B.—-20

evident that their offences were the result of drink, and were but slightly related to the sober state of their minds. Working in healthy and invigorating surroundings, these men have done good work, behaved well, and profited considerably by the nature of their imprisonment. It only shows that in selecting men for the camps each case has to be considered individually, and no general rule applicable to all cases can be laid down. In the camps only a minor proportion have served previous sentences, and we have made it a rule not to send men who have been tree-planting during a previous sentence. At each of the tree-planting camps a large common room has been built. The prisoners take their meals in these rooms, and assemble, under supervision, between the hours of returning from the works and the night lock-up. This system gives greater security to the camps, and does away with the necessity of having stoves in the huts. At Waiotapu and Hanmer all the huts have been converted and several new ones built. This gives every prisoner a separate hut or cell to himself. Waipa will soon be in the same position, as the work of conversion and building is nearly finished. The tree-planting has been carried out to the satisfaction of the Forestry Department. Prisoners have been engaged on works for the Defence Department at Fort Cautley, Point Halswell, and Taiaroa Heads. The usual gaol industries have been carried on as in former years. Considering the class of labour that is available to us and the fluctuation of the prison population, the standard of industry has, on the whole, been very good. The officers who instruct and supervise have shown themselves very resourceful in turning to account the unskilled labour at their disposal, and their work reflects credit upon them. In some cases the industries are overmanned. Where this prevails a good standard of industry and efficiency cannot be secured. This is at present unavoidable. It has been decided to provide the officers employed on the works in instructing the prisoners with a more suitable uniform. Early in the spring the officers were communicated with and arrangements made for the issue of a khaki uniform. Before the major portion of the work of reorganizing the prisons can be carried out it will be necessary to have the reformatory farm in an effective condition. It was not until late in 1910 that we were able to occupy the site, but as soon as we had that right we visited the property and made arrangements for the preliminary works. Mr. J. T. Rcid (late Acting-Gaoler at Hanmer Springs) was placed on the site and given charge of the works. He has built a substantial bridge over the Waikiria Stream, and cut the scrub over a road-line for a distance of two miles. This gives us a track for vehicular traffic on to the site selected for the preliminary buildings. These preliminary buildings are now in course of erection, and before many months we expect to be able to send up a batch of prisoners to commence work on the permanent buildings. In the meantime the tree-planting camps and the Invercargill Prison are being used to enable a provisional scheme of classification to be carried out. Some of the officers are displaying enthusiasm in the plan of reorganization, and have asked us to assist them in the study of penology in its scientific aspect. Later in the year we hope to be able to arrange this matter upon a systematic basis. The Crimes Amendment Act, 1910, came into force on the Ist January, 1911, and the newly elected Prisons Board established thereunder held its first meeting during this month. The question of making other arrangements for the distribution of the female prisoners is one of urgency. At present the women are scattered in small groups in all the prisons, and no arrangements can be made for necessary classifications. We record, with great regret, the death of Chief Warder Henry Hawkins, of the Auckland Prison. Mr. Hawkins was an able, zealous, and loyal officer. The usual statistics are appended. Frank Hay, Inspector of Prisons. J. L. A. Kayll, 31st March, 1911. Visiting Adviser.

PRISON STATISTICS. Escapes. —There were 8 escapes during the year, as against 7 in 1909 —viz., 1 at Palmerston North Police-gaol, 2 at Waipa, 4 at Invercargill, and 1 from the train while being escorted from Timaru to Lyttelton. All the escapees were recaptured. Deaths. —Eight deaths occurred in prisons during the y-ear, as against 7 in the previous year —viz., 3 at Auckland, 3 at Wellington, 1 at Palmerston North Police-gaol, and 1 at Lyttelton. Daily Average. —During the year 1910 the daily average of prisoners in the different gaols of the Dominion was 844-5 males and 73-41 females —a decrease of 3-95 males and an increase of 11-31 females on the previous year. Expenditure. —Details of the expenditure in the various prisons will be found in Table B. Education. —A reference to the educational Table C shows that out of a total of 5,412 males and 541 females received during the year, 33 males were of superior education, 5,111 males and 510 females were able to read and write, 57 males and 3 females could read only, while 211 males and 27 females could neither read nor write. Offences hj Prisoners. —There were 206 offences reported against 130 separate prisoners. Details are given in Table I. Offences by Officers. —There was 1 report against a subordinate officer (at Invercargill) during the year, as against 7 during 1909. Habitual Criminals and Offenders. —At the Reformatory Prison at New Plymouth, where the habitual criminals are detained, there were 15 males and 4 females in custody at the beginning of the year. During the year 21 males and 1 female were received, and 10 males and 3 females discharged, leaving 26 males and 2 females in custody there at the close of the year.

3