H,— 2o.

Under the heading " Miscellaneous offences " it is to be observed that the number of offences for drunkenness, and drunkenness in charge of a motor-vehicle, has shown a fairly marked increase, which, unhappily, tends to retard the downward trend in the prison population. _ It would be preferable m cases of persistent drunkenness for commitments to be made to the inebriates' institutions under the Reformatory Institutions Act rather than to prison. Nationality of Offenders.— The following table summarizes those received into prison during the year on a nationality basis : —

Nationality of Prisoners.

It will be observed that the number of commitments to prison of New-Zealand-born offenders has continued to decline, and it is also satisfactory to note that the number of Maoris received was less than during the previous year. An analysis of the nature of the crimes under nationality of the offenders shows that the increase in the number of offences against the person has been due to crimes committed by persons born overseas. . Age of Prisoners.—Hereunder is set out in tabular form the prisoners received during the year classified in age groups, and for purposes of comparison similar figures over the past quinquennium are shown. A marked decrease in the number of young persons committed to prison or Borstal is shown, the number under twenty-five years of age being 100 less than for the previous year.

Length of Sentences. —The following table gives an analysis according to the term of sentence imposed, showing the proportion of each group to the total number of persons received :

It, will be observed that over 62 per cent, of the prisoners admitted to prison during the year under review received less than three months, and 75 per cent, less than six months, The futility of these short sentences of imprisonment from a reformative or training point of view has been stressed repeatedly, and this view is supported by practically all authorities overseas. The purpose of imprisonment, apart from the punitive and deterrent aspect, which seems to be the main idea underlying the short sentence, is the inculcation of habits of industry and orderliness and a sense of social responsibility. Time is an essential factor in habit-formation and also in the matter of imparting any vocational training calculated to assist the offender in earning his livelihood on release. The first sentence is said to be the " turning-point " in an offender's career, and it is

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New-Zealand- British and Total Year. born (excluding Maoris. Foreign. -total. Maoris). 1936 .. .. 1,022 199 569 1,790 1935 .. .. 1,256 226 676 2,158 1934 .. .. 1,416 211 749 2,376 1933 .. .. 1,604 253 874 2,731 1932 .. .. 1,941 316 1,144 3,401 1931 .. .. 1,779 271 1,153 3,203 1930 .. .. 1,576 184 1,104 2,864

Age Group. 1932. j 1933. j 1934. 1935. 1936. Under 20 .. 222 175 120 131. 96 20-25 . ■ • 559 j 459 391 350 285 25-30 .. .. 504 403 343 321 254 30-40 .. • • 903 747 640 545 437 40 and upwards .. 1,207 937 878 809 715 Not stated .. .. 6 10 4 Totals .. 3,401 j 2,731 2,376 2,158 1,790

Ti Percentage to Total Number ot Prisoners. Number sentenced. Term of Sentences. 1935. ! 1936. 1935. 1936. Under one month. .. •• •• 782 752 36-3 42-0 One month and under three months .. - 452 371 20'9 20-7 Three months and under six months .. 259 218 12-0 12-2 Six months and under twelve months .. 174 132 8-1 7-4 One year and under three years .. •• 367 234 17-0 13-1 Three years and under five years .. .. 100 59 4-6 3-3 Five years and over .. .. ■ • 24 24 1-1 1-3 Totals 2,158 1,790 100-0 100-0