H.—2o

Nationality of Offenders The following table covering the receptions over the past eight years, classified on a nationality basis, shows a continued increase in the number of Maori offenders. There has been an increase in the number of young Maori girls committed to prison and Borstal as a result of their association with servicemen.

Age of Offenders Hereunder is set out a table showing for the past eight years the number of offenders classified in nsre groups The steady increase in the number received into prison and Borstal undei the age oi twenty is disquieting. As by far the great majority of the 354 in this group committed m 1943 made their debut to Borstal or prison that year, their swelling ranks would seem to point to the need tor greater emphasis on preventive measures before incarceration, rather than on corrective measures afterwards. In the existing state of affairs no effort can be spared if it is designed to convert a State liability into an asset. The Department strives to implement a reclamative policy, especially with regard' to young offenders, and it can claim to do so with a fair measure of success, the number who relapse into crime after release from Borstal being only approximately 18 per cent. In so far as the young women committed to Borstal are concerned, even a lesser percentage again appear before the Courts but notwithstanding these satisfactory results, if greater attention were given to prevention and to'causative factors, the most potent of which are a lack of wholesome parental care and early discipline and lack of moral and spiritual guidance, the initial problem, if not reduced to the sporadic cases of mental defect, might at least be brought within dimensions that would reflect more creditably upon our social standards. It has been truly said that the extent of crime, especially among the youth of a community, mirrors the state of the civilization in its setting.

Miscellaneous Deaths, There were 4 deaths recorded during the year 2 from pneumonia, 1 from heart-disease, and 1 from peritonitis. Escapes.—During the year 9 prisoners and 32 Borstal detainees escaped from custody All were recaptured Of the 32 Borstal escapees, 21 absconded from the Point Halswell Borstal Institution. This large number of escapes was mainly due to the lack of facilities for employment and to the close proximity of a military encampment and its distracting influence. Ihe early prospect of a shift to the new institution nearing completion at Tawa Flat (Arohata Borstal) is a source of great comfort to a muchharassed staff. The new institution will provide better facilities for diversified employment and training of inmates. Borstal Receptions .-A total of 175 male and 37 female Borstal detainees were received direct from the Courts, while 3 males and 1 female were transferred from Child Welfare institutions. Two males were transferred from reformatory to Borstal. Mental Defectives. -An aggregate of 20 persons were transferred to mental hospitals'from prisons and Borstals during the year—2 under section 34 of the Mental Defectives Act, 1911, 4 under section 37, and 14 after sentence under section 38. Health of Prisoners The general health of prisoners throughout the year has been good. The daily average number on the sick-list was 24, representing 2-9 per cent, of the daily average number of prisoners in custody. Under the ordered conditions of living and the simple wholesome diet prisoners almost invariably improve in physical condition during their period of detention. Ihe allowance of butter, sugar, and tea has been reduced to bring it into conformity with the ration allotted to the civil population, but with regard to meat, on account of the general limitation

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New-Zealand- British and Tntol Year. born (excluding Maoris. Foreign. Maoris). 1043 1,401 523 558 2,482 1942 .. .. 1,880 450 699 3,029 1941 1,402 346 621 2,369 1940 " " .. 1,257 330 614 2,201 }q 39 " ■ 1,427 310 768 2,505 1938 " .. • ■ 1,248 252 724 2,224 1937 .. .. 1,383 257 351 1,991 1936 1,022 199 569 1,790

Age Group. 1030. ' 1937. 1938. j 1939. 1940. 1941. 1942. 1943. TTn(1 „ 20 96 115 123 178 203 201 308 354 " 185 303 362 424 348 478 749 639 f on 254 282 321 413 322 405 531 396 on 40 437 456 555 612 492 533 709 490 40and upwards !! " 715 831 861 875 833 745 732 60S Not stated .. . • • ■ 3 4 2 o — — Totals .. 1,790 1,991 2,224 2,505 2,201 2,369 3,029 2,482