H.—2o,

state cannot be attributed to any difficulty in obtaining suitable employment on leaving school. The nature of the offences, a matter which will be referred to in another section of this report, would indicate that the cause is more likely to be a lack of discipline and parental control and training.

Miscellaneous. Deaths. —There was one death, recorded during the year, that of a prisoner who died at the Waikeria Reformatory as the result of a fatal dive while bathing in the river. Executions. —Nil. Floggings. —Floggings were ordered by the Court in respect of four prisoners who brutally assaulted a prison officer in an attempt to escape. No floggings have yet been administered. Escapes.—During the year twenty prisoners and sixteen Borstal detainees escaped. With one exception all were recaptured. Borstal Receptions and General Results. —A total of 155 lads and 9 young women were received in direct committals to Borstal, and 4 males and 1 female were admitted by transfer from other institutions. Of the aggregate number dealt with at Borstal over the past twenty years, just under 15 per cent, have again been convicted after release. Mental Defectives. —Twenty-three persons certified as mentally deficient were transferred to mental hospitals during the year. Health of Prisoners. The general health of prisoners throughout the year has been very good. The daily average number on the sick-list was fifteen, representing 1-6 of the daily average number of prisoners in custody. It is noteworthy that prisoners almost invariably improve in physical condition and put on weight under the regular living-conditions and the wholesome diet in prison. In addition to the care of the general health of prisoners by Prison Medical Officers, this Department has a close working arrangement with the; Mental Hospitals Department whereby its psychiatrists are always at call to examine and advise on the treatment of any inmate of impaired mentality. A mental specialist from the Seaclifi Mental Hospital attends regularly at a clinic at Invercargill, and full advantage is taken of this for the mental examination of lads from the Borstal. The Medical Officer at the New Plymouth Prison is a qualified psychiatrist. At this institution are segregated all sexual perverts, and the Medical Officer is indefatigable in his efforts to help the prisoners psychologically as well as attending to their physical ailments. He also pays tribute to the local hospital in the following terms : — " I would be grateful if, in your annual report, you would make mention of the very great assistance the local hospital staff are to the institution in treating the many obscure disorders with which our inmates become afflicted. Without exception I have found them willing to undertake plans of treatment which are well beyond the scope of their bare duties." Revenue and Expenditure. A comparative statement of revenue and expenditure covering a period of ten years is given hereunder:—

3

Age Group. 1935. j 1936. 1937. 1938. 1939. 1940. Under 20 .. .. 131 96 115 123 178 203 20-25 .. .. .. 350 "185 303 362 424- 348 25-30 .. .. .. 321 254 282 321 413 322 30-40 .. .. .. 545 437 456 555 612 492 40 and upwards.. .. 809 715 831 861 875 833 Not stated .. .. 2 3 4 2 3 3 Totals .. 2,158 1,790 1,991 2,224 2,505 2,201

j Daily Gross Expenditure. Credits. Net Expenditure. Year Average I * e r ' Number of I Inmates. Total. Per Head. Total. Per Head, j Total. Per Head. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1931-32 .. .. 1,641 152,581 92-93 55,867 34-03 96,714 58-90 1932-33 .. .. 1,661 142,940 86-04 52,412 31-84 90,528 54-49 1933-34 .. .. 1,488 138,193 92-88 54,823 36-77 83,370 56-11 1934-35 .. .. 1,306 137,484 105-25 60,242 46-12 77,242 59-13 1935-36 .. .. 1,170 144,460 123-47 69,933 59-77 74,527 63-70 1936-37 .. .. 985 146,314 148-54 68,661 69-70 77,653 78-83 1937-38 .. .. 852 164,132 192-64 69,075 81-07 95,057 11-56 1938-39 .. .. 855 152,093 177-89 64,910 75-92 87,183 101-97 1939-40 .. .. 907 155,333 170-16 74,348 81-97 80,985 88-19 1940-41 .. .. 905 162,426 179-47 77,908 86-08 84,518 93-39