H—2o

The medical officer, Dr. A. M. Earle, visits the prison once a week, and is always on call when the occasion arises. The conduct of the prisoners has been good, there being no offences during the year. Thanks are due to the various religious denominations who conduct divine services throughput the year. On Christmas Day a party from the Church of Christ entertained the inmates with a musical programme, concluding with a Christmas treat by way of fruit, sweets, cakes, and sandwiches, which was very much appreciated by the inmates. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provided the inmates with a gift of cigarettes and pipe tobacco, also Aramoho branch with cakes and sweets. Mr. W. J. Rogers, Visiting Justice, also made a donation of cakes, sweets, and cigarettes to be distributed on New Year's day. Our thanks are due to Mr. Rogers for securing and installing free of expense a very fine radio set with loud-speaker and set of earphones, which is very much appreciated by the inmates. In conclusion, I desire to thank the staff for their co-operation. Wellington Prison (Superintendent: Mr. P. McGrath) At the commencement of the year there were 97 males in custody. During the year 1,022 males were received, whilst 1,029 were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in prison on the night of 31st December, 1947, 90 males. The discharges were as follows: on expiration of sentence, hard labour, or simple imprisonment, 353 : reformative detention, nil; Borstal detention, nil; died, 1 ; absconded and not retaken, 1 ; on special remission, hard labour, 51; reformative detention, nil; released on the recommendation of the Prisons and Parole Board, hard labour, 16 ; reformative detention, 6 ; habitual criminals, 1; debtors, 14 ; transferred to mental hospital, 3; acquitted and after remand, 15 ; transferred to another prison or to the police, 526 ; released on bail, probation, &c., 42. Of the 13 males admitted to the Wellington Public Hospital during the year the majority were inmates requiring hospital treatment immediately after admission into custody. The prison medical officer, Dr. Douglas Brown, has again been most attentive in his care of prisoners. The greatest number of cases of sickness at any one time during the year was 6. Six cases of venereal disease were received during the period, all being gonorrhoea. Dental work has been carried out by Mr. W. P. Sommerville, J.P., and extractions, fillings, and dentures have been provided as required. Psychiatrists from the Mental Hospitals Department have again given valuable assistance during the year, examining inmates for the Courts and as a guide for treatment. The dietary scale has been maintained at high standard. Daily supplies of fresh vegetables from the prison garden and butter and milk from the dairy have been received. The manufacture of white and wholemeal bread for rations to the institution and the Arohata Borstal Institution continues to maintain a high standard of quality. During the year there were 9 breaches of the regulations, 1 being dealt with by a Visiting Justice, and the balance, a small number of minor offences requiring disciplinary correction, were dealt with by myself. The pig-raising industry, considering the smaller number of pigs raised to baconers on account of the small quantity of swill now available for fodder, has been quite satisfactory. The dairy herd has kept in excellent condition, and production been well maintained. Milk supplied as rations to institution and sold to local staff has been of good quality. Butter surplus to requirements for rations has been sold during the year on the local market. A good crop of hay has again been harvested this season.

20