PRISONERS’ AID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 16 October 1942, Page 3

PRISONERS’ AID

DOMINION WAR WORK SUPPLIES FOR ARMY INCREASE IN RECEPTIONS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, this day. War activities enter even into prisons work. The annual report on the subject states that, in addition to the reclamative effort, energies have been focussed on increased production to assist in the national war effort. ' Prisoners have been employed mainly at farming, quarrying, road works, tailoring, bootmaking and laundering. Besides its occupational value, a good proportion of the work is directly related to the war effort. The total credits for the year were £80,514, representing an increase of approximately £3OOO, thereby reducing the gross prisons’ expenditure from £158,704 to a net charge against taxation of £78,190, or £BO a head. The department has continued its policy, as far as practicable, of making itself self-sustained in respect of foodstuffs off its farms, and has produced large quantities for the open market. At Waikeria sufficient tobacco is grown to supply the whole of the department’s requirements. This institution also supplies pasteurised milk to adjacent schools. From other institutions milk and vegetables are supplied for army requirements.

Commenting on the number of prison receptions during the year, 2369, an increase of 108, the controller-general states that it was mainly in the age group of 20 to 30 and almost entirely accounted for by committals of persons to prison during 1941 for breaches of the rational service emergency regulations in respect of their military obligations. An analysis of the nature of the offences shows that, apart from this class, there has been little fluctuation in the number. Under other headings, offences against the person show a very slight increase, offences against property no increase, and it is interesting to observe that the number of offenders committed to prison for drunkenness has substantially declined.