OPEN COMPETITION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1932, Page 6

OPEN COMPETITION

PRODUCE FROM PRISONS. DEPARTMENT’S CASE. EXTENSION OF FARMING. WELLINGTON, January 12. Complaints have been made from time to time in Parliament against the industrial operations carried out in prisons as a l'esult of which produce is sold on tlie open market in competition with outside producers. Special criticism has been levelled against Wi Tako prison at IVentham, where sheep farming and market gardening are the main occupations of prisoners. The case for the authorities is put in the report of the Prisons Department for 1930-31.

“Occasionally there are protests against allegedly unfair competition with free labour.” the report says. “Apart from the folly it would he to keep offenders against society in idleness, or at dehumanising unproductive tasks, at the public’s expense, it should be noted that, as the department now contributes toward the maintenance of prisoners’ dependants,* the prisoner today may be said to carry a social burden, consequently lie should he as much entitled to work as any free unit of society. There can be no reasonable objection to the marketing of the product of his labour so long as cut-rate tactics are not indulged in to the detriment of private producers who are obliged to subscribe to award conditions.”

The combined effect of the depressed economic and trading conditions experienced during the year, has been reflected in the department’s trading account. In 1929-30 the cost expenditure on industries was £39,070, and the cash receipts £80.365, leaving a cash surplus of £41,295. Last year the expenditure was £34,340 and the receipts £65.235, leaving a surplus of £30,895. “The only branch of industry which at the present time allows for fairly free expansion is land-development and farming operations. Provision is being made for further extension in this direction as far as financial restrictions will permit. An additional area of approximately 5000 acres of land at Hautu lias been proclaimed a prison reserve, making a total of 15,000 acres, and a new camp is now being established to relieve the congestion at the principal town prisons. “The comparative freedom at tV farms for trusted men the inspiring open spaces, and the healthful exercise, mark a decided advance on the old idea of deterrence - and repression through close confinement. Recently

arrangements were made for the establishment of a logging camp for securing posts from the hush on the Kaiinanawa Range for subdivision fences, the erection of which will he an essential preliminary before the land is offered for settlement.”