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unexpected position after the conclusion of a great war, and that if the conditions changed for the worse the " change would be reflected in our criminal statistics." That the altered conditions prevailing during the past twelve months have had the expected ill effect is further evidenced by the fact that the daily average prison population for the financial year ended 31st March last was 965-03, while the number of prisoners in all the prisons on the 30th July of this year (1921) was 1,050. The fluctuations in the prison population from 1881 to 1920 (inclusive) are shown in the table below :-—

Daily Average, 1881 to 1920.

Prisoners sentenced by Military Courts-martial. The class of prisoners covered by the above heading is now practically non-existent, the only men remaining who come within the category being two who were sentenced for long terms by Courtsmartial outside the Dominion for civil offences (manslaughter and attempted murder). The figures covering the period from 1915 to 1920 (inclusive) are accordingly published for the last time.

Military Court-martialled Prisoners in Civil Prisons. — Daily Average Number in Custody in the. Principal Prisons of the Dominion during Six Years ended 31st December, 1920.

Expenditure and Receipts. The gross expenditure of the Department under all heads for the financial year ended 31st March, 1921, was £127,444, compared with £109,528 for the previous year, an increase of £17,916. Of this sum the genera] increase in salaries granted to all officers of the Public Service, together with a limited increase of staffs, accounted for £13,969 ; the ration account, for £2,776 ; and purchase of tools, material, and motor vehicles, including running-costs to enable the Department to carry on its extended works policy, for the balance. As the Department has no control over the allotment of salaries, the number of prisoners committed to its charge, nor of the cost of food and clothing, it will thus be seen that the actual increase for which the administrative officers can be held responsible amount dto £1,171. This sum may be fairly debited to operating-expenses —in other words, to the production of revenue. The increase under this head, as shown by the Treasury figures for the financial year, amounted to £7,959, so that the additional outlay is fully justified by results. It must not be forgotten that as a set-off against the annual expenditure of the Department in recent years is the asset that is being created by the acquisition and breeding of stock, purchase of implements, manures, grass-seed, &c. On the 31st March last the Department's live-stock was valued at £13,036.

Daily Average if Prisoners in Do minion Prisons. Year. Males. Females, Totals. 1881 .. 1891 .. 1911 .. 1912 .. 1913 .. 1914 .. 1915 .. 1910 .. 1917 .. 1918 .. 1919 .. 1920 .. 631-66 459-22 799-08 855-28 826-69 916-09 93133 895-99 817-27 896-98 936-28 872-59 94-37 58-39 64-18 64-07 66-55 63-72 76-79 82-78 96-99 84-97 68-06 67-10 726-03 517-61 863-26 919-35 893-24 979-81 1,008-12 942-77 914-26 981-95 1,004-34 939-69 I

Institution. 1915. 1916. I 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. Auckland Invercargill Kaingaroa Lyttelton Paparua Roto-aira Waikeria Wellington Wi Tako 0-756 0-016 0-557 0-016 1-980 0-104 0-360 0-600 4-717 3-500 39-030 2-010 32-040 0-032 0-065 2-229 44-256 20-700 22-250 10-400 58-300 J 4-640 22-270 10-52 33-21 21-58 0-20 42-61 15-03 52-30 10-91 6-44 3-57 1-46 3-38 3-79 0-410 7-92 3-32 10-63 0-512 Totals . . 1-694 3-017 54-111 222-928 192-80 34-07