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with essential work on the farm, they were later discontinued. Football during the year was confined to inter-institutional games, and some games with outside teams which had a day free from competition play. In the main these games were very enjoyable and played in good spirit. Evening school classes commenced again under the control of Mr. F. Yazey, who is attached to the Te Awamutu Primary School. Special attention is given to those inmates who are backward or have had very little schooling. In many cases the results are most encouraging. In 'the library section a new* departure this year has been the introduction of the Country Library Service exchange system. At first I was a little afraid that these books might suffer in the inmates' hands, and consequently the system was introduced slowly. Farming activities are the main source of employment for inmates placed in our charge. The different branches attached to a place such as this give the inmates an insight into all branches of agricultural work, also the management of all types of livestock and the breaking-in, sowing, and harvesting of crops. Besides the handling of horses, we also do tractor work. Here inmates are being taught an occupation which should be of use to them when released. There are many theories advanced in regard to the use of prison labour, the main one being that prisoners should be used to break in land from the rough, and when it is productive hand it over for settlement by civilians. This course does not appeal to me. My view on the subject is that as farming is the most important industry in this country and the majority of youths placed in our charge are labourers, then if we can train some or the majority of them to become useful farm labourers, the only place to give them a liking for the land is a place such us we have here, where results are produced and surroundings and live-stock are equal to any they are likely to encounter when discharged. The season just completed has from the farming point of view been a good one with sufficient rain to keep pastures growing. Here we derive our main source of revenue from the dairy herds. In all, five dairy sheds are worked with an average of 120 cows per dairy. The full production from four of the sheds is supplied to dairy companies in the form of cream, the supply from the fifth being pasteurized and bottled and supplied to schools, approximately 3,000 bottles being delivered daily. Skim-milk is made use of in the rearing of calves and pigs. All dairy replacements are bred and reared on the property. Also, in addition to the dairy cattle, a herd of breeding-cows— Polled Angus and Shorthorn —is maintained. The progeny from these cows are reared to three years and sold as beef. Cattle carried on the property total 1,808 head. We also endeavour to assist any inmate who does not find his ambitions towards cattle, so the Department maintains a flock of approximately 4,000 breeding-ewes. The majority of these ewes are mated to Southdown rams, and lambs are forwarded to the freezing-works. The better woolled and constitutioned sheep are mated to Romney rams and the ewe lambs are retained as flock replacements. Quite a number of inmates have gained a good knowledge of this branch of farming —some have become quite efficient shearers and useful shed hands. Lambing percentages here are mostly good and over the past three seasons has not been below 100 per cent. The number of sheep on the property at the end of the year was 5,475. To maintain stock through the winter it is necessary to have a good supply of winter feed. This season we have 90 acres of chou moellier, 50 acres of swedes, and have harvested close to 1,000 tons of hay. Hay crops were heavy, but some difficulty was experienced in harvesting as the weather was very erratic. For inmates not interested in the stock and agricultural work we have an orchard and a fairly extensive garden. The orchard work is very interesting for inmates who have that trend. Pruning, spraying, harvesting, and thfe packing of fruit is carried out. Fruit is supplied from the orchard here to all institutions in the North Island, and

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