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Social Activities Supplementary to the routine arranged by the Department by way of special classes, cine pictures and various games, &c., all designed with a cultural and socializing motive, lectures, study groups, and entertainments are also organized by voluntary workers. Because of petrol restrictions the number of visits from social workers has been less than in normal times. Nonetheless, the Department is indebted to that large body of kindly-disposed persons who devote their time to this prison mission work. I desire to place on record the thanks of the Department to the various clergymen and Salvation Army officers who ministered to the spiritual well-being of the prisoners, often at considerable inconvenience and expense. To the Justices' Associations, the Women's Borstal Association, the Workers' Education Association, the Prisoners' Aid Societies, and others who assist, both in in-care and after-care work, the Department's appreciation is also accorded. In conclusion, I desire to pay tribute to the loyal and helpful co-operation of the staff, many of whom have worked exceptionally long hours. B. L. Dallard, Controller-General of Prisons.

EPITOME OF REPORTS OF THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS OF THE AUCKLAND AND PAPARUA PRISONS AND THE INVERCARGILL BORSTAL INSTITUTION. Auckland Prison (Superintendent: Mr. W. T. Leggett) At the commencement of the year there were 223 males and 19 females in custody. During the year 1,240 males and 118 females were received, whilst 1,231 males and 116 females were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in custody at the end of the year 232 males and 21 females. During the year there were 8 males received for being intoxicated in charge of motor-vehicles. There were 147 males and J 5 females received into prison as second offenders during the year, and there were 3 males transferred to a mental hospital. Amongst the male receptions were 166 soldiers, 30 naval, and 19 Air Force. There were also received for breaches of the National Service Emergency Regulations 43 males, as well as 13 from defaulters' camps for disobeying orders, &c. Generally the health of the prisoners has been very good, sickness being mostly confined to colds and minor ailments. Taking into account the number of physical derelict individuals received here ; the daily average sick of 4-19 is a slight improvement over last year. There was 1 death, being that of an elderly vagrant who was a methylated-spirit addict and was received suffering from acute bronchitis requiring removal to the public hospital, where he died a few days after admission. There were 19 males and 3 females admitted to the public hospital and 1 female sent to a maternity hospital Of the cases sent to public hospital, the one of acute bronchitis was the only serious case. There were no accidents of any seriousness in connection with any of the institutional industrial activities. Twentyfive males and 30 females required treatment for venereal disease during the year. During the year 4 individuals escaped and 1 attempted to escape from the works. The escapees were promptly recaptured. There were 3 males transferred to a mental hospital, and a number of alienist examinations were made by the Auckland Mental Hospital staff, and in this direction there has been full co-operation from the medical staff of the Auckland Mental Hospital. The conduct generally of the prisoners has been satisfactory, but the abnormal times have had an unsettling effect on some types of prisoners. There were 89 males and 8 females dealt with by the Visiting Justices for minor prison offences, and 1 male was dealt with by the Magistrates' Court for an aggravated offence of striking an officer of the prison while employed on the works. The industrial activities of the prison have been fully carried on during the year with satisfactory results and all prison labour has been fully utilized to the best advantage, and, as far as possible, all suitable prisoners have been transferred to country prisons. The boot-factory has been fully employed producing footwear for prison institutions, mental hospitals, and Army, and making and repairing Post and Telegraph Department's leather satchels. The tailoring-factory has also been fully employed producing garments for prison institutions, mental hospitals, and National Service Department. There has also been laundered and repaired 33,180 mail and parcel bags for the Post and Telegraph Department. Tinsmithing has been carried on to fulfil requirements for Prisons Department institutions. The laundering section has dealt with all institutional requirements, and laundered blankets and denims for Army, Air Force, and Police Department. The manufacture of tobacco for the whole of the requirements of the various prison institutions has been carried out mostly from leaf grown at the Waikeria Farm. Quarrying and crushing metal screenings has been actively carried on during the year, and these products have been principally used by the Public Works Department, Railways Department, local bodies, and defence construction requirements. The vegetable-supplies have been mostly obtained from the institution garden, but owing to drought conditions early in the year some vegetables were obtained from the Waikeria Farm. The food-supplies generally have been of excellent quality, the bread has been baked in the institutional bakery, and meat and milk obtained from the Waikeria Farm. The institutional school, under direction of Mr. Dale, M.A., and assisted by a member of the staff, has been successfully continued, and the schoolmaster reports as follows: — " The work of the school has progressed in a very satisfactory manner. In addition to the routine subjects, a course of simple economics, designed to assist an understanding of war difficulties, speech and its development, and a course in the history and geography of the Pacific has been undertaken. " Through debate, a course in citizenship, designed to help the men to rehabilitate themselves, has been a feature of the school. As in former years, the Native men have worked well. Generally the standard of education among this class is lamentably low, but they appear to realize the need for education, and apply themselves to the task of learning to read and write with commendable effort.

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