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The results of these releases on probation and discharges were that out of the total of those who had been under reformative detention fifteen were returned to prison, and five failed to report themselves and may possibly have left the Dominion. Nine who had been declared habitual criminals were returned to prison, and the whereabouts of three is unknown. Of those returned to prison who had been under reformative detention, nine were found guilty of a specific new offence, and eleven committed breaches of the conditions of their licenses; and of the nine habituals returned to prison, five were found guilty of fresh offences, the others having otherwise broken the conditions of their probationary license. Satisfactory reports of the conduct of the others released on probation have been received. Of the habitual criminals and offenders, the total number released on probation during the years 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914 was eighty-nine, and of these twenty were convicted of fresh specific offences —namely, in 1911, five; in 1912, six; in 1913, four; and in 1914, five. Considering their past history in the large number of previous convictions against them —some having over thirty—the result may be considered satisfactory. Female Prisoners. The number of female prisoners in our prisons is, relatively to the number of male prisoners, very small. In 1914 the total number of females that came under our jurisdiction was only four habitual criminals and offenders and eight sentenced to reformative treatment. Of these two habituals were released on probation, and three under reformative treatment were released on probation. One habitual who had been released on probation was recommended for discharge; one habitual was found guilty of a new offence, and returned to prison; and the whereabouts of the other female is unknown. The female prison at Addington has now been established for two years, and, so far as the Board can judge, it. has proved a useful institution. Classification of female prisoners, because of the smallness of the number, is difficult, for separate institutions cannot be established for the small number of female delinquents. There is a class of female prisoners—and it is the largest class—who do not commit any serious crime, but who lead drunken and criminal lives. They rarely come under the jurisdiction of the Board, and are coming in and going out of prison every few months. It seems to the Board there is need of an alteration of our criminal law to deal with these, and a need also of some small but special reformatory institution to which they could be sent for a term long enough to give them a chance of being reformed. Many of them can hardly be said to have done more than to have entered on a career of crime. If those having a haneful influence were kept in ordinary prisons, and the young and thoughtless were treated in a reformatory institution, many of them might be rescued from a career of vice and crime and made good citizens. Classification of Prisoners. The classification of prisoners is ever difficult, as the crime committed, or even' the frequency of convictions, is not always a test of criminality. Efforts have been made, however, to classify Ihe prisoners, and it is understood that a more complete scheme is dependent on buildings now in course of erection. Suitable first offenders, to whom the Courts were unable to give probation, have been sent to Waipa, where, residing in cubicle huts, living and working in the open air at tree-planting and gardening, their physical condition has much improved. Kaingaroa is also a, tree-planting camp. Here the prisoners have been selected from other prisons because of their good conduct, and live in the same conditions as at Waipa. Waikeria is, a large prison farm, and a class similar to those at Kaingaroa has been sent there. Youthful prisoners are sent to Invercargill, where they are taught the habit of industry. At Koto Aira there is a road-making camp, mainly of habituals, who it is believed have improved and can be trusted, and after they have spent some time in Rota Aira the Board hopes to be able to recommend them for release on probation. A prison farm is being established at Templeton, near Christchureh, on a considerable area of land, and it is hoped that these new prisons will serve a similar purpose to those at Waikeria and Kaingaroa. An open-air and industrious life are two of the main means that can be employed to lead those who have erred to walk in new paths. Employment of Prisoners. In the prisons occupation is found for all the prisoners, mainly out-of-door work, quarrying, sf one-breaking, land-reclamation, tree-planting, farming, gardening, &c. Trades are not taught, as it is very difficult, considering the terms of imprisonment and the class of prisoners and their numbers, to teach specific trades. We have to remember that the main industries of New Zealand are what may be termed primary industries—farming, mining, and gardening. It is better then to aim at getting prisoners trained for those industries in which labour is most in demand, and therefore to train some to manual labour such as road-making, quarrying, &c. ; others to farm work ; and some, with perhaps less physical strength, to gardening. This is being done, and a great improvement is being effected in the prison life. When the ngw prison at Templeton is ready for the reception of prisoners, and the old. unsuitable prison at Lyttelton is no longer in existence, further efforts will no doubt be mnde to train prisoners as expert farm labourers, gardeners, and orchardists. We think that gardening might be further encouraged. Warders' who have had training in scientific gardening might be appointed at Waipa, Waikeria, Templeton, and Invercargill, and some prisoners be trained to be efficient gardeners. The life would be healthy, and its reforming effect can hardly be overestimated.

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