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The yearly total of books supplied is now close on 8,000, and an exchange of books to each institution is made every four months. Of the books supplied, one-half are fiction and one-half are non-fiction. It is satisfactory to note that excellent use is being made of these books by prisoners. The average figure for issues is approximately 24 books per inmate per annum. The service is available as well to members of the staff. In addition, both staff and prisoners are able to make use of the request service through which selected books of an informational nature are supplied. Further improvement in the library service to our institutions is contemplated, and arrangements have been entered into with the National Library Service for the early secondment to this Department of one of its full-time librarians. INSTITUTIONS Addington Refoematoey foe Women, Cheistchuech 31. In view of the small number of inmates at this institution over the past several years, a decision was made towards the end of 1949 to close Addington. This has now been done. A small building has been erected at the Paparua Prison, Templeton, to provide for trial and remand female prisoners and for those serving short sentences. Longer-term female prisoners from the South Island will be transferred either to Arohata or to Auckland. Auckland Peison 35. The intention of Government to abolish the institution at Mount Eden and to make alternative provision elsewhere has already been announced. It was first erected some seventy years ago. It is now in a closely-built residential area. It is quite unsuitable and inadequate and there are insufficient exercise yards or suitable labour facilities for modern penological treatment. Apart from trial and remand prisoners and local short termers, the more dangerous and intractable prisoners in respect of whom security considerations are paramount are kept there. The replacement of such an institution is a major problem but it is hoped that a solution may be found within a reasonable time. Various alternatives are now being considered. RETIREMENT OF Mr. B. L. DALLARD, C.M.G. 36. The annual report on this Department has been written for the past twentyfour years by Mr. Dallard. It falls to the lot of few officers in the Public Service to have charge of a Department for so long a period. The early age at which Mr. Dallard became Controller-General was a mark of the competence which characterized his work throughout a quarter of a century. For devotion to duty, for a high sense of responsibility, for a deep regard for the rights of the subject he set a high example. He retired from office on 31st August, 1949, and it was a matter of gratification to all who had been privileged to work with him that the signal services he had rendered were recognized by the award of the C.M.G. STAFF Administeattve 37. (1) Controller-General. —Mr. S. T. Barnett was appointed Controller-General of Prisons on Ist September, 1949. He has come to the Department with an outstanding administrative career in the Public Service. He left New Zealand at the end of April, 1950, for an eight months' tour overseas under a Carnegie Fellowship and a Fullbright Award, and he is devoting his time in England and later in the United States of America largely to a study of prison administration and modern penological treatment. He will attend as New Zealand representative the Twelfth International Congress of the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission to be held at the Hague from 14th to

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