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In the garden industry results were very good early in the year, and a ready market was found for all classes of vegetables produced from sowings made in 1942, mainly to the Army and St. Helens Hospital, with a surplus to the Christchurch market. Both this institution and the Addington Women's Reformatory were kept supplied with abundant quantities of fresh vegetables. Farming activities, under the direction of the Farm-manager, were principally directed towards the growing of crops and in sheep-raising. In the sheep section, with a flock of 1,700 Gorriedales, wool-production amounted to 46 bales, but owing to the generally adverse conditions which ruled throughout the year the fleeces were not quite so good, both in weight and in quality, as in some former seasons. A line of 358 wethers purchased in the autumn for fattening turned out a very profitable investment, returning a net profit of close on £200. Early cuts from this mob topped the Addington market. In the cropping section a varied selection of sowings and plantings were made, including potatoes, wheat, oats, barley, swedes, mangels, and clover for seed, and good returns came from the harvesting of these crops, considering the scarcity of fertilizers. Similar crops sown in 1943 are not expected to do so well, they having being retarded owing to the long spell of dry weather, and there will be a shortage of feed for stock in such items of fodder as oats, barley, and mangels. Fortunately, some good crops of hay were harvested before the adverse weather set in. Pig husbandry was carried on successfully, and baconers and porkers fetched good prices in the market. Dairying is also carried on on a small scale, mainly for supplying our own needs. The cultivation work was carried out with the use of both horses and a farm tractor. In conclusion, I have to report that the staff of this institution have carried out their duties in a satisfactory manner during the year. Invercargill Borstal Institution (Superintendent: Mr. R. W. Arnold) On Ist January, 1943, there were 140 inmates in custody in the Borstal Institution. During the year, 155 were received, while 141 were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving thus 154 in custody on 31st December, 1943. The greatest number in custody at any one time was 160, and the least number 132. The daily average over the year was 141-12. In the Reformatory Section there were 6 males in custody on Ist January, 1943. During the year, 35 males and 1 female were received, while 35 males and 1 female were discharged, leaving thus 6 males in custody on 31st December, 1943. The greatest number in custody at any one time was 6, and the least number 1. The daily average over the year was 3-27. The number of Borstal inmates admitted to the Southland Hospital during the year was 38. This is an exceptionally high number—other years have averaged about 12 or so. In many cases, possibly the majority, the boy had the defect or trouble before he came to Borstal, and it was deemed the best course by the Medical Officer to have a remedy effected without delay. There were 9 cases of nasal obstruction requiring attention, 5 tonsils trouble, and cases of gastritis, ear complaint, hernia, acute orchitis, abscess, threatened T. 8., hyperpyrexia, swellings, septic rash, and general pains ; and 9 accident cases of various sorts. In all, 23 operations were performed. There was no V.D. case, no death, and no transfer to Seacliff Mental Hospital during the year. All inmates are examined on first admission by the institution Medical Officer who then recommends any attention which he may consider necessary. If the general physique of the inmate is not good, a special diet may be recommended. At the same time the teeth are looked at, and if in the interests of the general health of the inmate a special examination is advisable, this is referred to the dentist who performs dental work for the institution. The institution hospital was occupied fairly regularly throughout the year, and there were about the usual number of minor complaints requiring attention. In the majority of cases this institution is not the first attempt by the State to turn a lad from his erroneous ways and give him a better idea of his social duties. An examination of records therefore proves interesting. Of the 155 received here in 1943, 58 were on probation when they committed tlie offence which led to committal to Borstal. Of this number, 23 had previously been under the care of the Child Welfare Office, and 8 both under the Child Welfare Officer and in Weraroa Boys' Training Farm. Of the remaining 97, 55 had been under the Child Welfare Officer, 15 under the Child Welfare Officer and in Weraroa, and 2in Weraroa. Three had been fined and 3 convicted and discharged. That leaves only 19, who, as far as is known, were first offenders. Of the 155, 20 had been in the institution on a previous occasion. An examination of the various offences for which the 155 inmates were admitted to Borstal this year is also interesting. Theft, as usual, takes first place, with car conversion as second, numerically. Details are : theft, 67 ; theft of bicycles, 11 ; theft and receiving, 1 ; theft, mischief, and assault, 1 ; theft, mischief, and being in possession of house-breaking implements, 1 ; breaking, entering, and theft, 17 ; breaking and entering with intent, 3 ; breaking, entering, and theft, and car conversion, 4 ; truck and car conversion, 21 ; car conversion and theft, 8 ; false pretences, 2 ; attempted false pretences, 1 ; converting horse, 1 ; breach of probation, 5 ; indecent assault on female, 1 ; rape, 5 ; assault with intent to commit rape, 1 ; being idle and disorderly, 2 ; and tranfers from Boys' Training Centre, Levin, 3, a total of 155. Of the 155 received into custody during 1943, 27 were full Maoris and 17 half- or three-quarter-caste Maoris, a total of 44, or 28 per cent. Another interesting feature is the number of previous convictions against each inmate. This shows that some were well versed in crime before coming to Borstal:— r ± Previous T , Previous Inmates. n ... Inmates. n ... Convictions. Convictions. 19 Nil 6 .. .. 5 30 .... .. 1 5 .. .. 6 27 .. .. .. 2 37 .. .. 7 or over 19 . . .. .. 3 12 .. 4 155 On the basis of offences and punishments recorded, the behaviour of the inmates, taking into consideration that the average number in custody was greater this year, was generally better than last year. In 1943 the total number of offences dealt with by the Superintendent and the Chairman of the Visiting Committee was 129, as compared with 140 in 1942.

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