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1929. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS DEPARTMENT (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1928-29.

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

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral. Wellington, 15th August, 1929. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Prisons Department for the year 1928-29. I have, &c., Thomas M. Wilford, Minister in Charge of Prisons Department. The Controller-General of Prisons to the Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department. Sir, — I have the honour to present the annual report of the Prisons Department covering the financial year encled 31st March, 1929, together with the Inspector's report and extracts from the reports of controlling officers of the different institutions, and the criminal statistics for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1928. Prison Population : Comparative Figures.—Statistics. The tables of prison statistics which are appended to this report show that there were 4,365 committals to the various prisons and institutions under the control of this Department during the year ended 31st December, 1928, as compared with 4,664 in 1927, a decrease of 299. The monthly figures to hand since the end of the statistical year show that a steady decrease in committals is being maintained. It is also pleasing to record that there has been a fairly pronounced diminution in the number of distinct persons received into the Department's care as compared with the last few years. During times of industrial and economic depression crime figures usually show an upward trend, but it is satisfactory to note that there has been a decrease in the numbers of offences involving imprisonment, as classified below, as well as a reduction in the ratio of prisoners to the general population of the Dominion.

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, 7 iOffences against Offences against' Miscellaneous Total Prisoners (Ratio to 10,000 of Person. Property. | Offences. received. Mean Population. 1925 .. .. 173 721 1,996 2,890 20-88 1926 .. .. 217 836 1,702 2,755 19-49 1927 .. .. 192 937 1,582 2,711 18-84 1928 .. .. 165 877 1,506 2,548 17-37 ___