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1938. NEW ZEALAND.

PRISONS (REPORT ON) FOR THE YEAR 1937-38.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. the Minister of Justice to His Excellency the Governor-General. Wellington, 29th July, 1938. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report on the prisons and borstals of the Dominion for the year 1937-38. I have, &c., H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Justice.

The Controller-General of Prisons to the Hon. the Minister op Justice. Sir, — I have the honour to present the annual report of the Prisons Department for the financial year ended 31st March, 1938, and the criminal statistics for the calendar year ending 31st December, 1937, together with reports from the controlling officers of the various institutions administered by the Department. These reports outline in detail the numerous activities carried on at the several institutions for occupational and reclamative purposes. Prison Statistics. Although the daily average in custody has continued steadily to decline, the number for 1937 being 865, as compared with 1,005 for the previous year, the aggregate number of receptions has increased slightly, the total number received during 1937 being 3,966, which is 153 more than the total for 1936. This aggregate includes inter-institutional transfers and those admitted on short sentence more than once during the year. The number of distinct persons received was 1,991, as compared with 1,790 for the previous year.

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