H—2o

The deficits on blockmaking, brickworks, laundering, and roadworks were due to : Blockmaking : A continued shortage of reinforcing-steel and cement. Most of the cost is overhead and output is severely restricted. Brickworks: Overhead charges on unrealized capital. Active manufactureceased some years ago and the plant disposed of. Laundering : Special laundry accounts are kept only for Arohata Borstal and Addington Reformatory, and at both establishments it has been necessary to curtail the output of work undertaken. Roadworks : Cost of metal production and transport are high, and metal once easily obtained from roadside quarries is now more difficult and costly to> get out. The Department is examining the position with a view to the utilization of a compressor and other machinery which will enable higher production at a more economical figure to be attained. For " Farming and Gardening " the output figure for 1947 was valued at £68,000,. whereas for 1948 the output was valued at £78,000. A comparison of farming output for each institution for the two years is shown as follows : 1947. 1948. £ £ Arohata .. .. .. .. 670 890 Hautu .. .. .. .. 7,220 6,200 Invercargill .. .. .. ..10,300 11,800 Paparua .. .. .. .. 8,850 13,130 Rangipo .. .. .. .. 3,000 4,820 Waikeria .. .. .. .. 28,900 31,900 Waikune .. .. .. .. 1,450 1,200 WiTako .. .. .. .. 4,400 6,120 Minor gardens .. .. .. .. 3,100 2,800 £67,890 £78,860 The farm live-stock as carried by the Department as at 31st March, 1949, comprised— Sheep .. .. .. 15,469, including 10,202 breeding-ewes. Cattle.. .. .. 3,284, including 1,076 milking-cows. Pigs .. .. .. 1,161, including 144 breeding-sows. Horses.. .. .. 207 Poultry .. .. 984 Taken by and large the Department's farming ventures have not only been a successfrom the financial angle, but also from the point of view of the general health of prisoners, occupationally in so far as it provides interesting work which is of advantage to> them in their rehabilitation, and as a means of assisting in the Dominion's general economy. The boot-shops at Auckland and Invercargill manufacture and repair boots for departmental requirements as well as a considerable number for the Mental Hygiene Division of the Health Department, the Education Department, and the Tourist Department. Over a twelve-monthly period the Auckland boot-shop manufactured 9,400 pairs of boots and slippers, repaired many hundreds of pairs of boots and shoes, besides making some 350 messengers' and postmen's satchels for the Post and Telegraph Department.

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