H—2o

Auckland Prison (Superintendent: Mr. J. J. H. Lauder) I have the honour to submit my annual report on the working of this institution for the year ended 31st December, 1948. At the commencement of the year there were '337 males and 12 females in custody. During the year 1,093 males and 60 females were received and 1,165 males and 62 females were discharged. There were 140 males and 3 females received into prison as second offenders during the year. The conduct generally of the prisoners has' been good, with the exception of a disturbance by a number of prisoners, both male and female, in February. Two of the female ringleaders were transferred —one to Addington Prison and the other to the Auckland Mental Hospital. The disturbance actually commenced in the female division on account of the women calling out to the male prisoners, who were in sympathy with them. Since this disturbance quietened down there has been no repetition. There were 3 escapes during the year. One escaped at 3 p.m. on 17th February, 1948, from the prison grounds, and was recaptured twenty minutes later by two police and a prison officer. Two escaped from the quarry with the aid of the prison truck on 30th September, 1948, and both were recaptured and returned to Auckland Prison on Bth October, 1948. Two others escaped from the train while being escorted to Auckland from Hautu and Rangipo on 29th June, 1948. The Hautu prisoner was recaptured and returned to Auckland on 15th September, 1948, and the one from Rangipo on Ist July, 1948. The health of the prisoners generally has been very good and there has not been any general epidemics. The daily average sick has been 8-40 males and 0-21 females. There were 11 males and 2 females admitted to -the public hospital during the year. There were 7 males and 2 females transferred to the mental hospital. One male was transferred back to prison after being an inmate at the mental hospital for thirteen months. The 2 women who were transferred were responsible for a great deal of trouble and unrest at this institution. At this stage I wish to place on record the valuable assistance given by the mental hospital medical staff for their willing co-operation at all times by making examinations during the year for the Courts and also in giving advice and attention to inmates of this institution. The prison quarry has not been working at high pressure as far as the crusher is concerned. The sale of crushed blue metal has been very poor, the demand appearing to be for grades that do not come within our scope, but, at the same time, the prisoners have been fully employed when staff permitted, and the spa wis have been stacked in the quarry for use at a later date. From February to the middle of July the quarry was idle owing to staff shortage, and also while major repairs were carried out on the DavyPaxman boiler. The boot-factory continues to work at full capacity manufacturing prison and mentalhospital footwear and leather satchels for the Post and Telegraph Department. In addition, a large number of repairs have been carried out. The tailoring department has maintained its usual output, manufacturing large quantities of mental-hospital clothing, as well as requirements for our prison institutions. We have experienced some difficulty in receiving material for officers' uniforms, but these are expected at an early date. For other Government Departments 1,332 office-chair cushions were made up and 3,263 pairs of socks were manufactured and 974 pairs of socks refooted. In the repair branch of the shop 15,509 mail and parcel bags were repaired. Tinsmithing has also been carried on, supplying other prison institutions with their requirements. In this class of work, material for manufacture has been very difficult to purchase and has held up the output.

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