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Wi Tako Prison. —This is a small mixed prison farm nestling in the foothills behind. Heretaunga. The prison farm comprises a swamp area which has been drained and is used as a market garden, the produce being supplied to the camp, and, in addition, makes a contribution to the Wellington markets. The farm also supplies milk to the Wellington town supply. During the war period, with the supply of offal from the military camp, the Department developed an extensive pig-fattening industry. The prison is in such a convenient distance from Wellington that it is used to accommodate the short-term prisoners from the southern end of the North Island where the expense of transfer to more distant institutions would not be justified. The type of work undertaken at Wi Tako provides a healthful break to a considerable body of short-sentence prisoners who would otherwise be engaged in non-productive labour at a city prison. Government at present has under consideration the question of closing W,i Tako and seeking an alternative site, the area being required for a comprehensive housing scheme. Papm^wa.—This is a reformatory prison farm near Templeton where more or less trustworthy prisoners are detained. Mixed farming is the main activity, and a fairly large number of men are employed in the quarry, which supplies crushed metal for roading and building works in Canterbury. At Paparua a high-grade Corriedale flock is maintained, and the Department also makes a feature of the early fat-lamb trade. Gardening and laundering are also carried on. Regular educational classes, lectures, &c., are provided under qualified persons, and the general cultural amenities provided by the Department—i.e. r pictures and wireless —extend also. Adding ton Prison, —This is a reformatory for women offenders. The main activities are domestic work, laundering, and gardening. During the war a heavy volume of this work was undertaken for Army purposes. Wamgamm Prison.—At this institution all the aged and feeble prisoners are segregated. Instead of the usual system of individual cells, the prisoners sleep in association (similar to a hospital ward). This enables mutual assistance to be rendered by one another. The principal industry is gardening and the cutting of kindling-wood. The inmates in the main are not capable of sustained effort. It is sad to see youths in an institution with their lives blemished at the commencement of their careers, but it is more pathetic tosee old men who have devoted a life to crime spending the evening of their days in a penal establishment. The Department strives to get these old men placed out in charitable homes wherever such can be arranged with safety tothe community. Napier Prison. —This prison is a small institution where short-sentence prisoners from the east coast are detained. The principal activities carried on are gardening and quarrying. Waikeria.—This institution comprises both a Borstal and a reformatory. The farm consists of just over 4,000 acres, and all phases of farming are carried on under qualified instructors, so that inmates can acquire a training in handling sheep, dairying, cropping, orchard and apiary work, and tobaccogrowing. Lads discharged from Waikeria have no difficulty in securing employment, their services usually being sought after. A wide range of cultural and recreational activities is carried on, the lads participating in football and qrieket with outside teams. Regular school classes are taken by a qualified teacher. Recently a Housemaster with some knowledge of English institutions was appointed to develop and co-ordinate the reelamative activities of the institution.

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