PRISONS (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1917-18; ALSO OPERATIONS OF THE FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1918 Session I-II, H-20

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Session 11. 1918. NX W ZEALAND

PRISONS (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1917-18; ALSO OPERATIONS OF THE FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON), FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.

Presented to both llouses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral. My Lord, — Wellington, 15th September, 1918. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Prisons Department for the year 1917. I have, &c, Thomas M. Wilfobd, Minister in Charge of Prisons Department.

The Permanent Head of the Prisons Department to the Minister in Charge of the Department. Sir, — Prisons Department, 31st August, 1918. I have the honour to furnish, you with the thirty-seventh annual report on the prisons and prison institutions of the Dominion, together with the prison statistics, extracts from the reports of Gaolers and Officers in Charge, and the reports of the honorary Probation Officers appointed under the provisions of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908. The statistics and Gaolers' reports cover tho calendar year ended 31st December, 1917, while the Probation Officers' reports and the tables of revenue and expenditure are for the financial year terminating on the 31st March, 1918. The statistics for the past calendar year (1917) indicate a decrease of approximately 3 per cent, in the population of our prisons compared with the figures for the previous year (1916), but, as pointed out elsewhere in this re-port, the total for 1917 is largely increased by the number of men who have been sentenced to various terms of hard labour by the military Courts for offences against the Military Service Act, 1916. The Government Statistician's tables show that 166 courtmartialled prisoners were received between March and December, 1917, while at the date of this report (31st August, 1918) there are 212 prisoners of this class. The total number of prisoners of all classes (civil and military) is at present approximately 973, so that our criminal prison population is now only about 761, compared with 893 in 1913. From these more recent, figures it is therefore clear that the war has at last had a similar effect to that experienced in older countries in reducing the number of criminals remaining in the Dominion, although, as stated

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in last year's report, the reduction is not nearly so marked as it has been in the United Kingdom. The Department is well aware that a number of ex-prisoners and probationers who have been released in terms of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, have left New Zealand with the Expeditionary Forces, and the reduction in numbers was therefore expected. It yet remains to be seen what effect a military life will have on their future when they return to the Dominion. Amended Prison Regulations, General Orders, etc. In compliance with your instructions a general order was issued early in the year removing previously existing anomalies in regard to the treatment and dietary of remand and trial prisoners, debtors, first-class misdemeanants, and prisoners sentenced to imprisonment, without hard labour. The new system has now been in force for nearly twelve months, and has worked smoothly and satisfactorily. It was certainly an anachronism that unsentenced men and the other classes I have named should be placed on a similar, and in some respects on a worse, footing to convicted criminals, and the alteration that has been made has removed a long-standing reproach against, our prison administration. Another much-needed amendment in the Prison Regulations has also been made by your direction to enable us to employ on " light labour " prisoners who are sentenced to imprisonment "■without hard labour." Prior to the passing of the Statute Law Amendment Act, 1917, ours was one of the few prison systems in English-speaking countries under which prisoners of this class could not be given even the lightest tasks during the period of their incarceration. This has now" been remedied, to the advantage alike of the discipline of the prisons and of the individuals concerned. Additional regulations have also been made, and brought into operation during the year, classifying the prisons under their proper headings as reformatories, Borstal institutions, prisons, gaols, &c, and so enabling us to make a more satisfactory classification of the inmates than was possible under former conditions. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Inspector of Prisons as Permanent Head of the Prisons Department have also been defined. .Your instructions that the ration scales in vogue in the prisons should be varied and improved have been carried out, and the change from the monotony of the dietary in existence previously is already having a beneficial effect on the general health and spirits of the prisoner. A general order has also been issued giving effect to your direction that the time for " lights out " in all the prisons of the Dominion should be extended from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Experience has shown that such an extension of the lighting-period was necessary in oi;der to give the prisoners a greater opportunity of self-improvement. During the past year the Ministerial decision to segregate sexual perverts and remove them from association with other prisoners has been carried out. New Plymouth Prison lias been set apart for this class of prisoner, the habitual criminals formerly incarcerated there having been removed to a special division of the Auckland Prison. The change is an important departure from previous methods, and has a direct bearing upon the general question of primary classification, which has been recently engaging the attention of the Department. Prison Population. Comparative Figures. A comparison of the Government Statistician's figures for 1917 with those for 1916 shows that the total number of distinct persons received'into the prisons during 1917 was 4,112, and during 1916 it was 4,256, a decrease of 144. The daily average number for 1917 was 91426, while for 1916 it was 942*77, showing a decrease in the daily totals of 28*51. In spite, however, of this slight reduction the daily average still exceeds considerably that for the pre-war year 1913, when the number was 89324. While, however, these figures show an increase on the pre-war totals so far as the prison population is concerned, allowance has to be made for the appreciable addition made to that population by the committal to prison by military courts-martial of a number of objectors to military service and of soldiers who have offended against Army regulations. A table accompanying this report shows that the total number of offenders of this class who were received into prison during the year was 166. The daily average number of court-martialled prisoners during the past financial year was 176\ r ). It will thus be seen that the actual number of prisoners sentenced by the Civil Courts was less than for 1913, and that therefore, so far as the Prisons Department is concerned, we can now record a decrease in crime compared with the pre-war period, and a very material reduction in the criminal population of our prisons for the year 1917 compared with the previous year. The Military Service Act was not passed until August, 1916, and consequently the "objectors" who form the bulk of the "court-martial" prisoners did not appear on the prison records until the following year—the first committals of such persons being made in March, 1917. Notwithstanding the reduction that has taken place in our criminal population compared with the figures for the previous year, the decrease in no way approximates to that shown in the annual report of the Commissioners of Prisons for England and Wales, where, as stated in my last year's report, the prison population was less by nearly 57 per cent, than it was during the year 1913-14.

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The fluctuations in the prison population from 1881 to 1917, inclusive, are shown in the table below : —

Daily Average, 1881 to 1917.

Prisoners sentenced big Military Courts-martial At the time of writing (31st August) there are in the prisons and prison institutions of the Dominion 212 men who have been sentenced to terms varying from six months to seven years by courts-martial. Of this number 200 have been committed to prison on the charge of " disobeying the lawful command of his superior officer." The only man who is serving a term of more than two years is a soldier who was sentenced for "desertion while on active service" at Moascar, Egypt. The other military prisoners are all men who have declined to serve in the Expeditionary Forces in any capacity whatever. Some are "religious" or "conscientious" objectors; the rest have objected to serve on various grounds, personal and otherwise. The advent of such a number of prisoners who, whatever their faults, were not criminals presented a somewhat difficult problem to the Department, which has hitherto had to deal only with offenders against the civil law. The position was met, however, by effecting a complete separation, wherever possible, between the civil and military prisoners, and when the number of the latter class increased sufficiently the sanction of the Minister was obtained to their being drafted to the afforestation camp at Kaingaroa, to the roadmaking camp at Waimarino, to the Waikoria Reformatory Farm, to Paparua (Ternpleton), and the younger men to the Invercargill Borstal Institution. The method of drafting enabled all the men to be employed on useful outdoor work under the best possible conditions. Incidentally their labour has been retained in productive channels instead of becoming a wasted asset, as every military prisoner is now farming, tree-planting, roadmaking, building, or doing something to assist in improving or adding to the property of the State. In each prison, camp, or institution to which the military prisoners have been sent they are kept entirely to themselves, and are not allowed to mix with the criminal prisoners. With few exceptions they have worked well and conducted themselves well, but in the few cases where these men have proved recalcitrant we have found our officers quite capable of coping with the situation. Men who decline to work or who are agitators and foment discontent among their fellows are returned to the central prisons and treated as ordinary prisoners. The number of military prisoners at present confined in each of our institutions is shown in the table below :— Number of Gourt-martialled Prisoners confined in the Prisons on the 31st August, 1918. Auckland ... .... ... ... ... ... ... 3 Invercargill ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 Kaingaroa ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 Lyttelton ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Paparua ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 57 Roto-aira ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 Waikeria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 212 Expenditure and Receipts. The gross expenditure for the financial year under all heads amounted to £81,363, against £69,536 for the previous year, an increase of £11,827. The largest increases were on the following items, viz. : Salaries and uniforms, £1,829; prisoners' clothing, £2,542; prison farms, £1,849; rations, £866; miscellaneous expenditure, £3,986; tools and materials, £661. In regard to the first item, " Salaries and uniforms," the additional amount expended is accounted for by scale increases under the classification schedule and by the enhanced cost of material purchased for uniforms that have been supplied to prison officers. The increased cost of material also accounts for the much higher expenditure on the item "Prisoners' clothing." The opening-up and development of prison farms naturally required somewhat heavy disbursements in the purchase of stock, implements, &c, but it may be noted that the cash received from the sale of stock, produce, &c, practically balanced the expenditure. The increase in the cost for the year of rations and of tools and material requires no explanation. The principal increase is under the heading

Daily Average of Prisoners in Do) ninion Prisons. Year. Males. Females. Total. 1881 .. 1891 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 1916 .. 1917 .. 631-66 459-22 799-08 855-28 826-69 916-09 93133 895-99 817-27 94-37 58-39 • 64-18 04-07 66-55 63-72 76-79 82-78 96-99 726-03 517-61 863-26 919-35 893-24 979-81 1,008-12 942-77 914-26

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" Miscellaneous expenditure." This item covers material purchased for making tip officers' uniforms and prisoners' clothing, hardware, tobacco, &c, that has been purchased for issue from the prison general store, where our last stock-taking showed that the total value of our stocks amounted to slightly over £4,000. It also includes many other expenses, such as travellingexpenses, postage, and telegrams, telephones, printing, &c, that have not yet been charged to individual prisons. The cost of transferring prisoners has increased considerably, not only on account of the rise in railway and steamer passenger rates, but because of the larger number of transfers we have had to make in connection with the drafting of military prisoners to the various country prisons. Seeeipts. While the expenditure during the past year has been the heaviest experienced, we have been able, by building up our industries and pushing on our works as vigorously as possible, to earn a revenue that is easily a record for the Department, the receipts for the financial year, as shown below, being £15,083, against £9,867 for the preceding year, an increase of £5,216. If, therefore, the gross receipts are deducted from the gross expenditure in each year (£81,363 in 1917-18 and £69,536 in 1916-17) we find that the net expenditure in the past year was £66,280, against £59,669 in 1916—17, a not increase of £0,011, or slightly over 11 per cent. It may confidently be stated that this additional cost is much more than covered by the increased capital value that we have placed upon our three farming properties at Invercargill, Templeton, and Waikeria respectively by the expenditure of prison labour in developmental works during the year. The table given below (No. 1) illustrates clearly the nature of the various prison industries and the cash credits received during the year under each heading.

Table No. 1. —Cash received and Amounts credited to the Prisons Vote for the Year ended 31st March, 1918.

Value of Prison Labour for' which Cash Credits are not received. Although a substantial amount was received in cash or in transfer credits during the year as the direct product of the intelligent employment of prison labour, the amount earned (£15,083) only partially represents the value of that labour to the State. In order that the position may be clearly shown I have again obtained from the Public Works Engineer-in-Chief complete estimates, compiled by the District Engineers, of the value of prison labour employed during the year on various prison buildings, roads, and other works, calculated according to free-labour standards, and submit below a tabulated statement (Table No. 2) showing the totals in regard to each prison or institution where such works are in progress.

Table No. 2.—Total Value of Prison Labour employed on Roads, Buildings, Reclamation-works, Wall-building, and other Public Works for which no Financial Credit has been received, for the Year ended 31st March, 1918.

Prison. Metal, Gravel, &c. Farmproduce. harm ... t( , , bricks. Stock. •i. o o <D H Tree „ , , ,. boots. planting. o a s a iS °^ Totals. Auckland Invercargill Kaingaroa Lyttelton Napier New Plymouth Paparua Waikeria Wellington Miscellaneous credits £ .. 1,195 138 477 45 £ 1,195 £ 23 94 £ £ £ 515 £ £ £ 720 £ 1,218 1,329 3,145 738 138 483 2,415 1,921 1,535 2,161 3,145 559 179 138 477 6 624 639 749 367 466 576 915 45 1,490 Totals .. 1,855 ! 1,855 1,386 1,116 1,490 981 3,145 559 2,390 15,083

Prison. „ .... J Construction Builditias and , ,. . ,,. v, and Main tenWalls. , „ , ance ol Koads. Exoavating | Blockfor Buildings. 1 making. Reclamation Works. Totals. Auckland Invercargill £ 1,619 1,254 2,189 £ £ £ £ 6,189 £ 1,619 7,443 2,969 2,809 2,924 475 2,809 2,244 250 780 ?aparua rloto-aira Waikeria Wellington 680 125 100 Totals .. 5,867 5,303 100 780 6,189 18,239

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A large amount, of work is carried out in the prisons in connection with the manufacture of boots, clothing, uniforms, &c, for prison officers and prisoners. A number of prisoners are also employed at farming, dairying, and domestic work. Although a considerable saving in expenditure is thus effected and the State property is being improved and developed, we receive no credit in the Government accounts for these branches of industry. The value of all such work lias been fairly assessed, and is shown in Table No. 3 below.

Table No. 3. —Value of Prison Labour employed on Prison Works and Industries for which Cash Credits are not obtained for Year ended 31st March, 1918.

Summary. £ Cash and liiiancial credits earned by Prisons Department, 1917-18 ... 15,083 Estimated value of prison labour employed on public works, 1917-18... 18,239 Estimated value of prison labour employed on prison works and industries, 1917-18 ... ... ... ... ... ... 22,265 Total value of prison labour, 1917-18 ... ... £55,587 The gross expenditure of the Prisons Department for the year was £81,363. If from this is deducted what might fairly be termed the earnings of the Department during the same period (£55,587), the net debit against the Department stands at £25,776. Quite an appreciable proportion of .our expenditure has been incurred in the purchase of horses, stock, implements, grass-seed, &C, required in connection with the development of our farms, but it will not be long now before our preliminary expenses will have been mot, and a return will be obtained that will largely increase the financial credits obtained by the Department. Progress buring the Year. Buddings, tbc. During the past year considerable progress has boon made with the various building-works on hand. At Auckland the work of subdividing the area set apart for exercise purposes, begun last year, has been completed. The yards, six in number, each equipped with necessary lavatory and sanitary conveniences, have been provided. Each yard has a separate entrance, and as the subdivisioual walls are only 7 ft. in height the sun and air have free access to every section. A covered area at the end of each yard is provided for use during wet weather, and instead of the usual asphalt or concrete surface the central portion of each yard has been laid down permanently in grass. Under the present arrangement it is now possible to provide for a better system of classification than could be carried out under former conditions. The work of replacing the concrete cell-floors in the North Wing with kauri flooring has now been completed, and adds considerably to their appearance, as well as materially contributing to the comfort of the inmates. The corridor and balcony floors of this wing have also been relaid in concrete finish, the whole work having a decided tendency in the direction of brightening the surroundings. The new workshops are nearing completion, and should be ready for occupation in a few weeks' time. This building has been constructed of concrete blocks made on the premises from screenings obtained from the Prison quarry, and with concrete tiled roof. About 4,000 square feet of floor-space will be available, and the building is designed to permit, of power machines being used in connection with the various industries it is proposed to carry on. For the present bootmaking and tailoring will be the main industries. Exercise-yards to the number of four are being provided in connection with the workshops. Here again a better system of classification will be made possible.

Prison. Bootmaking for Officers and Prisoners. Tailoring (including repairs). Gardening anil Pinning. Roadmaking. Buildingwork. Quarrying. Domestic j Employment. Totals. Addington Auckland .. Invereargill Kaingaroa. . Lyttelton .. Napier New Plymouth Paparua . . Roto-aira .. Waikeria . . Wellington Minor gaols 450 314 420 243 721 138 2,223 570 85 70 30 1,600 459 1,251 520 195 455 190 160 176 204 500 890 1,329 6,249 1,811 421 2,397 369 344 1,193 2,164 3,131 2,711 146 618 1,321 16 5 3 551 82 '36 9 15 170 670 80 1,592 650 18 13 66 5 1,652 444 347 210 582 240 135 865 6 Totals 2,062 1,680 4,699 2,099 4,492 2,233 5,000 22,265 I

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The building of the Administrative Wing at Waikeria has been pushed on during the year. At time of writing the rooling-in of this building has just been finished, and it is expected this much-needed work will have been completed and the building occupied early in the new year. Two additional concrete cottages have been built, thus furnishing further accommodation for married officers. The provision of residences is a very important matter, especially so in a remote district such as Waikeria, where rented houses are unobtainable. During the coming year it is hoped to provide more accommodation in this respect. As the whole of the work in this connection is being carried out by Prison labour, and as the necessary sand and shingle is available on the property, the resultant cost is kept down to the minimum. The milking-shed, dairy buildings, engine-room, and separator-room at Waikeria, referred to in my previous report, have been completed, and were in use during the whole of the past milking season. The combined building referred to is constructed of reinforced concrete throughout. The whole of the surrounding fencing-posts are also composed of the same material. A well has also been sunk, and a reinforced-concrete storage tank erected. By this means a high-pressure supply of pure water is made available. Taken altogether, this dairy may be classed as one of the most complete and up-to-date structures of its kind in the Waikato. Nothing in the way of building operations has been carried out at Wellington during the year. At the Addington Female Reformatory a much-needed improvement in the manner of lighting the cells has been carried into effect by installing the electric light throughout. This improvement has added materially to the comfort of the inmates. Work on the now prison being erected at Paparua, near Templeton, has been pushed on during the year. As this building is being constructed of concrete throughout progress is necessarily somewhat slow, but despite this the building, which is one of two stories, has reached roof-level. Better progress would have been possible were it not for the fact that the amount of available labour was limited to the holding-capacity of the temporary buildings in which the men are at present located. The building of two additional cell-houses capable of accommodating thirty men each has been almost completed, also a kitchen block containing bathroom with hot and cold shower-baths. Officers' quarters have also been provided. On the opposite side of the quadrangle a large prison workshop has been erected, also Gaoler's office, clerk's office, storerooms, visiting-rooms, and a small prison hospital. hour separate exerciseyards with lavatory and sanitary conveniences are also being added. The whole of the buildings will be lit by electricity, which can be obtained cheaply from the Lake Coleridge scheme. It is also proposed to establish a high-pressure water-supply, together with a thoroughly efficient septictank system for dealing with the sewerage. This block of buildings, when completed, will for the present be used for the housing of military prisoners, and will be run entirely apart from the temporary cell block at present occupied by civil prisoners. The building of two officers' cottages has been put in hand. Improvements have also been made to the cottages already in occupation. A considerable amount of the materials used in the temporary buildings having been obtained from Lyttelton, where the work 8f demolishing certain portions of the old prison buildings had been begun, the cost of erection was reduced considerably. At Invercargill, owing to the main building having been completed, it has been found possible to devote further attention to the question of drainage and the building of the necessary boundarywalls. During the year considerable progress has been made in both directions. The Borough Council's new drainage system has been extended and connected up. The building-up of the boundary-walls has been further advanced, and at time of writing this work has been practically completed. The work of subdividing the area set apart for exercise and recreation purposes has also been proceeded with. At Invercargill, fortunately, ample space was provided, and on completion of the scheme already begun it should be possible to give effect to the proposals already laid down for the introduction of a thorough and complete system of classification such as this institution requires, An improved system of bathing has also been introduced by installing fifteen hot and cold shower-baths in the basement under the church. This room was formerly used as a schoolroom, but now that the new schoolroom in the North Wing has become available it is no longer needed for school purposes. A new kitchen block, comprising kitchen, bakehouse, laundry, drying-rooms, permanent bathrooms, &c, is now required, and as soon as the necessary plans have been completed this work will be put in hand. The whole of the works referred to have been carried out by prison labour under the control and supervision of the various warderinstructors. Other Works. The prisoners at Auckland have been employed mainly in connection with quarrying, stonedressing, and metal-crushing operations. A small party was employed erecting a stone wall on the Grammar School boundary, but this work has now been completed. The making and repairing of boots for prisoners and officers has also given employment to a limited number of prisoners. The making of reinforced-concrete telegraph-poles for the Post and Telegraph Department was put in hand during the year. The bulk of the prisoners were, however, employed in getting out building-stone and procuring road-metal. The cash received for the latter during the year amounted to the sum of £1,195. At New Plymouth the prisoners were employed in quarrying. The metal so obtained is disposed of to the New Plymouth Borough Council. The revenue forthcoming from this source during the year amounted to the sum of £477. Tree-planting operations were continued at Kaingaroa. Credits received from this source for the year ended 31st March last amounted to the sum of £3,145.

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Work on the Waiinarino-Tokaanu Road has been continued, and several new bridges have been completed. The whole of the necessary timber for the bridges was obtained from the adjoining bush and pit-sawn by prison labour. A number of concrete culverts have also been put in, and a considerable length of additional road has been metalled. A portion of the new roadformation work has been completed, and in addition necessary repairs have been effected to the old road between Otouku and the Waioru-Tokaanu -Road junction. The repairs referred to were fairly extensive, and permitted the running of a daily motor service for the conveyance of fish by the Internal Affairs motor-lorry from Tokaanu to Waimarino. Three privately owned motor conveyances also used the road almost daily right throughout the season. The greatest, difficulty to cope with, however, lias been the extremely wet season, rain and snow having fallen to such an extent as to prevent work being carried out on several days in each week. The discover)' of a volcanic deposit containing suitable material for road-metalling purposes, both at the Waimarino end and also at a point seven miles out, will materially assist in this year's operations, and provided reasonably fine weather is experienced it, is hoped that metalling will have so far advanced by the end of the coming season as to permit of the two existing camps being removed —one to the fifteen-mile and the other to the twenty-mile peg. The Public Works Engineer estimates the value of the work carried out by prison labour on this road for the twelve months ended 31st March last at approximately £2,809, exclusive of the cost of material. Once this road is completed it should prove of great value to the people of the Dominion, opening up as it will considerable areas of flax-growing country as well as large tracts containing valuable timber. At Waikeria considerable progress has been made during the year. The work of developing this valuable property has been vigorously pushed ahead, much additional land having been brought, under cultivation. Dairy-farming, poultry-farming, fruit-farming, bee-farming, pigraising, and market-gardening are all here to be found in full swing. Any unbiased onlooker of the spectacle here presented—men busily engaged in the work of transforming a wilderness of manuka and swamp into what will eventually become one of the finest properties in the Dominion —could not but come to the conclusion that here, indeed, is an object-lesson in the useful employment of prison labour. Much lias been heard of the so-called " honour " system, said to be working so satisfactorily in portions of the United States, but I venture to state that were it possible to have the daily routine of prison life at this and several other of our country establishments " filmed " the people of the Dominion would be amazed at the scope of the work which the Prisons Department is at present engaged upon, and would see for themselves that the "honour" system is and has been in operation in at least sonic of our prisons for some time past. A little while ago I had an opportunity of witnessing what was said to be an authentic portrayal of the working of the " honour " system in an American prison, and as a result I have no hesitation in stating that in quite a number of instances, provided the films then witnessed were authentic, New Zealand is far ahead in matters dealing witli reform in this particular direction. The construction of access and other roads in connection with this property has been pushed ahead vigorously. The Public, Works Engineer estimates the value of roadworks alone at £2,244. Formation-work on the new road leading from the Reformatory to Kihikihi, through the Mental Hospital property, is nearly completed. The road is now being metalled with shingle obtained from the adjoining river. It is confidently expected that this work will be finished during the coming summer, when Waikeria will be connected up with Te Awamutu by a well-constructed fully metalled road. The work being carried out at Point Halswell Prison, Wellington, during the past year consisted of the extending of the site for the proposed prison or other institution. The extension of the area set apart for gardening purposes has also been proceeded with, good crops of potatoes being the result. Pig-raising on a limited scale has also been begun. The road leading from the Miramar Wharf to Shelly Bay has been formed and metalled throughout its entire length. For the first mile or so the formation and metalling has been made to a width of 22 ft., the balance being 16 ft. It is intended to widen the whole of this road as opportunity offers. Other works carried out have consisted of the keeping of the mounds surrounding the magazines in order, also repairs to tram-lines and wharves at Shell}' and Mahanga Bays. The plantations on the Defence properties have also been attended to, and the trees are thriving remarkably, so much so that in a few years the whole appearance of the hills will bo changed. The labourvalue of the work carried out at Point Halswell is estimated at £350. The smallness of the amount is owing to the fact that the number of prisoners at, present located at Point Halswell is less than one-third of the number formerly maintained there. Brickmaking continues to be the staple industry carried on at Mount Cook Prison. The value of the bricks supplied to the Public Works Department for uso in Government buildings during the year amounted to the sum of £1,490. Work at the Terrace consisted of gardening, boot-repairing, &c. At Paparua Prison, Templeton, much valuable and useful work has been carried out. One of the principal industries has been the manufacturing of building-blocks, concrete flagstones, and reinforced-concrete telegraph-poles. The manufacture of concrete roofing-tiles has also been added, and promises to develop into a payable industry. The whole, of the Prison buildings and warders' cottages are being roofed with this class of material, and the buildings so covered are giving every satisfaction. The growing of lucerne has received considerable attention, also other crops, such as potatoes, oats, turnips, Arc. A considerable flock of sheep is being maintained. The bringing-in of fresh areas is also being attended to, and in process of time this property should prove of considerable value to the Department, as well as providing a means of giving a practical training to numbers of the inmates. The reading and fencing of

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the property is being proceeded with. Stock and produce to the value of £1,373 has been sold during the year. This is exclusive of the value of stook and produce used in the maintenance of the inmates. At Invercargill the main operations, apart from buildings, &c, have been, as in previous years, connected with the carrying-out of the reclamation scheme. This work has, 1 am pleased to say, turned out a complete success. 'Shortly after the water had been shut off by the enclosing embankment the work of development, was commenced by burning off an area of 40 acres of waewae. This block, was formerly covered with sea-water at spring tides. As soon as the marshy growth was dry enough it was fired and grass-seed surface-sown over the area. Within a period of ten months the grass had become lit for cutting, the yield of hay being no loss than 35 lons from the 40 acres. Shortly after the hay crop was gathered forty-six head of young cattle were purchased and put to graze on the land which only ten months before had been under water. A further area, of 10 acres was disked and sown down in turnips, the seed being sown broadcast. The resultant crop was eminently satisfactory. A. dairy with milking-machines is being installed, and during the coming season it, is expected that fully fifty head of heifers will become available for milking purposes. Much still requires to be done before the Department will bo able to reap the full advantage from this property. A reading and drainage scheme has been prepared by the Chief Drainage Engineer, Mr. J. B. Thompson, who since the inception of this work has taken a keen interest in its progress, and once this programme has been completed the Prisons Department will be in possession of one of the most reproductive farms in the Dominion. For dairying purposes it could not, be excelled, and within the next, few years an ample return sufficient to more than recoup the Department for the value of the labour expended should be assured. It should also be borne in mind that, in addition to the 050 acres comprising the property of the Prisons Department, a further area of some 1,600 acres has been made available for the use of the Invercargill Borough Council. The work of developing the prison property is being carried out by prison officers under the direction of Mr. J. McCulloch, Fields Supervisor, an officer of the Agricultural Department. A further work of considerable importance at present in progress at Invercargill is the construction of an up-to-date rifle range for the Defence Department. This work is of a similar nature to that already completed for the Invercargill Borough Council, and consists of the building of a massive embankment for the purpose of keeping out the tidal waters of the Invercargill Estuary. The area which it is proposed to reclaim amounts to slightly over 300 acres. This when completed, besides providing the Defence Department with a very necessary rifle range, will give them a very valuable property in the form of 300 acres of rich dairying country. This work is also being carried out exclusively by prison labour, controlled by prison officers under the supervision of the Public Works Engineer. The value of the prison labour employed in connection with the various reclamation works referred to is estimated by the Public Works Engineer at the sum of £6,189 for the year ended 31st March last. It will thus be seen that a considerable amount of useful and reproductive work has been performed by prisoners during the past year. Provided the Prisons Department receives a fair degree of support from the various Government Departments, there is no reason whatever why every able-bodied prisoner's labour should not be profitably utilized. Work is the foundation of all intelligent schemes of reform, but the work must be of a useful, reproductive nature. Otherwise the men whom it is intended to benefit will feel degraded by the uselessness of their task, and will in time come to look upon work as a form of punishment. The Prisons Department has set itself out to provide work- of the kind required by moving prisoners wherever possible out into the country, and so giving them an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. Tree-planting. Kaingaroa is now our only afforestation camp, the Waipa area having been fully planted and the camp in that locality closed down before the presentation of last year's report. The work has, however, been carried on vigorously at Kaingaroa, as indicated in the returns of the Forestry Department and in the report of the Acting-Gaoler in charge. For some months past the camp has been largely utilized as a place of detention for military court-martialled prisoners, and at the present time they constitute the larger proportion of the inmates. They are kept entirely separate from prisoners sentenced by the Civil Courts, and arc employed at useful, healthy outdoor work under the best possible conditions. The returns furnished by the Forestry Department show that 1,839,800 trees were planted on the Kaingaroa Plains during the twelve months ended 31st December last, while a large amount of clearing, roadmaking, and other work essential to tree-planting operations was carried out. The transfer credit received by the Prisons Department for the prison labour employed at this work for last financial year amounted to £3,145, but of this sum £737 should have been credited to the previous year. The area planted by prison labour during the past seventeen years, and the labour-value of the work calculated according to free-labour standards, are shown in the table below : —

Area planted by Prison Labour from j , 19(11 to March, 1918. ' 14,189 acres 38,378,500 Labour-value of Prisoners' Work. £60,143

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Employment of Prison Labour. The sections of this report dealing with the progress of prison work and industries, treeplanting operations, &c, illustrate clearly the varied nature of the employment now provided for the inmates of the Dominion prisons and prison institutions. It is a common fallacy among members of local bodies and the general public that the prisoners of the State are either kept in comparative idleness or that the ancient system of employing them on work of a useless or unproductive character is still followed. Old prejudices and old opinions die hard. Under present conditions there is not, an able-bodied prisoner in any of our prisons, prison institutions, or prison camps who is not working to his full capacity, so far at. all events as he can be made to do so. County Councils and other local authorities apply from time to time for the use of prison labour for the construction of roads and other works, their opinion evidently being that we have ample waste labour at our command. Such, however, is far from being the case. On the contrary, we have so much useful, reproductive work in hand (hat we are seldom able to keep all our works'fully manned, and would find little difficulty in employing twice the number of men at present available. The tables printed under headings "Receipts and Expenditure," and "Value of Prison Labour employed on Public Works, &c," show in concrete form the value of prison labour to the State. Prison Schools and Physical Culture. The instruction of the younger prisoners in elementary-school subjects and in physical drill has been carried on satisfactorily at Auckland and at, Invercargill during the year, but the time has arrived when the educational branch of the work should bo carried further than has been found possible in the past. This is particularly the case at Invercargill, where a Borstal Institution has been established. The classes have now become too large for the limited teaching staff at present employed to grapple with successfully if even a full primary-school course is to be attempted. It is due to the inmates of this institution and to the public that further educational facilities should be provided, and recommendations will be made in this direction. At a time like the present the Department hesitates to recommend improvements that require additional expenditure. It has become apparent, however, that if the objects we had in view when the Borstal Institution was established are to bo carried out we must be prepared to sacrifice to some extent the material or financial interests that, have for the past few years been the guiding policy of the Department, and concentrate to a greater extent on matters that vitally concern the interests of the youths and young men who are drafted to this institution. The bodies of the inmates have received a full meed of attention by insistence upon the performance of a large amount of manual labour, physical drill, &c. The educational and to some extent the recreative side of our reformative work must now be more effectively dealt, with. Financial considerations have also prevented us from establishing educational' classes at the Waikeria Reformatory, and here, too, the failure to provide for the intellectual side of our reformative work prevents us from entirely carrying out the original object of the establishment of this institution. Any one who knew the Waikeria property in its virgin state will realize the immense amount of hard manual labour that has been expended to bring it into its present condition, and will agree with me in thinking that it is time the men who have carried out the work were provided with some means of mental and spiritual improvement. The reports of the schoolmasters in charge of the Invercargill Borstal Institution school and the Auckland Prison school are appended, and their perusal makes it clear, so far at all events as the Invercargill school is concerned, that an extension of our educational work is essential if the inmates of the institution are to benefit to the fullest extent from the periods of " reformative detention " to which they have been sentenced by the Courts. Classification of Prisoners. During the past year your directions regarding the more complete separation of the various classes of prisoners have been carried out as far as the structural arrangement of our building permitted. Our first step was to segregate the sexual perverts. This was accomplished by setting apart the New Plymouth Prison almost entirely for this class of offenders, and drafting thereto all the worst cases from other prisons. The change that has been effected in this direction has already had a beneficial effect on the moral tone of the prisons, and has been welcomed as a useful and necessary reform by all our Gaolers and officers in charge. Auckland Prison, as the strongest and safest institution under the control of the Prisons Department, has been constituted our chief penal prison, and steps have recently been taken to transfer there the longer-sentence and more dangerous criminals from the other prisons who cannot be safely drafted to the country reformatories and camps. The provision of internal subdivisional exercise-yards at Auckland has at last enabled us to carry out a primary interclassification of the inmates that was impossible under former conditions. In order to make room for the number of military prisoners committed to the civil prisons your approval was obtained to the transfer of the habitual criminals who occupied our No. 1 roadmaking prison camp at Roto-aira (Waimarino) to Auckland, where they were placed in the same division as the remaining habituals who had been sent there from New Plymouth at the beginning of 1917. Roto-aira No. lis now .solely a military prisoners' camp. The habituals at Auckland are housed in a separate division, and are worked and exercised entirely apart, from the hard-labour and reformative classes. When finance permits a separate institution, situated in some suitable locality away from the centres of population, must be provided for them, but until that time arrives they can be accommodated at Auckland.

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The Waikeria institution has been gazetted a reformatory during the year, and is now reserved as far as possible for prisoners sentenced to reformative detention, for hopeful hardlabour cases, and for military court-martiallcd prisoners. Within the past month a camp has been established on the Waikeria property, about a mile from the main institution, for the accommodation of a special class, who will thus be completely separated from all other prisoners. A scheme of interclassification has also been established, special care being taken that the various classes are not allowed to associate either at work or at exercise. The Kaingaroa Afforestation Camp has been utilized largely for military oourt-martiailed prisoners. To this camp we also send first-offender civil prisoners and hopeful cases. So soon as military prisoners cease to be committed, and more accommodation is thus rendered available, we will institute a more rigid system of classification. The Wellington Prison is now used chiefly as a drafting prison, where prisoners are received and kept until they can be sent elsewhere. Short-sentence prisoners are, of course, retained during the whole period of their sentences, as the cost of transferring them elsewhere would not, be justified by results. A certain number of long-sentence prisoners still require to be kept at the Wellington Prison, however, to carry on our clothing-factory and our brickworks at Mount Cook. Napier Prison is now utilized principally for local short-sentence prisoners. Paparua Prison (Templeton) is being organized as a general prison for the South Island. We have lately completed a temporary cell block on this property, which has been constructed entirely by military court-martialled prisoners, and has been set apart for their accommodation. When these men cease to be committed the new block of buildings will be used in conjunction with the permanent structure, and the older temporary cell block to provide a complete system of classification. The Lyttelton Prison is now in the last stages of dissolution, and is only being retained until accommodation can be found elsewhere for the few remaining prisoners. Dunedin Prison is now little more than a police-gaol, all prisoners sentenced at Dunedin to more than three months being transferred elsewhere. In November last Invercargill was gazetted a " Borstal Institution." It is still retained as a special institution for youthful prisoners of not more than twenty-five years of age. A number of the younger military prisoners have also been drafted there. As at Waikeria, a, system of interclassification has recently been established, the different classes being separated both while at work and at exercise. Steps are now being taken to have this institution conducted more on the lines of the Borstal Institutions of England. Educational classes and instruction in physical culture have been carried on at Invercargill for some years past, but with the additional rooms, grounds, and other conveniences that have now been provided we hope to be able to liberalize the system so that the recreative and instructional sides of our reformative work can be given greater attention. From the foregoing paragraphs it will be seen that, in spite of the adverse conditions arising out of the war, we have made some progress in classification during the year. We have, of course, boon hampered in. our efforts by limited finance and by the influx of a large number of non-criminal prisoners for whom special provision had to be made, but when these obstacles have been removed there should be little difficulty in placing the prison system of New Zealand on a more satisfactory footing than has hitherto been possible. Operations of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, and of Special Provisions of the Statute Law Amendment Aot, 1917. The report of the Prisons Board for the year deals fully with the operation of the clauses of the Crimes Amendment, Act bearing upon the release on probation of habitual criminals and of prisoners sentenced to terms of reformative detention. During the session of 1917 a much-needed enlargement of the provisions of the Crimes Amendment Act was made by the inclusion in the Statute Law Amendment Act of clauses providing for the placing of persons sentenced to hard labour for terms exceeding two years under the jurisdiction of the Prisons Board in regard to conditional release. Under the amending Act the Minister of Justice was empowered to request the Board to consider the cases of all such prisoners when half the full term of their sentences had expired, or, in the case of men sentenced to imprisonment, for life, when they had served eight years. At each meeting held since the passing of the Act the Board has considered all the hard-labour cases submitted to it, and when the circumstances warranted a recommendation to His Excellency the Governor-General for release upon probation such a recommendation has been made. As pointed out in previous reports, there was little justification for the distinction hitherto maintained between prisoners sentenced to definite terms of hard labour and those sentenced to reformative detention or declared habitual criminals, so far as the opportunity of being granted probation was concerned. The Act, of 1917 has therefore removed an anomaly that was long held to be a source of legitimate grievance by the hard-labour prisoners. At the same time it has been found upon careful investigation of the oases brought before the Board, under the provisions of the new Act, that in only a very limited number of instances could the clemency of the Crown in regard to probation be justifiably recommended. In the majority of the cases the sentences imposed by the Courts were found to have, "fitted the crime," and even in the course of years there were few extenuating circumstances that, warranted interference with the original sentence. Still, the power to release upon probation is a useful adjunct to the fair and impartial administration of justice, and when exercised with discrimination will assist the Prisons Department in giving reasonable relief in cases where such relief is warranted. -

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Departmental and Staff Matters in last year's report reference was made to the fact that, owing to the additional work placed upon the shoulders of the Under-Secretary for Justice by his appointment as Under-Secretary of Native Affairs and Secretary to the Cook Islands, it, had been found necessary to place the headquarters administration of the Prisons Department directly under the control of the Inspector of Prisons. This arrangement having been found entirely satisfactory, and the work of the prisons administration having continued to increase, the Minister in Charge decided early in the current year to reconstitute "Prisons" as a separate Department, with the Inspector of Prisons as its permanent head. The definite separation of the Prisons Department from the Justice Department took place as from the Ist May last, the change being effected without incurring any additional expenditure. It is hoped that the opportunity now given for specialization, which is absolutely essential whore progress in the work of reform is required, will enable the new administration successfully to carry on the Minister's programme of improvement in the general prison system. Although, as stated last year, an endeavour was made to prevent further depletion of the Prisons stall's by obtaining the exemption of officers who were called up in the ballots, we have boon unable to keep the staffs up to their full strength. Not only are some of the prisons and prison institutions undermanned, but the quality of the staffs has been much reduced by the necessary employment of a number of temporary officers who are not up to the requisite standard. Wherever possible returned soldiers have been selected to fill vacancies, but few if any of them have remained more than a very short period in the Prison service. However, we are only suffering in common with other branches of the Public Service, and must continue to carry on as oilicicntly as possible under somewhat adverse conditions. Eighteen of our officers arc still absent with the Expeditionary Forces, two are on home service, two have returned wounded or invalided during the year and have resumed duty, while two, Warders R. W. Thompson and L. K. Bcresford, have been killed in action. The progress made in our building operations at Paparua (Tcmpleton) enabled us to raise that prison to the second grade and to place a Gaoler in charge. The position was filled by the promotion of Chief Warder C. J. Knight, of the Auckland Prison staff. The Waikeria buildings having also been extended during the year, it became necessary to gazette it as a reformatory ami to place a responsible officer in control. This appointment was conferred upon Chief Warder J. Down, who has been Acting Officer in Charge since 1914. Other promotions of senior officers that have been made since my last report was written are—Chief Warder Kearney, from second grade Chief Warder to first grade, in succession to Mr. Knight at Auckland; Principal Warder W. T. Leggott, to the rank of Chief Warder and Acting Officer in Charge of the Invercargill Borstal Institution; and Principal Warder J. T. Roid, of Lyttelton, to the rank of Chief Warder at the Paparua Prison. Other consequential promotions have also been made. The conduct of the officers generally has been entirely satisfactory, but in a few eases punishments have been necessary in order to maintain discipline. One probationary warder was convicted of trafficking with prisoners and was summarily dismissed. The appointment of the Inspector of Prisons as permanent head of the Department has rendered it necessary for the bulk of the inspection work to be carried out by the Deputy Inspector and Supervisor of Works (Mr. M. Hawkins). He has visited the different institutions very frequently during the year, and has supplied me with valuable reports and recommendations regarding any special matters coming under his notice. Mr. Hawkins's thorough practical knowledge of building-construction and other works has enabled the Department to carry on a number of undertakings with expedition and economy, and without the employment of any outside assistance for supervision. The Gaolers and officers in charge of institutions have maintained their record for good and consistent work, and the thanks of the Department are due to them for the highly efficient manner in which they have carried out their duties during the past year. Health Statistics. From the return of sickness given in Table A it appears that the daily average on the sicklist is greater by 251 than in 1916, but, as has been pointed out in previous reports, the increase shown in the table is invariably due to the committal to prison of chronic cases who remain in the public hospitals or in the prison infirmaries during the greater part of their sentence. There has been no actual increase in the amount of sickness within the prisons during the year, the general health of the inmates having been up to the usual high standard expected in such institutions. Deaths. —There were six deaths and one suicide in the prisons during the year 1917. Prisoners Detention Act, 1915. Five male prisoners and one female prisoner have been detained at Auckland, and one male prisoner at Lyttelton, under the provisions of the Act. Nine prisoners were brought under its provisions in 1916, so that since the Act was passed in 1915 we have a total of sixteen prisoners who have been found to be affected with venereal disease, and have therefore been detained beyond the period fixed by their sentences until free from infection. All those specially detained were shortsentence prisoners who could not be fully cured before their terms expired. .Long-sentence prisoners are, of course, attended to within the period of their sentence. In such cases the application of the provisions of the Prisoners Detention Act is unnecessary.

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Prevention of Crime and General Probation Work. As stated in last year's report, the Department regards the probation section of its work as one of its most important branches. It is a branch that is growing in extent as each year passes, and if it is to continue successfully au endeavour should be made, without further loss of time, to establish a special organization at headquarters to direct the work of the Probation Officers, link up the various agencies, and so create a complete and ordered system. Until recent years the whole of our probation work was carried out by police and prison officials; and, while these officers were thoroughly conscientious in the discharge of duties for which they received no remuneration, they had neither the time nor the opportunity to follow up individual cases, and so give full effect to the intention of the First Offenders' Probation Act, and of the sections of the Crimes Amendment -Act providing for the release of prisoners upon probation. The success of all systems of probation or parole depends almost entirely upon the reformative effect of the system upon the individuals who are placed upon probation by the Courts, or who are released from prison on probationary license. Unless, therefore, the Probation Officers are able to keep in close and sympathetic touch with the probationers it is obvious that the mere fact of reporting at monthly intervals to an official, whose time is already fully occupied in attending to the duties of his own position, will have little effect in preventing the probationer from lapsing into the evil habits or irregularities that led to his conviction or imprisonment. The lack of adequate supervision from which our probation system suffered since its inception has been overcome to some extent during the past three or four years by the appointment as honorary Probation Officers, in each of the centres of population, of gentlemen who have had long experience of social-reform work in connection wjth the Churches and the Salvation Army. In some cases a small honorarium is paid, but it may be said that the whole work is practically carried out gratuitously. The reports of the gentlemen who are acting as First Offender Probation Officers, which are appended to this report, indicate clearly the importance and value of their work, and the sympathetic and thorough manner in which they are carrying out their honorary duties. It must also be remembered that each of them has his own special work to attend to, and that none of them confines himself merely to attending to his charges under the Probation Act. Their field is a much wider one. A very important section of our probation work has also been built up in connection with the supervision of habitual criminals and prisoners sentenced to reformative detention under the terms of the Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, who have been released on probationary license on the recommendation of the Prisons Board. Mr. T. 1. Smail, of Christchurch, who has for very many years been engaged on social-reform work in that city, was one of our first Probation Officers under the Act of 1910. With his well-known and long record as a social worker his services were naturally of great value to the Department. Mr. W. Brakenrig, of Auckland, Mr. J. Cumming, of Dunedin, and Mr. A. McLean, of Invercargill, were also among the early appointees. All were experienced social workers with long records of useful service behind them, and all have " made good." Owing to the increase in the number of this class of probationers as time went on it became necessary to call fresh agencies to our aid, and the offer of the Salvation Army to allow us the assistance of their extensive organization was accepted. The Stall Captains in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch were accordingly appointed Probation Officers under the Crimes Amendment Act, and were given the necessary authority to allow their officers in the smaller centres to act as sub Probation Officers. Since this arrangement was made much valuable work has been done for us, again gratuitously, and the work of supervision lias been placed on a sounder basis. The habitual criminal or reformative-detention probationer presents, of course, an entirely different problem from the first offender : his lapses are more frequent and his needs greater. As 1 have pointed out in previous reports, the path of reform is far easier if men can be kept out of gaol. Once they have served a sentence their own self-respect and the respect of their fellows for them has in many cases been lost, and the work of rehabilitation is difficult, often impossible. In the country districts we still find it necessary to utilize the services of the police both as Crimes Amendment and First Offender Probation Officers. Many of them are doing exceedingly good work, but it would be preferable if we had a complete organization to cover both town and country. Hitherto Government expenditure on probation and preventive work has been almost negligible, although it is clear to all those who have studied the question that a well-equipped probation section would be in reality a highly payable commercial branch of the Prisons Department, or of any Department to which it might be attached. Probation and preventive work, if properly and thoroughly carried out, actually means the saving of lives to the State, and the keeping in useful and payable occupation of men and women who would otherwise become a burden on the community. Practically every person who goes to gaol becomes a wasted asset so far as the State is concerned. Consequently, as I have already stated, the necessity of building up a properly organized probation and preventive system is largely a commercial proposition that should make a stronger appeal than it has done in the past to the governing authorities. First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908. The reports of our five honorary Probation Officers on the working of the First Offenders' Probation Act for the year 1917-18 are again presented. They contain much useful information regarding the administration of the Act, and suggestions as to further improvements that should be made. As stated in. the preceding section of my report, the Probation Acts are the greatest

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agencies wo have for the prevention of crime, and everything possible should bo done to assist, the officers appointed under those Acts in carrying out their work thoroughly and efficiently. Much good work is being done, but, much more is possible if adequate assistance is made available. The returns received from all the First Offender Probation Officers throughout the Dominion show that, 127 persons were placed upon probation in 1917, compared with 125 in 1916. Of those placed upon probation during tin.' year thirteen completed their probation without relapse. The remainder have not, yet served the tonus to which they were committed. The total sum ordered by the Courts to be paid by the probationers towards the cost of prosecutions amounted to £323 18s. 6d. Of this sum £300 ss. 6d. was collected. Had the probationers been committed to prison the amount recovered would have been lost to the State. I am, &c, C. E. Matthews, Permanent Head of the Prisons Department and Inspector of Prisons.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF SUPERINTENDENTS, CAOLKRS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF INSTITUTIONS FOR 1017. ADDINGTON REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been good. The work consists of vegetable and flower gardening, sowing, knitting, farming, laundry, cleaning, and cooking. The list of the work done for the city branch Red Cross during the year is as follows : 031 pairs pyjamas, 142 pairs underpants, 585 vests, 8,028 handkerchiefs, 134| dozen slings, 90 dressinggowns, 275 face-cloths, 459 pillow-slips, 55 draw-sheets, 4 foot-rests, 12 bed-jackets, (iO dusters, 24 white caps, 12 tea-towels, 3 bed-spreads, 405 pairs socks, 10 pairs knee-caps. Supplies of meat, bread, fish, milk, &c, have all boon of excellent quality. Concerts and suitable lectures were given by the different denominations at intervals throughout the year. Official Visitors have visited regularly, also the representative of the Prison Gate Mission. Divine service has boon held by Canon Bean, Father OTlare, Mr. Small, and the Salvation Army. Ample Christmas cheer was provided, and greatly enjoyed by the prisoners. My experience in this institution and others leads me to stress the necessity of supplementing the existing organizations for rendering help to discharged prisoners, immediately they recover their liberty, towards obtaining suitable employment in congenial surroundings away from those associated with the circumstances of their misfortunes. in the absence of the Superintendent (Miss Gilkes) from the Dominion on war service, the responsibilities of the position devolved upon the Matron (Mrs. Mcßryde) for the greater part of the year. The staff was enlarged by the addition of two assistants, owing to the extended operations and to improvements in the building required for the better working of the institution. AUCKLAND PRISON. There were three deaths during the year —viz., one male and two females. One male and one female died in the District Hospital, to which they had boon removed. The other female died in prison. She was suffering from partial paralysis and heart trouble, and was helpless when admitted. One male awaiting trial committed suicide in his cell by hanging. An inquest was held in each case. The health of the prisoners, with a few exceptions, was good. There were two escapes from the Prison. The escapees were caught almost immediately by the, Prison officials. The quality of food supplied to the Prison has been excellent, and with the variety now given, including fish once a week, there is no room for any complaint. There were sixty-eight prison offences dealt with by the Visiting Justices against thirty-seven prisoners. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very good. The work done during the year has been varied. The subdividing of the new exercise-yards commenced at the end of last year is near completion, and the yards have been occupied for some months. This work necessitated the making of a great number of concrete blocks, and the cutting and dressing of stone coping for wall buildings. The sanitary arrangements and the proper levelling of the yards before'being asphalted is being pushed on with all speed. The additional yards enable us to separate the various classes of prisoners while inside the Prison walls. The stone wall dividing the Grammar School from the Prison is nearly completed. It has been a much bigger undertaking than was anticipated, as in clearing the ground solid rock

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was mot with for a long distance, and a deal of blasting had to bo done, thousands of yards of stone having to be removed. The work has been well done, and while the school benefits by having a larger playground space, together with lives-courts for the pupils, the back wall of the courts cuts the prison-yards off from view from the school-windows. Quarry-work has, as usual, utilized the largest working-party. Notwithstanding that the large stone-crusher was out of action for most of the year, the sale of road-metal brought the sum of £1,080 lis. 9d. The cell-floors in the West Wing, originally put down in concrete and roughly finished, have lioon picked up and relaid with wood; the balconies and corridor were also picked up and relaid in cement. This wing now presents a bright, cheerful appearance. The kitchen-floor and floors of two adjoining rooms were also picked up and relaid in cement. General minor alterations have been made in parts of the Prison, all tending to improve the general conditions. The old wooden buildings which have been an eyesore for a number of years have all been demolished, and the timber and iron used in erecting sheds outside the walls, portions being also sent to other prisons to be used in temporary buildings. The space formerly occupied by those old buildings is to be utilized for workshops now being erected, and for yards, &c. Physical drill for prisoners is carried on daily with satisfactory results, the drill instructor being assiduous in making them proficient in all the latest forms of drill. The way they gp through the various movements reflects the highest credit on the instructor and prisoners alike. Evening classes for prisoners thrice weekly are still being carried on under a certificated teacher. The progress made is very satisfactory. The conduct of the staff on the whole has been very satisfactory. One officer was dismissed, and one called on to resign. With these exceptions, 1 have reason to bo well satisfied with their conduct and efficiency. Report of the Schoolmaster at Auckland. As I was placed in charge of the Mount Eden Prison School only on the Bth March I am unable to report at any great length upon the work of the prisoners who attend. The number of pupils of subnormal intelligence is surprisingly small. Only two or three are lazy, and with very few exceptions the pupils voluntarily do a very satisfactory amount of private study during the intervals between " school " nights. The Maoris are for the most part quick and intelligent, but many are handicapped by the lack of even the little education the white men possess. One peculiarity is the readiness with which even the best pupils make excuses for various errors, even when the mistakes they make are absolutely unavoidable. Lack of self-confidence is apparent in most of the men, but a somewhat childish eagerness to appear well in the eyes of their fellows leads to many a subterfuge. For instance, one very weak reader, a Maori, was most anxious that he should be allowed to read a certain piece of poetry on the last night he was to attend class. He acquitted himself very well indeed, but it did not need very close observation to discover that he had learned the whole poem by heart, doubtless with the aid of some sympathetic friend. Still, he made a good impression. On the whole, I have no hesitation in stating that, as far as the industry of the pupils is concerned and the interest they take in their work, the school at Mount Eden Prison should be regarded as an unqualified success. One discouraging feature, however, is the number of times that men who are making good progress are removed to the prison camps where no primary-school work is taken. GISBORNE GAOL. The health and conduct of the prisoners have been good. There wore a, few minor cases of sickness, caused through the effects of alcoholism before reception. The prisoners were employed during the year at keeping the Prison clean and attending to the grounds, also making concrete posts and building the wall around the Prison grounds. The female prisoners have been constantly employed at keeping their quarters clean and washing and repairing prisoners' clothing and blankets. GREYMOUTH GAOL. The general health of prisoners has been very good. The prisoners were employed during the year digging and cropping Prison garden, washing and cleaning, and repairing clothing. The sum of £7 Is. lid. has been realized from the sale of vegetables grown in the Prison garden. The garden is again cropped with potatoes and vegetables. INVERCARGILL BORSTAL INSTITUTION. The health of the prisoners has been good. There was one escape during the year; the escapee was recaptured and returned to the institution within a few hours. The conduct of the inmates generally has been very satisfactory. Physical drill and school in the evenings still show good results and continue to work well. Several lectures of an interesting and instructive nature were given during school vacation by local gentlemen.

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The conduct of the officers has been good, and in most cases keen interest has been shown by the staff in carrying out the various works. The quality of the rations has been good, and the changes and additions recently made in the dietary scale have been much appreciated. The complete renovation of the wings and cells is nearly complete, and the interior of the building is now all that could be desired. The North Wing is now complete and taken into use. The boundary-wall is nearing completion, and the foundations of the exercise-yard walls are being laid, The gymnasium is now being used for school purposes, and is also being equipped with up-to-date appliances for physical culture. The old schoolroom in the church basement has been fitted up witli seventeen shower-baths and dressing-cubicles, and is a, much-needed improvement. Reinforced-concrete telegraph-pole making has been commenced as an industry, and blockmaking and gardening have been carried on as usual. The demolition of the old Otatara Jetty has been partially carried out, and much valuable timber has been obtained from it for fencing purposes on the farm area. The Prison lighter has been in constant use during the year carrying shingle and grit for concrete-work, removing timber from the old Otatara Jetty to farm, area, and carrying manuka, and timber for fencing purposes. An area of about 40 acres of the newly reclaimed land belonging to this Department is now well grassed, and has recently been ring-fenced and subdivided. About 35 tons of hay lias been harvested and stacked. The value of this crop is at least £150. There have been purchased thirtynine crossbred heifers and two pedigree Holstein Friesian bulls as the nucleus of a future dairy herd. Two horses have also been obtained for general farm-work. Roadmaking, bridging waterways, and draining has also been proceeded with, on the farm area, and a good commencement has been made towards establishing a dairy farm, which no doubt will eventually prove a splendid employment for the youthful inmates of this institution and a valuable asset to the Department. Report op the Schoolmaster at Invercargill. I took, over the class in February, 1917, with an attendance of about, fifty. This average has increased lately, and now there are fifty-six in the school. Of these, twenty-nine arc in Standard IV, thirteen in Standard 111, eleven in Standard 11, and three in Standard I. The three pupils in Standard I are very much below Standard T in most, subjects, and to do them, justice I would require to give them at least half the period each night, which is not possible. Instruction has been given in reading, writing, spoiling and dictation, arithmetic, English and composition, and the work is varied by more elementary tuition in geography and drawing. I also allow half an hour a week for a course in general knowledge, which has had the effect of arousing interest in the class. To arithmetic the pupils lack that accuracy which only comes through long practice. This inaccuracy I find to be the chief barrier in teaching this subject. Because of it, results arc slow of coming. The pupils all read fluently, but the articulation and enunciation arc very poor owing to the fact that their speech is so poor. Perhaps the most difficult subject is spelling. All their lives these men have been used to a colloquial jargon, and this inevitably makes itself felt in the spelling. However, since the pupils have been allowed to take, their books to their cells I am pleased to say there has been a distinct improvement in this branch of the work. All are interested in writing, and as a result there is more advancement in this subject than in any other. English, and composition arc weak throughout the school, and the improvement, in these must of a necessity be slow, as results are obtained only by long practice. The work of this type of school is necessarily broken and varied, because so many leave ere they have completed the Standard IV course, and so many new ones come in. The majority of the pupils who enter the class are of about Standard II quality, and to pass Standard IV requires about, eighteen months' tuition. There are also a number entering who have previously done Standard IV work, and a few who have had Standard VT education. Very few, however, can pass a Standard IV test, although these latter ones usually pick up quickly, and so pass out of the class. As the class is held only three nights a week and for an hour and three-quarters each night, it, is not easy to cover the programme in the usual time. Also, these pupils for the most part require individual instruction, and with a class of fifty-six in four different standards this is impossible in the short time I have at my disposal. In this respect a prison officer renders me valuable assistance by taking one class each night off my hands. Tn this way T manage to take one class thoroughly each night and two others less thoroughly, and by taking a, different class each night I embrace every subject thoroughly with the whole school once a week. In spite of the above drawback I am very well pleased with the results, for during the year twenty-seven pupils have qualified for a pass in Standard IV, and this number would have been substantially increased had the other men not been leaving the institution. The mental power of the men is, generally speaking, below average. Of course, it is not possible that I obtain a maximum of effort, for-prior to coming to mo they have done a day's manual labour, and as a result are bodily tired, and so cannot concentrate on anything mental to the degree I would wish. Indeed, the men deserve credit, for the effort, they do make under those conditions. The men on the whole evince a keen spirit for learning, and as a result the working-tone of the class is vorv good indeed. Previously I endeavoured by all the means in my power to appeal to their best side. I pointed out, as strongly as T could the special benefit, to them of even a Standard IV education, and as a result, of a lot of endeavour had worked up an enthusiasm amongst the class. This was doomed to failure, as there were a lot of difficulties in the way, chiefly the fact, that new-comers were constantly changing the tone of the class. The new-comer always seems to lie a man with a grievance, and until that feeling passes he injures the class. Then, again, there are those who have no desire for education, and it is difficult to make the work up to Standard TV so interesting as to arouse the enthusiasm of those. Among such there is the

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" passive resister " type, who indulges in the "go slow " method. This class of man is hard to deal with. As long as he remains in the class he injures the working-tone, and yet with so many to observe it, is almost, impossible to counter his resistance. It is necessary for the good of such pupils that some other incentive to work be found; as a, matter of fact, all the men require an incentive to work, this being more particularly true because of the fact that they are physically tired. It is necessary that the school bo compulsory, and, in addition, that each pupil be demanded to show a result in keeping with his ability. As I have pointed out above, a number of the men will give only as much as is demanded from them, and not that without compulsion. However, the tone of the class is better now than it has been since I took it over, and it seems more permanent in spite of the adverse influence of the new-comer and the passive resister. The discipline of the class has been excellent throughout the year, and I would like to remark here on the assistance I have received in that and other respects from the officers in charge during the year. It might appear that the tone of my report was one leaning towards complaint. That, I wish to make clear, is not so. I have developed a real interest in these men. The majority of them arc not criminals in the true sense of the word, and never will be. They have made mistakes, but on leaving the institution they will make no more. They will eventually become good citizens. They certainly deserve the chance they are getting. If I appear to complain it is through zeal for their interests and through no desire to upset the regulations of the institution — rather a desire to see this scheme for their education more fully and more thoroughly developed, for the saying that " ignorance and crime run hand in hand " seems to bo fully borne out in the case of these unfortunate men. KAINGAROA AFFORESTATION CAMP. The Prisons Board held a meeting hero on one occasion during the year, examined and interviewed all prisoners sentenced to reformative detention, and subsequently recommended the release (on probationary license) of fifteen prisoners. The general conduct of the prisoners has been exemplary, and the work done on the plantation has been entirety satisfactory. The following is a. summary of the work carried out by the prisoners for the Forestry Department, during the year, viz. : Pits dug, 1,087,186; trees planted, 1,839,800; lining out, weeding, forming fire-breaks, clearing for tree-planting, roadmaking, fencing, stable-work, and general upkeep. The amount earned by prisoners for the year represents a sum of £2,408. The general health of the prisoners has been very good; there were no cases of sickness during the year. Divine service was conducted periodically throughout the year. I wish to place on record the thorough manner in which the officers carried out their varied duties, which have been greatly increased owing to the influx of military prisoners, and the inauguration of a complete system of separation, necessitating a considerable amount of vigilant supervision. Six officers arrived on transfer, three were transferred, and two resigned during the year. The quantity of fresh vegetables grown in the Prison garden was more than sufficient for the requirements of the Prison. The oat crop was harvested in February last and was a huge success, providing sufficient chaff for the Prison horses. Surplus chaff to the value of £18 was sold, covering the expense of a tip-dray purchased by the Department for the use of the Prison. The excellent potato crop has provided sufficient potatoes to carry us through the year. A crop of hay was taken off the 12-acre block recently laid down in grasses and clover. About sixty pigs were bred during the year; twenty-eight were killed for prison rations, market value at 6d. per pound being £60 3s. 2d.; and pigs to the value of £1.2 ss. were sold. A cottage for the use of the Officer in Charge was erected by prison labour. LYTTELTON PRISON. The health of the prisoners has been good, but a large number of old and crippled men are sent to this Prison, thus increasing the daily average of sick and casuals. The conduct and industry of the prisoners have been good; there were few charges of a serious nature, and the minor offences were dealt with by the local Visiting Justices. No deaths occurred in the Prison during the year. The rations supplied were of good quality, and the substitution of fish in lieu of meat on one day weekly has been appreciated. With the recent additions to and changes in the dietary scale there is little ground for any complaint that may be made as to the food now issued to prisoners. As hitherto, the chief employment for prisoners is quarrying for the Borough Council, but, owing to the transfer to Paparua and tree-planting camps of all suitable men, the number available for outside labour here is now much reduced. All the cottages occupied by the Prison officers have been repaired and repainted, and are now in a serviceable condition. The bootmaking department has been fully employed in filling the orders received from the prisons and other Government institutions. Divine service was held every Sunday by ministers of the several local denominations, but the stopping of the Sunday train has prevented the attendance of the clergymen from Christchurch who usually conducted the extra Sunday service.

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I wish to record my appreciation and thanks to the Railway Department, and also to the Police, for the valuable assistance rendered the Prison when called upon. There were many occasions during the past year when the courtesy and consideration extended by the Railway authorities enabled transfers and other contingent matters to be successfully dealt with. NAPIER PRISON. The general health of the prisoners has been satisfactory. The conduct of prisoners during the year was good, there being only six minor prison offences against six prisoners. The prisoners have been employed in the Borough Council quarry, Coote Road, a sum of £162 Bs. 4d. having been credited to the revenue of the Department as a result of their labour. I have to thank Mrs. E. Richmond, Official Visitor, for contributing a number of books for the Prison library. I have also to thank the clergymen of the various denominations for conducting religious services each Sunday, also the Visiting Justices for their prompt attendance when called upon, and the Police for their assistance regarding probationers. NEW PLYMOUTH PRISON. This Prison having been set apart for sexual perverts sentenced under sections 153 and 154 of the Crimes Act, 1908, the first draft of prisoners from Auckland arrived in February, 1917, and other drafts followed from other prisons. The prisoners are employed in the quarry and are strictly under observation, and in my opinion the quarry is the most suitable place both for safe custody and observational purposes. I find this class of prisoners very mixed in temperament; some are of the vicious type, and others are weaklings, but the majority are nervous and excitable. The work performed in the quarry by the prisoners is satisfactory, although we do not get full returns for work expended owing to the enormous quantity of stripping that has to be removed before we come to payable material. Improvements have been made to the grounds at the back of the Prison. I commenced cultivating this section of the grounds, but owing to shortage of staff was unable to advance the work within the season. Judging, however, by the result of our first experiment, I feel that the back section of the grounds can be made to look as nice as the front, although it will take a considerable time before the work can be completed. If this work served no other useful purpose it would be justified on account of the opportunity it gives the management of separating prisoners who are better by themselves. The conduct of the prisoners as a class has been good, and if it had not been for an agitating prisoner, who caused other prisoners to get restless, there would have been very little trouble. The health of the prisoners has been exceptionally good, although a number had records of sickness in other prisons. We have a prisoner who arrived in New Plymouth a nervous wreck, subject to fits. I could not approach him, however gently, without his getting into a highly excitable condition. He was unfitted to do work of a ten-year-old child, but I am pleased to say that this man is now able to do a day's work and hold his head erect, and I believe he is overcoming his weakness. His fits are now of less frequent occurrence and are of a very mild nature. The rations supplied have been of excellent quality. As we grow our own vegetables, the prisoners have variety and plenty. We have had no escapes or attempted escapes during the year. PAPARUA PRISON. With the exception of an epidemic of dysentery, which affected the whole district, and of which one prisoner died in the Christchurch Hospital, the general health of the prisoners has been good. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very satisfactory, there being only one prisoner punished for an aggravated prison offence. The conduct of the staff has been good. The erection of the West Cell Range has steadily progressed, although a shortage of labour, both skilled and unskilled, has somewhat retarded progress. In addition to concrete and other work, some 30,000 blocks have been laid, bringing the erection of this building up to the level of flat concrete roofs. Officers' cottages are being erected of concrete blocks, and one of these is now practically complete, another is well in hand, whilst a third has just been commenced. A slaughterhouse has been erected and is now in use. A sheep-dip has also been constructed, and in the recent dipping proved very satisfactory. A 4,000-gallon tank with iron angle and stand about 33 ft. in height, together with pumps, Ac, was dismantled and transferred to this Prison from the Defence Reserve, Yaldhurst, to be used as a water-supply plant for the new prison.

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The erection of a new temporary prison block, providing two cell-houses, kitchen block, and administrative division, has been commenced. Blockmaking for new prison and cottages, &c, has proceeded during the year, and in conjunction with this work there have also been manufactured a large number of concrete telegraphpoles, fencing-posts, paving-slabs, and roofing-tiles. The Prison has been provided with a manual fire-engine, and prisoners have weekly practice. A motor-lorry has been provided, and has been extremely useful in carting material for the buildings. In all 246 acres of the farming-area have been ploughed, cleaned, and sown, as follows : 4 acres ryecorn, 27 acres mangolds, 19 acres potatoes, 17 acres Sparrowbill oats, 31 acres dun oats, 70 acres Carten oats, 22 acres wheat, 17 acres mixed grasses, and 39 acres lucerne. Of these crops those that have been harvested have yielded satisfactorily. Six hundred and twenty-two lambs were bred on the farm. A number of sheep have been purchased during the year and fattened and killed for rations. Mr. Macpherson, the Fields Supervisor, makes regular visits and gives valuable instructions in the growing of lucerne and in farming matters generally. Divine service has been conducted during the year by the Rev. Mr. Webb, Church of England minister, Rev. Father Leen, Messrs. Barnes, Lamond, Adams, and A. Morrison. ROTO-AIRA. ROADMAKING PRISON CAMP. The conduct of the prisoners has been fairly good. The work of forming and metalling the road and bridging the various streams still continues to progress favourably, although the work has been hampered to a great extent owing to wet weather. A little over two miles and a half of road is now metalled, one bridge has been completed during the year, and the timber for a further three is now being squared from the bush. This work is well in hand. Stone approaches have been built to the Whakapapanui Stream bridge, which gives it a very fine appearance. The road-formation is now completed to the Mangatipopo Stream, about fourteen miles out from Waimarino. About thirty miles of the old service road has been repaired, and a daily motor service is now being run by the Department of Internal Affairs. The conduct of the officers has been good. Rations have been of good quality and regularly supplied. Divine service has been held on several occasions. WAIKERIA REFORMATORY. The work on the Administrative Wing has been well advanced. A large quantity of 14 in., 12 in., and 6 in. blocks have been made, also a number of culvert pipes, from 12 in. to 3 ft., for the Tokanui Mental Hospital Road. Large quantities of gravel have been trucked from the Maungatutu to the site, the hauling-engine being used to haul the gravel and blocks from the building. One five-roomed cottage built of 9 in. blocks has been finished, and the old officers' quarters have been shifted to a new site and converted into two small cottages. At the north end of the farm we have erected a reinforced-concrete dairy, cowsheds, and water-tank, also installed the milking machinery. A well has been dug 40 ft. deep and lined with 3 ft. pipes. The Tokanui Mental Hospital Road has made good progress. The road is now made and crowned ready for the gravel from the Reformatory to peg 3 miles 25 chains. There only remains about half a mile to complete, but there are several heavy fillings, also one 3 ft. culvert and two smaller ones to be laid. In several parts of this road I found it necessary to fascine small portions on account of springs. I have had a party of prisoners with several drays carting shingle into the road from the Puniu. We have metalled 3 miles 5 chains. The total number of cubic yards carted was 1,595. Several fences have been erected on the fillings to keep off the cattle. A number of culverts have been laid. Several horses and drays have been purchased for this work. The conduct of the prisoners on the whole has been very satisfactory. Four prisoners escaped, three of whom were recaptured within one hour; the fourth was retaken by the police on the road to Cambridge. The health of the prisoners has been good. There were three admissions to the Hamilton Hospital; other cases of illness wore of a mild nature and were treated in the Prison by the Medical Officer. Though the conditions at Waikeria Reformatory are rather congested in some ways, I have managed to carry out a system of classification in terms of your instructions. Each class is working and exercising separately, and I certainly say that for the little time the classification has been working it has had a good effect. There are now ten cottages on the farm. All of them have the electric light installed. The exercise-yards have been fenced, closets and washhand-basins built, also a roof placed over these last for shelter. Temporary drains have been laid to take off the storm-water from the Cell Range and yards. Two cells have been built in the separate division, and a wall round the yard, the whole of the top of the yard being covered with expanded metal. Both these cells are well lighted and ventilated. Temporary stables and a feed-room have been erected at the old camp. A large shed has been built to store potatoes and onions.

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A small addition has been made to the power-house in the shape of a lean-to shed in which to store kerosene and oil. Covers for the tanks have been made, and the engine-room fitted with cupboards and shelves. The inner walls of the power-house have been painted and calcimined. A large number of blocks, pipes, and posts have been made, and blocks trucked to the site for the building. The windmill that was sent from Wellington was erected at the blockshed to pump water for the blocks. Good progress has been made on the farm, and a dairy has been erected. The dairy is considered by experts to be the most up to date in the Waikato. A. large amount of work has been carried out around the dairy, consisting of fencing the calf-paddock, laying down lawn, forming paths and gravelling same. We are now milking twenty-seven cows. The number of cattle on the farm is as follows: Cows, calves, and steers, 71; sheep and lambs, 134; horses and foals, 29; pigs, 72. There have been 140 acres cleared and stumped, 15 acres sown,in barley, 46 acres in oats, 7 acres in potatoes, 2 acres in maize, 58 acres in grass, 2 acres in pumpkins. A. large vegetablegarden has also been kept in good order. Thirty acres have been sown down in grass for hay, and a start has been made to cut and stack. Four and a -half acres of swedes and 9 acres of mangolds have been sown, and they appear to be making good growth. About three miles of fencing has been erected, and 7 acres of orchard were ploughed and harrowed. All the trees have been pruned and sprayed. The ground around the outside of the orchard to the distance of a chain has been cleared and burnt. A large amount of wattle-seed has been planted on the hills at the back of the prison : this will prove very useful in a few years. All the walnut-trees planted on the line of the main road have been fenced. The apiary has been increased from six hives to twenty-nine hives. Several of the hives were brought from Waipa and re-queened. Good progress has been made with the poultry. We now have 200 ducks, 100 fowls, and a number of turkeys. We hope to have a good return in eggs next year. The cash returns for the year (January to December) are as follows: Honey, £2 4s. 7d. ; vegetables, £61 18s. 2d.; tomatoes, £6 145.; pigs, £113 7s. 6d.; bread and meat to officers, £68 3,5.; onions, £62 Bs. lOd.; butter-fat, £31 4s. ; skins, £177 15s. 7d.; tallow, £41 16s. Credits for vegetables, £73 12s. lid. All the land on the south-east end of the farm from the river to the boundary has been drained. The work of clearing the Waikeria Stream is now under way, and one mile is finished. Great difficulty is being experienced as the banks on each side close in after the work has been finished. The same trouble was experienced when draining on the south end of the farm. Divine service was conducted for Protestant prisoners on Sundays from 2.30 to 3.30 p.m., and for the residents from 3.30 to 4.30 p.m., by the Revs. Olphert, Shaw, and Henderson. Services for Roman Catholics were conducted by Father Lynch. The ministers of Te Awamutu have started to form a Prisoners' Aid Society, which will be very beneficial in assisting prisoners to find work on discharge. The conduct of the officers on the whole has been good. i WELLINGTON PRISONS. The health of the prisoners has been excellent. It is to be regretted that persons suffering from the effects of alcohol are still remanded to prison for curative treatment. In their boisterous moments they disturb the quiet of the institutions, and consequently prevent their fellow prisoners, who have to work on the following day, from obtaining their night's rest. The conduct of the prisoners has been very good with the following exceptions: 115 of the 1,575 prisoners dealt with were reported for having committed 174 offences. On the 17th April an escape of one prisoner took place from Mount Cook. After an absence of fourteen days the escapee was recaptured and returned to the custody of the Gaoler. The merchants who have supplied the rations and other articles for prison use have given entire satisfaction, and no complaints were received as to quantity and quality of the rations issued. No contracts for rations were entered into during the year. Clergymen and lay preachers of the various denominations—viz., Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and Salvation Army (quarterly with their band to Terrace) — have visited regularly the prisons at The Terrace, Mount Cook, and Point Halswell. At Point Halswell the following work was carried out: Grass on magazine mounds cut every eight weeks; cottage for officer in charge completed; 2 acres of ground prepared and planted with potatoes; the road from foot of hill to Prison was re-formed and metalled and the sharp curves eased; 20,000 yards of spoil were excavated and removed to the filling; 101 chains of the Beach Road were re-formed and metalled with 6 in. of hand-broken metal; several tons of wire and iron rods were taken off the beach and prepared for use in other prisons; and a firebreak has been maintained round the trees planted some time ago. All trees have been kept clear of grass and weeds. The prisoners were supplied with vegetables grown in the garden attached to this Prison. At Mount Cook the brickmaking industry was carried on as formerly, 709,848 bricks being made. Of that number 528,650 were disposed of to Government Departments, to public institutions, and other prisons.

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In the engineering and tinsmithing branches some very good work has been done for other prisons as well as those in Wellington. At the Terrace Prison the prisoners working in the tailors' shop have been kept fully occupied making uniforms for all the Prison officers in the Dominion, and clothing for the male prisoners. The garden at this prison has supplied Mount Cook as well as The Terrace with vegetables for the prisoners. The Visiting Justices and Official Visitors have made periodical visits to the three Wellington prisons. The Lady Official Visitor, Mrs. Duncan, has visited the female prisoners weekly, and has read to them., and introduced singing amongst, the inmates. The female prisoners in their spare moments after labour hours have voluntarily made articles for the Red Cross Association.

FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT. EXTRACTS FROM THE HONORARY PROBATION OFFICERS' REPORTS. Rev. F. R. Jeffreys, Auckland. During the year ending 31st March, 1918, I received from the Auckland Magistrates' and Supremo Courts sixty first-offender probationers. Twenty-eight of these were for the maximum term of three years, fourteen for a term of two years, seventeen for a term of one year, and one for a term of eighteen months. Out of these sixty cases received there were only two who again had to be brought before the Court charged with failing to carry out their probation. A failure of only per cent, in such a large number of varied cases is most satisfactory and encouraging, and is sufficient proof of the fact that the benefits of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908, are very real, and that it pays to give young delinquents every opportunity to reform. The two failures were not altogether unexpected, one being a weak-minded woman who cannot bo fully accounted responsible for her actions. The other case was that of a young man who continued well for some months until an accident rendered him unfit for hard work, and the consequent idleness gave him an opportunity to commit a crime which I do not think would have happened if he had kept in constant work. Poverty and idleness were the chief contributing factors in his fall. This year I would again wish to emphasize the great importance of careful inquiry into the antecedents of accused persons, and the adapting of conditions of restraint to meet the peculiar and particular needs of individuals in order to make probation truly successful. In this department I have to record my gratitude to the police for their unfailing kindness and assistance in co-operating with me, and also to the Judges and Magistrates who have freely accepted the various recommendations made by your officer. The gentlemen on the Bench in our two Courts have strengthened my hands in many ways in supporting any action I have taken to make probationers fully realize that probation is a serious matter, and cannot be treated lightly or trifled with. The monthly report of a probationer to his officer as required by the present statutory condition is not sufficient, and so I have generally requested the Court to impose the special condition that " the accused must report at such times and places as the Probation Officer may direct." By using this special condition freely and interpreting it to meet individual cases I have been able to keep many a probationer to his probation. Most of my probationers report to me weekly, some.fortnightly, and thus I keep in closer touch with them. This, of course, makes the work very much heavier for the Probation Officer, but the ends attained during my three years' services have more than justified the extra work. I have found my university training in mental science, especially psychology, of great use in dealing with youthful offenders. One very pronounced fact that I have constantly come up against in seeking root causes of offences is the ugly fact of selfpollution, and by tackling this problem with common-sense and sympathetic and simple means many young men have been persuaded to lead clean lives. I have discussed difficult cases with medical friends, and have had their approval of methods adopted to combat the trouble. Another most encouraging fact has been that many of my lads have enlisted and have made good many times over. During the three years I have acted as Probation Officer I have collected over £700 from probationers on restitution and costs of prosecution orders. During the year I have transferred several cases to other districts and have received cases on transfer also, but I always find the best results obtainable from those whose cases I have had from the beginning, because of my familiarity with the root causes of the trouble. At the 31st March, 1918, I had 103 probationers under my care. During the year I also received from both Courts a number of informal probationers : these are accused persons whose records debarred them from receiving probation, but owing to the circumstances of the case the Court orders them to come up for sentence at stated times, and places them under the superintendence of the Probation Officer. I am convinced that the time has come when there might be several amendments made to the existing First Offenders' Probation Act of 1908, in order to widen its scope and extend its usefulness. Any help I can give in the matter will readily be at your disposal. In conclusion I would like to state that some years of practical experience in our law-courts confirms me in the opinion that the benefits of probation are of untold value to the community, and the First Offenders' Probation Act is one of the finest things connected with the administration of justice in this Dominion.

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Rev. Frank Rule, Christchurch. For the year ending 31st March, 1918, eight persons have been placed upon, probation by our city Courts, while one was received by transfer from Wellington. In February of this year our Magistrates began to place first offenders on informal probation, and before the 31st March three had been so dealt with. A goodly number have followed since, but they will be reported on next year. Our total for the year 1917-18 is therefore twelve. A good example of the beneficent use of the First Offenders' Probation Act, 1908, came before our Supreme Court during the year under review. A young man belonging to a good family living in one of our suburbs was concerned with some others in certain improprieties which landed him in our Courts. To have sent that foolish young fellow to prison would have been in my judgment an act of legal indiscretion. The First Offenders' Probation Act came in and saved that young man from prison. After reporting for twelve months he was discharged, probably much benefited by the warning he had received, but without the stigma of " gaol " attaching to him. Mr. F. Cumminq, Dunedin. So far as Dunedin is concerned there has been a far larger number of young and old people placed on probation than in former years —indeed, it must be looked upon as a record year. Both the Supreme and Police Courts have taken the fullest advantage of the First Offenders' Probation Act. I am pleased to put on record that not a single license has had to be cancelled, and very little difficulty has been experienced in getting the probationers to adhere strictly to the torms of their licenses; indeed, the conduct both of those serving under the First Offenders' Act and those under the Crimes Amendment Act has been excellent. The past year has been the most satisfactory I have known during the whole of my time as a Probation Officer. In this connection I must acknowdedge the great help received from His Honour the Judge, Magistrates, Court officials, and the police. Their courtesy and kindness make my work much lighter, and certainly much more congenial. I have been made welcome to the homes where the probationers live. These visits do much to encourage the one who is down, and serve to bring to the aid of the Probation Officer all the good influence of the parents or friends of his charge. I find it a good practice to write frequently to those under my control: this has proved most helpful. This year the correspondence has been fairly heavy, but the keeping in close touch is the true key towards reform. The amount of money that has passed through my hands during the past year for payments of costs of prosecution or refunds has been decidedly large. In making these collections there is not a great deal of trouble—at all events, not so much as some people would be inclined to think. The system of collecting these amounts is, in my judgment, good, and in a wonderful way helps the Probation Officer to control his clients. At this centre during the year quite a number of single women and even a few married women have been placed under probation, and all have given great satisfaction. There is a large number of persons who cannot be placed upon probation but who are ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Here again the Probation Officer becomes associated with such people, and this gives him a magnificent chance of helping towards reform. I am satisfied from experience that when a man or woman is down the Magistrate acts kindly when he links the Probation Officer with such a case. I visit the Courts most regularly, Supreme and Police, so that if required for any purpose whatever lam on the spot. Thus I frequently have the opportunity of conferring with the Judge and the Magistrate upon matters affecting special cases. This is done with good results. I find the heads of the Courts most anxious, to assist in any way possible towards the redemption of the unfortunates who have to appear before them. I need not repeat that from close observation and practical knowledge the First Offenders' Probation Act has more than justified itself—the results are, on the whole, remarkable; and further, I am convinced that we are touching the fringe of a great probation scheme, which has in it all that is good for the uplifting of those who are fortunate enough to have its benefits applied to them. lam also a strong believer in as far as possible getting the probationer linked up with his Church. The assistance of his minister has helped me much. I would like to see upon every probation license one condition—namely, that he (the probationer) should attend Divine service at least once on Sabbath, and in the case of a young lad or girl attendance at Sunday school might be a further condition. Mr. A. McLean, Invercargill. I beg to report that during the year eight men were admitted to probation at Invercargill— one by the Supreme Court and seven by the Magistrate's Court—and one was on the register at the beginning of the year. Of this number three were transferred to other districts, three completed their terms of probation satisfactorily, and there were three remaining under my charge on the 31st March, 1918. The periods of probation were : three for two years, one for eighteen months, two for twelve months, and two for six months. In four instances special conditions of release included the repayment, by instalments, of restitution moneys amounting to the sum of £52 9s. 6d., and in one case £15 costs of prosecution. The principle of restitution is good, and is of benefit to youths especially. It enforces the practice of economy and thrift, and corrects evil habits of self-indulgence and extravagance. In some instances the results were immediately apparent, and give hope of becoming permanent. In cases where repayment of the amount involved would inflict undue hardship upon dependants, and make it difficult for the offender

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22

to repay by instalments within a period of probation that would ordinarily meet the case, the term could be made longer, with provision for the remission of part of the term if his conduct has been good. In the course of the year no special difficulties were encountered. Minor breaches of conditions occurred, arising chiefly from probationers' careless disregard of instructions. Considerable improvement in this respect was obtained as the result of personal interviews and repeated admonition. The general reception accorded when interviewing parents, and when visiting youthful probationers, was friendly and sympathetic. In this connection it is an advantage to have the good will of parents and relatives in dealing with probationers. The real meaning of the First Offenders' Probation Act (as I interpret it) is to secure the reformation of the offender, and it includes something more than requiring probationers to observe and obey the conditions of release. These conditions, however stringent they may be made, are restrictive and disciplinary, and their fulfilment is not necessarily reformation. The method adopted throughout the year was with a view to secure the earnest and intelligent co-opera-tion of probationers in taking the first step towards their own redemption. The Act requires to be sympathetically administered to accomplish its true purpose, and to determine its value to probationers in its reformative aspect, and it may be said to have accomplished its object in some measure when the probationer adopts the conditions of his release as a governing principle of conduct rather than an irksome duty, and it is here that the power and value of the personal influence of Probation Officers to direct and assist is seen as an important factor in the work of reformation. Mr. T. P. Mills, Wellington. There were eleven offenders on the register at the beginning of the year; twenty-one were placed on probation during the year, and nine were transferred from other districts, forty-one in all passing through my hands. During the period covered by this report ten completed the period of their probation satisfactorily, eleven were transferred to other districts, and three left the Dominion with the Expeditionary Forces, leaving seventeen on the register at the 31st March, 1918. There is not one failure to record during the year. The probationers have all conducted themselves satisfactorily, in nearly every instance reporting with gratifying regularity and settling down to hard and honest work. In every case where monetary penalties are imposed to cover cost of prosecution or by way of restitution payment has been forthcoming. This bears testimony to the excellent provision made for first offenders under the Act, as well as the discriminating sagacity of the judicial Bench. In addition to the ordinary first offenders it is becoming the custom of the Courts to order some offenders who are convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon to be placed under my surveillance for varying periods, the conditions being similar (frequently more stringent) to those obtaining under the First Offenders' Probation Act. Altogether twenty-three of these were under my supervision during the year. They have for the most part a much poorer past record than the first offender, and need closer attention. It is encouraging to say that not one of these has lapsed into a criminal career. One only has given me any great trouble, the condition of reporting being one of little concern to him. It may be humiliating to some offenders to report, but this constant reminder of their own unlawful acts is an excellent corrective as well as a mild punishment.

23

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Table A. PRISON ACCOMMODATION AND PRISONERS. Table showing Accommodation, Number of Prisoners, etc., at the several Prisons of the Dominion during the Year ended 31st December, 1917.

Number of Persons for whom there is Accommodation. Number discharged or transferred. Number in Prison at End of Tear. Name of Prison. In Separate Cells for One Prisoner. In Wards or Cells for more than One Prisoner. Total. Number of Persons at Beginning of Tear. Number received during Tear. Addington Auckland Invercargill Kaingaroa Lyttelton Napier New Plymouth Paparua (Templeton) Roto-aira (Waimarino) Waikeria Wellington Minor prisons 31. 270 131 64 132 7 53 51 49 102 192 81 F. "35 1 3 4 10 25 M. 6 4 " 3 59 1 14 76 F. 56 5 23 23 M. 276 135 64 135 66 54 65 49 102 192 157 F. 56 35 1 "s 4 33 48 M. 203 97 58 53 15 29 41 45 90 144 33 F. 39 17 22 3 T. M. 39 220 1,026 98 ' 131 58 57 53 424 15 149 29 107 41 101 45 51 90 85 166 1,222 36 1,011 F. 105 109 15 187 54 T. 105 1,135 131 57 424 164 112 101 51 85 1,409 1,065 II. 1,007 112 57 421 153 103 78 51 76 1,194 1,022 F. T. 92 92 102 1,109 1 113 57 421 13 166 5 108 78 I 51 76 179 1,373 56 1,078 if. 222 116 58 56 11 33 64 45 99 172 22 F. 52 24 "2 30 1 T. 52 246 116 58 56 13 33 64 45 99 202 23 Totals .. j 1,132 78 78 151 151 107 107 1,283 I 1 1,283 169 169 808 808 82 82 890 4,364 890 4,364 475 475 4,839 4,839 4,274 4,274 448 4,722 448 4,722 898 898 109 1 109 1,007 1,007 I Sickness. Name of Prison. Greatest Number in Least Number in Prison Prison at One Time. at One Time. (c.) Number of Distinct Prisoners ill on One or More Occasions, with Number of Occasions, Total Number of Separate Illnesses, Total Number of Days, and Daily Average on Sick-list. Daily Average Number of Prisoners. . (a.) Greatest Number ill at any One Time. (&.) Admissions to Hospital durin Tear. Tear. - I m I •£ I z£ a I Number Total Daily 6 8 §• 38 SS of Number Average 2 -E 2 8 o 3 ; •= B ~ = o > Separate of on O b iH 5 fe S H . S ° Illnesses. Days ill. Sick-list. H. , F. Addington .. .. .. 54 Auckland .. .. 234 41 Invercargill .. .. 117 1 Kaingaroa .. .. 58 .. Lyttelton .. .. 75 .. Napier .. .. 26 3 New Plymouth .. 37 1 Paparua (Templeton) .. 64 Roto-aira (Waimarino) 46 Waikeria .. .. 100 | Wellington .. .. 197 20 Minor prisons . . 92 12 T. 54 275 118 58 75 29 38 64 46 100 217 104 M. F. T. 34 34 190 16 206 77 77 32 .. 32 50 .. 50 9 1 10 2 .. I 2 40 .. 40 32 .. 32 80 .. 80 139 17 156 9 1 10 M. F. T. 47-58 47-58 21414 23-29 237-43 88-17 .. 88-17 46-83 .. 46-83 60-16 .. 60-16 18-01 1-65 19-66 17-S3 0-01 17-84 50-15 .. 50-15 40-93 .. 40-93 91-81 .. 91-81 161-79 22-80 184-59 27-45 1-66 29-11 M. 11 12 8 3 2 13 5 4 6 4 F. 5 2 2 T. M. 5 13 7 12 9 8 4 3 4 2 ; .. 13 6 5 • .. 4 3 8 6 4 2 F. 4 1 2 T. 4 8 9 4 4 6 3 8 2 4 4 6 3 51 8 5 .. 31 7 10 5 30 4 1 .. 9 111 5 3.... 27 8 2 .. 6 .. .. .. 12 27 1 .. .. 5 2 1 2 1 " 6 2 1 96 391 101 1,646 113 883 41 909 18 255 11 166 49 873 6 29 12 330 29 599 5 20 1-07 4-51 2-42 2-49 0-70 0-45 2-39 0-08 0-90 1-64 0-06 Totals .. 1,046 132 1 1,178 l 1,178 660 660 69 729 69 729 817-27 96-99 914-26 68 9 I 77 j 41 7 48 207 36 25 9 5 9 481 6,101 16-71

H.—2o.

Table A1. Table showing Particulars, for each Prison, of Prisoners at Beginning and End of Year, and received and discharged during Year 1917.

24

d d o ~r d d Qi a H HH CD d 6 c 9 d a c EX ft O H a o ■*■ o St. > (O o a a 3 CO d O Eh o is ! : iii (a.) In prison at beginning of year — Sentenced to— M. F. M. F. m. f. m. f. m. ; F. m. f. Simple imprisonment .. .. .. i 4 .. .. .. .. j Under three months' hard labour .. .. 15 I .... | Three months' hard labour and under one year 32 4 1 .. 1 .. 5 7 One year's hard labour and upwards .. 90 5 , 41, .. 22 21 .. 3 Habitual criminals .. .. .. 12 22 .. 22 Criminals receiving reformative treatment .. 32 8 16 .. 67 .. .. I .. 2 Prisoners detained under Prisoners Detention 2 .. | Act, 1915 i Total criminals in prison .. .. 187 17 : 58 .. 90 .. 27 ! .. ! 45 .. 10 j .. For trial or on remand .. .. ..( 16 ..j..| 2 .. .. .. 6 I .. M. 23 22 71 14 131 13 I !. M. F. M. F. M. ! F. M. F. ! .. 1 1 5 ...... | .. 1 .. 5 .. 16 .. 10 8 .. 10 .. 8 .. .. .. 18 34 .. 24 .. ! 17 .. 1 .. 1 .... .. 1 .. 11 4 .. 5 .. j 66 .. ..I 22 .. 39 47 .. 41 .. 97 1 M. F. 1 1 ; 18 1 | 2 1 j 21 3 j 12 .. M. F. 6 2 62 ! 6 96 31 323 23 59 206 20 2 .. 754 i 82 54;.. 8 68 127 346 59 226 2 836 54 131 13 22 ..39 47 6 .. | 41 .. 97 1 21 i 3 12 .. 754 82 54 .. 836 54 | ' ! _ Total in prison for criminal offences .. 203 17 58 .. 90 ; .. j 29 .. 45 .. 15 Debtors .. .. .. • • ■ • ■ • ••••••'•• """""" Lunatics .. .. . - • • - • • • ""'""■"• ••!•■••[ ; i I I I j i ■j | 29 i '" .. 45 .. 15 144 144 22 : _i i 22 .. 39 53 .. | 41 .. 97 1 .. .. I .. i .. .. .. 39 53 .. j 41 .. .. .. I .. ! 97 1 33 33 3 3 808 82 808 82 890 890 ........ ........ Total persons in prison .. ... 203 i 17 j 58 .. 90 .. 20 .. I 45 .. j 15 | .. 203 ! 17 58 90 29 i .. 45 .. i 15 i •• 144 144 22 .. 22 .. 39 53 .. 41 .. 97 1 39 53 41 j .. 97 1 33 3 33 3 i 808 | 82 808 ! 82 890 890 ; 1 ! . ._ (b.) Prisoners received during the year — Sentenced to— Simple imprisonment .. .. .. 53 20 4 2 Under three months' hard labour .. .. I 435 39 31 34 3 Three months' hard labour and under one year 102 24 7 .. .... 25 3 One year's hard labour and upwards .. 36 \ 6 3 6 | 1 ! Hard labour and reformative detention .. 2 .. I Hard labour and sent to an industrial school .. Hard labour and declared habitual criminal .. 5 1 .. .. j . '. 1 Habitual criminal without further sentence 1 shown Death .. .. .. .. I i Under conviction for sentence .. .. 7 2 Criminals for reformative treatment only .. 20 4 1 4 .. ( 4 2 31 34 7 25 3 6 1 ; ' I" 3 1 43 1 616 75 208 43 116 20 11 5 6 .. 43 616 208 116 11 6 1 12 20 1 .. 9 3 .. 75 .. 28 166 .. '.. .. 12 .. 43 .. 16 62 6 20 .. 3 20 2 .. 5 .. 5 3 2 •• •• I 2 8 10 .. .... j 2 .. .. .. 9 .. 28 166 .. 16 62 3 20 ..5 3 .. .. I 1 3 .. 12 .. 6 .. 2 .. 15 406 58 15 9 2 15 .-. 406 17 1 58 9 15 1 9 .. I 2 i .. 3 .. 17 1 17 9 1 129 1,700 468 198 26 16 1 129 21 1,700 162 468 | 95 198 31 26 10 16 .. 1 .. 2 .. 26 .. 74 15 21 162 95 31 10 1 150 1,862 563 229 36 150 1,862 563 229 36 16 1 2 26 89 .. | .. | .. 16 1 1 .. .. | .. ! 4 I " i '• 1 .. 12 : .. 20 2 .. .. 1 .. .. 2 .. 8 10 .. .. : ■ 2 :: 3 17 1 2 26 74 15 2 26 89 49 74 25 5 .. ..63 1 .. 60 274 9 91 Total new prisoners received .. .. 660 93 49 ! j 74 7 1 On remand or for trial .. .. .. 222 j 15 25 5 .. .. j 63 8 " i '" 7 8 1,033 146 155 33 1,033 155 1 146 .. 60 274 25 .. | 33 .. 9 ! 91 17 .. i .. .. 25 .. .. 17 525 28 2,640 374 24 947 525 28 2 374 24 2,640 334 947 94 334 94 2 | 1 2,974 1,041 2,974 i ,041 882 408 ! 74 5 .. .. (127 15 1 Debtors .. .. .. .. .. 14 | .... j 7 6 .. Lunatics .. .. .. .. .. 7 r .. .. li 2 Prisoners of war .. .. .. .. \ 11 .... j j I .. I ! | l ! Total new persons received .. .. 914 '108 i 82 5 .. .. |l45 15 1 On transfer or in transitu .. & $*.. .. 112 j 1 \ 57 .. 85 .. 25 .. 51 .. | 4 .. 74 5 .. .. J127 7 I 6 1 i 12 82 5 .. ..145 25 .. 51 ..14 15 1,188 179 7 . .. 1 1 1,188 7 1 1,196 26 1 179 .. 69 365 i .. .. I .. 42 .. i i 1 .. .. ! .. 1 .. l ...... j .. l .. 1 .. 180 .. 69 366 | .. 1 .. 44 .. 7 .. 36 58 ! .. 100 .. 87 .. 69 365 i .. .. .. | 1 | .. .. | .. 42 .. ! .. 1 1 .. 1 ■' i 899 | 52 3,587 29 .. 65 6 1 19 .. j .. 11 899 | 52 3 29 .. 6 1 934 i 53 3 77 ' 1 5,587 428 65 .. 19 2 11 .. 1,682 430 682 45 |428 i 2 4 4 4,015 65 21 11 1,015 65 21 11 1,112 727 1 85 .. 15 1,196 1180 .. 69 366 .. 26 7 .. 36 58 ! .. 1 .. ! 44 100 .. I 87 934 i 53 3,682 77 i 1 682 430 4,112 45 '• 727 Grand totals .. .. .. I 1,026 ,109 \ 57 i .. \ 85 | .. 107 5 j 51 I .. 149 15 | 1 85 | .. |107 I 5 i 51 , .. 149 I 15 1,222 187 i .. 1105 i424 .. | 101 i .. 131 1,222 1 187 i .. 1105 i424 .. 101 ... 131 | .. 1 1,011 1,011 54 j 4 54 | 4,364 |475 | 4,839 1,364 [475 | " 4 1,839

25

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Table A1— continued. Table showing Particulars, for each Prison, of Prisoners at Beginning and End of Year, and received and discharged during Year 1917— continued.

4—H. 20.

a <l o a M d CO a o >> 6 o CD a c a r* a o a a a - 5 se CD =3 g o3& d o i a o to u O o to o a d I (e.) Discharged during the year— On expiration of sentence On bail or probation Pardoned .. Died .. .. .. [[ Executed Absconded and not retaken Committed suicide Released on recommendation of Prisons Board .. ■ I M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. i F. M. F. M. F. 579 75 38 ..26 .. 42 .. 11 .. 66 5 777 127 .. 68 215 .. 22 1 .. .... .. 8 3 .. .. 5 .. 42 j 6 .. .. 5 .. 1 2 j ...... 2:1.. 1 .. .. 25 2 15 I .. 36 .. 1 .. | 16 3 1 .. 10 3 .. 628 80 53 .. 62 .. 51 3 27 .. 71 5 824 135 .. 80 223 204 12 .. 20 2 .. * 60 7 141 25 .. 9 86 : .. I ■ M. F. M. F. 60 ..47 1 2 i .. 1 '.. M. F. : M. F. 428 | 21 i 2,289 297 29 1 | 113 j 11 "i .. i ""el "i .. j .. 1 .. .. 1 ■ .. .. j 141 , 13 2,586 124 10 i 154 * i 65 .. 88 1 .. .. I 9 .. Total criminals discharged to freedom Acquitted and after remand 458 42 22 4 2,550 326 562 59 2,876 621 Debtors Lunatics transferred to mental hospitals 832 14 7 92 53 j .. 62 .. 92 53 .. 62 .. 10 4 .., 14 .. .71 5 7 i I ;. i 79 5 21 .. 27 .. 131 12 : .. .. 6 .. : .. .. 2 .. 27 .. 139 12 i 24 ..14 1 965 1160 1 1 973 !l61 221 ! 18 .. 89 309 .. .. .. I 1 .. " j " 65 .. 97 1 .. .. i 1 .. 1 .. i 1 .. 500 ! 26 ! 3,112 385 , 3,497 29 ; .. 65 .. ! 65 6 1 19 2 I 21 I Total persons discharged from prison Transferred to other prisons or to police 853 154 .. 139 12 I .. | 14 1 [ 973 !l61 221 | 18 "' 89 310 .. ; 66 3 jlll .. | 12 93 13 1 535 27 487 29 3,196 387 3,581 1,078 61 1,13! Grand totals 13 } 1,194 179 ! I 1 1,007 102 57 .. 76 .. 103 5 61 .. 153 .. 92 ! 421 .. 92 421 .. 78 I .. 112 .. io .. 37 ..67 1 1,022 56 | 4,274 448 4,72! (d.) In prison at end of the yearUndergoing — Simple imprisonment Under three months' hard labour Three months' hard labour and under one year One year's hard labour and upwards Detention as habitual criminals Reformative detention Detention under Prisoners Detention Act, 1915 Sentenced to death 7 1 13 27 15 4 .. 17 82 6 54 .. 35 45 26 1 .. .. 47 2 1 1 1 3 .. 26 1 .. i 6 .. ; 36 2 5 1 4 .. ..11 1 •- -• I 1 16 | 1 19 1 66 14 54 14 1 .. 6 .. - 1 .. .. 2 .. 1 15 .. 22 .. I 19 25 .. 31 1 ..30 7 .. 10 .. .. 1 .. .. 51 50 .. 64 1 i 6 .. L •• I 1 .. 10 .. | 4 .. I i 27 2 2! 47 1 4i 179 31 2l( 384 39 42; 47 1 - 4i 165 31 19( 3 1 1 .. ] - 3 202 24 58 .. 99 9 "i j;; " .. .. .. 115 1 Total criminals in prison For trial or on remand .. 32 1 ..45 45 162 | 30 10 j .. 15 '.. | 7 1 j 853 106 34 3 I 95! 3' -• ! Total in prison for criminal offences Debtors .. .. ' Lunatics Prisoners of war 211 24 I . 58 .". 99 33 45 ■ 11 I 2 172 30 172 .. 52 56 .. 64 .. 116 .. 22 1 887 109 'ii j " 996 II ii Total persons in prison 222 24 58 .. 99 ..33 .. 45 .. 11 2 172 30 .. 52 J 56 i .. i 64 ; .. 116 22 1 | 898 |l09 1,007 172

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26

Table B. Table showing Details of the Expenditure of each Prison for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1918.

Addington. Auckland. I New Invereargill. Kaingaroa. Lyttelton. Napier. Plymouth Paparua. Roto-aira. Waikeria. Wellington. Gaols* General. I Total. /Males Daily average number of prisoners -j 51-10 21 1-.56 22-82 94-o8 47-44 59-60 i5'75 i-8i 24-0 59-94 39-9 I 94-10 166-10 23-80 27-45 1-66 839-9: ioi-ii (.Both sexes 51-10 234-38 94-08 47-44 59-60 I7'56 24-0 59-94 39-9 94-10 189-90 29-11 941-11 Expenditure. Salaries and allowances (including uniforms) Clothing, bedding, &c. Fuel, light, and water Medicines and medical comforts Rations Tobacco Tools and materials for prison labour Materials and expenses connected with brickmaking Expenses connected with prison farms Gratuities to prisoners on discharge Earnings of prisoners (Crimes Amendment Act) Travelling-expenses, &c. .. Miscellaneous expenditure not charged to individual prisons £ 900 390 208 55 606 5 6 £ 8,904 900 247 3,218 75 1,050 £ 3,840 900 310 IOI 1,509 25 626 £ 1,088 103 3° 12 978 11 138 £ 2,847 117 264 846 16 91 £ 1,256 90 142 227 34 £ 1,259 220 144 19 365 8 7° £ 2,173 700 168 33 805 23 335 1,053 j 120 ! 25 14 1,272 20 454 £ 3.952 300 228 42 1.474 29 343 £ 7. 8 49 330 696 in 2,799 53 669 951 £ 93° 50 ISO 3° 1,150 3 20 £ 959 j •• i .-• I £ 36,051 5,409 3,265 754 15,249 273 3,836 106 '838 IO 58 - 42 34 32 1,560 27 *5 22 237 1,610 39 84 951 4,008 387 2,272 3,357 14 15 159 7 6 14 81 27 5 1.454 3.357 : 5.55 1 I 5,5s 1 . Totals Less credits (including transfers from other Departments) 2,199 15.789 8,217 2,573 3,145* 4,312 762 1,792 152 2,099 486 0.839 j 3.217 8,101 13,566 ; 2,338 11,321 81,363 54 1,242 1.355 1,599 I 40 1,799 15.083 2,455 ! 73 1,921 Net total expenditure 2,145 14.547 6,862 165 3,55° 1,640 i,6i3 I 3,384 j 3,144 6,180 11,967 2,298 9,522 66,280 * Includes credits (£737) for three months of financial year, 1916-17.

H.—2o.

Table C. Table showing the Offences and Degree of Education of Distinct Convicted Prisoners (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1917.

Table D. Table showing the Actual Number of Distinct Convicted Prisoners (exclusive of Maoris) received into Gaol during the Year 1917, classified according to Principal Offence, Birthplace, and Age.

27

Offences. Supe; Educa ■rior .tion. Able to ri writ lad and )e. Able ti on; ) read Unabl rea !d. t0 | *ow* Offences against the person — Convicted on indictment .. Summarily convicted M. 2 F. M. 88 02 F. 5 3 M. V. M. 3 1 F. ! M. F. .. I 93 5 64 8 1 Offences against property— Theft and deceit Mischief 353 72 19 4 353 19 72 4 208 00 1 477 37 1 908 101 1 2,170 I 229 Miscellaneous— Vagrancy Drunkenness Others 197 464 889 59 34 100 6 5 1 2 (i 7 II 3 Totals 5 2,125 224 12 3 28

Ollences ; Pel Convicted on Indictment. igainst the Of "son. Summarily Theft; convicted. Decei M. F. M. fences Propi mJ it. against irty. Misch Miscellaneous, tief. Vagrancy. Drunkenness.* Offences I-'. M. F. M. I F. M. F. Totals. M. F. M. F. F. M, Birthplaces— England and Wales Scotland Ireland New Zealand Australia Other British possessions China Other countries At sea Not stated 18 4 5 42 8 19 .. 2 6 . . 22 j 2 7 I 1 3 •• 78 17 If) 2 1 9 3 4 1 1 32 19 35 77 24 11 4 3 32 8 142 65 72 108 3 2 10 17 4 237 55 71 350 79 IO 6 9 2 10 65 9 535 165 209 840 185 26 6 190 2 2.5 IO 24 135 26 5 197 3° 1 12 44 5 4 32 8 4 11 5 •• 13 6 15 2 '46 1 1 94 I 6 9 Totals 1 64 3 1 1 1 3 5 12 93 5 353 19 72 4 203 60 477 37 908 101 2,1:70 229 Ages — Under 10 years 10 and under 12 years 12 and under 15 years 15 and under 20 years 20 and under 25 years 25 and under 30 years 30 and under 40 years 40 and under 50 years 50 and under 60 years 60 and over Not stated 1 6 1.8 1 1 3 •• 6 . . 9 17 2 17 I 7 •■ 5 ■• 29 46 $r 1"5 79 27 13 6 2 2 6 28 9 8 16 0 12 10 7 26 1,08 1 5 11 18 112 148 305 l85 93 46 I 1 6 3 86 204 268 629 487 290 201 8 II 21 78 6., ■ 35 12 13 24 178 6 2 1 I 7 2 i 2 54 49 41 39 13 20 IO 6 133 112 11 7 2 4 43 29 14 4 2 [ 2 90 1 6-1 ! 3 1 2 Totals 93 5 353 19 72 '4 203 60 477 37 908 101 2,170 229 Totals, 1916 46 68 J 2,160 244 73 j 3 7 1 470 20 33 234 101 574 705 * It must be remembe tables do not represent the ;red tha full nm t dr nbcr unkenness is of persons p i punishi unishcd Ed m> fori 3re by : :hat offi ine than by impri ;ncc. sonme: Lt, so that thi figures in thi gaol

H.—2o.

Table E. Table showing the Number of Distinct New-Zealand-born Convicted Prisoners of each Sex (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1917, classified according to Ages and Offences.

Table F. Table showing Distinct Persons (excluding Maoris) imprisoned after Conviction during each of the last Ten Years.

28

Offences. Under 10. I Ml V Under 10 10. undi M. K. M. find :r 12. 12 undi ■ind 15 and 20 ; :r 1$. under 20. untie F. M. I'. M. ami er 25. 25 undi and er 30. 30 and under 40. 40 and upwards. M. F. To; .Is. M. F. FM. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. Iffences against the person— Convicted on indictment .. Summarily convicted )ffences against property — Theft and deceit Mischief 1 .. 4 1 3 •• II 1: 3 4 14 4 2 1 9 9 I I 42 22 5 2 2 .. 23 6 25 .. 35 6 5 3 63 2 35 4 8 1 61 6 30 35 130 3 1 9 8 41 3 34 59 92 197 44 77 108 12 r agrancy .. Jrunkenness )ther offences 1 7 2 J 15 6 2 32 17 65 7i . 3 .. 62 8 1 6 11 58 34 22 35o Totals, 1917 125 11 123 12 280 58 247 46 840 135 Totals, 1916 59 10 9i 128 7 124 16 274 59 65 245 41 793 133 Totals, 1915 57 6 9 175 216 31 390 271 39 1021 150 Totals, 1914 2 .. 75 4 157 6 31 416 58 268 47 1134 1028 146 126 Totals, 1913 1 1 81 7 172 10 183 20 391 58 48 200 176 30 Totals, 1912 1 1 92 4 197 158 7 197 189 25 354 32 1017 117 Totals, 1911 .. , 4 •■ 59 3 13 17 333 44 173 182 3" 916 1038 107 126 Totals, 1910 Totals, 1909 2 .. 75 3 2 .. 66 4 199 174 9 15 249 236 35 28 33i 2 9 8 287 5i 53 192 28 28 968 128 Totals, 1908 1 5 .. 71 4 190 17 203 24 43 118 22 875. 844 861 no Totals, 1907 2 1 79 5 181 23 213 33 26 256 44 "3 19 18 125 Totals, 1906 t .* .» 2 .. 82 9 1 .. 76 8 189 20 219 249 39 120 112 Totals, 1905 172 25 196 27 195 38 99 17 739 "5 Totals, 1904 I 2 - 3 •■ 83 9 172 25 219 19 187 .VI 36 73 60 17 740 104 Totals, 1903 2 5 .. 79 9 191 16 187 21 177 128 21 701 l°3 Totals, 1902 2 .. 77 5 192 9 147 17 35 57 12 603 78 Totals, 1901 5 •• 74 7 175 166 22 114 20 143 38 28 40 36 36 8 551 518 95 Totals, 1900 7 .. 79 8 19 no 15 16 120 9 79 Totals, 1899 3 2 91 9 147 14 101 116 19 9 494 69 Totals, 1898 I 9 .. 87 7 143 19 91 17 93 18 29 8 453 69

Year. 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 Pvisr,n«rs Proportion per 10,000 prisoners. o( Mean p opu i ation , 3,009 31-84 3,159 32-51 3,242 32-66 2,877 28-35 3,023 29-10 Year. 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 Year. Prisoners. 3,229 3,386 2,924 2,404 2,399Proportion per 10,000 of Mean Population. 30-22 31-05 26-60 21-87 21-84

29

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Table G. Table showing Distinct Convicted Prisoners (excluding Maoris) received during the Year 1917, and sentenced to Reformative Treatment or declared Habitual Criminals, classified according to Sentences.

Head Sentence. Sentenced to Reformative Treatment for s 6 Months. 12 Months. 18 Months. 2 Tears. 3 Tears. 4 Tears. 5 Tears. ■ Sentenced to Reformative Treatment for a Period not exceeding 6 Tears. 7 Tears. 8 Tears. 9 Years. 10 Tears. n. n i.»j Declared Habitual Criminals. Totals. ! M. F. M. F. M. F. II. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. .. .. 2 .. .. i 68 14 1 .. 1 '.'. .'. 2 i 1 .. 2 .. 1 .. 3 2 ; 2 .. 8 4 I 3 .. 6 ! 2 I .. .. : 2 .. • 2 - :: :: l :: l :: l"l :: l :: | :: !v :: M :: "'V :: ' .. .. 2 j .. ! .. j .. 16 .. ] 106 24 Reformative treatment only .. Declared habitual criminal Under 1 week 1 week and under 1 month 1 month „ 3 months 3 months „ 6 „ 6 „ ,.9 „ 9 „ „ 12 „ 1 year „ 2 years .. 2 years ,. 3 „ 3 „ „ 4 „ .. 4 „ „ 5 „ .. 7 „ „ 10 „ .. M. F. M. 1 .. 12 F. 1 M. F. 3 .. : .. .. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 21 4 19 8 1 .. 9 1 ... i :. .. .... ..!..!.. l ' 1 2 1 1 | 4 I 3 .. i '.'. ....... ...... i ••!•••• ...... . .... ... .. .. ■ .. .. .. 2 1 1 1 .. .. 1 .. 3 .. 3 1 .. .. 1 26 11 24 9 4 .. 15 2 •■ .. .. .. .. .. .. Totals 1 .. 14 ! 4 .. ; •• « I , I

H.—2o.

Table H. Return of Prison Offences and Punishments for the Year ended 31st December, 1917.

Table I. Visits of the Visiting Justices to the Larger Prisons during the Year 1917.

30

Prison. Against Officers. Disobedience Other of Orders, Breaches of and Idleness. Regulations. Offences. Total Offences. Number of Prisoners punished. Total Number of Prisoners in Custody during the Year. Addington Auckland Inveroargill Kaingaroa Lyttelton Napier New Plymouth .. Paparua Roto-aira Waikeria Wellington 12 20 4 7 1 1 3 15 32 12 20 4 7 1 1 3 6 61 02 1 9 4 11 5 i 24 37 14 105 90 2 16 1 10 9 8 87 105 20 178 172 7 32 6 22 17 7 126 174 18 133 135 2 29 16 13 12 6 95 113 144 1,355 229 115 477 179 141 142 96 175 1,575 15 32 Totals .. 95 98 224 442 701 502 4,628

Prisons and Visiting Justices. i a rl a r-l -Q E d - I CI P Hi I T.' a. rQ I r-i rD o "S o u Qi a o r«i r-l rQ a o fi 'B o H Auckland — F. V. Frazer, S.M. .. Hon. W. Bcchan E. C. Cutten, S.M. .. J. H. Hannan J. H. Bradnoy Hon. T. Thompson .. Invereargill — F. G. Stone .. G. Cruickshank W. A. Ott .. William Baird John Stead Kaingaroa — R.'W. Dyer, S.M. Lyttelton — I? W. Anderson C. Ferrier H. W. Bishop, S.M. .. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M... Napier— J. S. Large A. L. Beattie J. H. Sheath A'ew.- Plymouth — C. Ahier H. Weston A. Crooke, S.M. Paparua — T. A. B. Bailey, S.M... Roto-aira — J. Cullen J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M... Waikeria — C. Richards J. B. Toasdale Wellington — E. Arnold Henry Hume W. G. Riddell, S.M. .. 3 1 I 1 1 1 2 i l 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 ] 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 i 1 I 4 3 i 3 3 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 i 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 20 7 6 1 2 1 10 13 10 2 3 4 14 3 2 2 5 5 4 2 4 2 1 4 2 5 4 2 3 1 5 5 5 3 2 3 45 21 1 1 1 1 i 2 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 1 1 l 1 2 1 1 l 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 2 2 4 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 2 1 5 2 1 8 2 6 3 5 2 4 2 7 2 50 29 1 \_

31

H.—2o

Table J. FIRST OFFENDERS' PROBATION ACT, 1908. Ages and Terms of Probation of Offenders placed under the Act during the Year 1917.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £35,

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Ages, in Years. 4 Months L Mont |, s I I2 Months. I< Months. IS Months.! 2 Years, and under. s 2J Years, j 3 Years. Totals. io and under 15 15 .. 20 20 ,, 25 25 ,. 3° 30 „ 40 40 „ 50 50 .. 60 I I 2 14 1 1 5 1 1 10 1 2 8 4 6 38 1 2 1 I 15 7 3 4 4 1 1 18 12 5 2 2 3 5.1 28 20 18 6 I Totals 4 35 40 127