouraged to voice their views and read books on subjects. Results quite pleasing, and some showed good knowledge to assist them when they once again enter civilian life. Regular discussion taken on world affairs so that class would keep abreast of what was happening an other parts of world. This branch was very popular with all. English.—As some of prisoners had not passed Standard 4, more time taken in explaining rudiments ■of English to ensure improvement in their grammatical speech. , Exercises taken in corrections, combination of sentences, analysis, punctuation, &c. Literary appreciation of passages. Vocabulary exercises and comprehension of paragraphs, &c. Letter-writing taken in social and business topics. Arithmetic and Mathematics.—Those of lower intelligence given more mechanical work in numbers, money, width, length, areas. Form II course covered with others, with advanced work for those with more education. All given plenty of mental calculations to improve speed and accuracy. A great improvement was shown here and results of tests were quite pleasing. The industries of the prison and the farming activities have absorbed all the available labour after making provision for the running of the domestic services, and with a few exceptions all the prisoners have been kept actively and productively ln certain cases prisoners are employed at their own trade, while there are trained tradesmen officers available to instruct prisoners in various kinds of work. In the quarry industry excellent progress has been made, and the figure of 26,845 •cubic yards representing sales for the year is a marked improvement on the figures during the years of the World War, and the prospects for this industry are very bright indeed. The acquisition of (1) a motor-truck, and (2) a mechanical loader, has been the means of effecting a quicker turn around of shingle-trucks taking our products, and, in addition, the use of an extra lorry practically on full-time work has enabled the Department to reap the benefit of increased and remunerative cartage rates. In the garden industry, which provides light and interesting work for prisoners not fit for heavier forms of work, vegetables of all kinds have been grown, but owing to the unsatisfactory weather ruling for most of the year results were not up to expectations and the bulk of the garden produce has been required for ration purposes, leaving .a small margin only for disposal in the local market. The poultry industry has done very well, and during the year egg-production totalled 9,000 dozen. Marked success was achieved with the chick hatchings, giving a very good line of pullets and from which the cockerels obtained were fattened and sold in the local market at very good prices, mainly for the Christmas trade. The farming section, under the management of Mr. H. J. S. Wilson, has had a successful season, with sheep-raising and cropping as the main activities. In the sheep section the lambing returns were 1,325 lambs from 1,200 flock ewes, a percentage of approximately 110. The total wool-clip from the flock ewes and the.weathers totalled 48 bales, and the clip sold very well indeed. Owing to adverse weather conditions the season has not been the best for fattening lambs, and we have been a little late in disposing of most of these lambs. Cropping activities during 1946 were maintained up to the level of previous years, And was confined mainly to the growing of cereals and potatoes, as well as such crops as turnips, mangels, and rape for sheep fodder. In addition, some good crops of hay .and lucerne were obtained, and there is an ample supply of this class of fodder available to carry the stock through the coming winter. The dairy industry was operated on a small scale, a small surplus of cream being available for sale to a local dairy company. The pig-raising industry was resumed after .a rather unfortunate set-back occasioned by an outbreak of disease in the herd, and at present the main objective is the rearing of young pigs for fattening. The staff of this institution has given of its best, and we have been particularly fortunate in that there has been no serious shortage of officers at this prison during the year. I wish to place on record my appreciation of the assistance received from the staff since the time I assumed control of this institution.

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