H—2o

The medical officer visits the institution once a week and is always on call whenever the occasion arises. It is with regret that I record the death of Dr. M. M. Earle, who served the Department very efficiently as medical officer for many years. The conduct of the inmates during the year was satisfactory. Four individuals were dealt with, 1 by the Visiting Justice, and 3 by the Gaoler, for minor offences against the regulations. The quality of food supplied to the prison by the various firms under departmental contract has been very good throughout the year. Entertainment by way of educational pictures has been provided by the Department, but through lack of transport the usual number of pictures have not been shown. Various religious bodies have visited the prison as usual and conducted Church services. On Christmas Day a party from the congregation of the Church of Christ entertained the inmates to a sacred song and service programme, concluding with a very fine Christmas treat by way of cakes, fruit, sweets, and sandwiches, such gifts being greatly appreciated by the inmates. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provided the inmates with a gift of cigarettes and pipe tobacco. Mr. Rogers, Visiting Justice, also made. a donation of cake and cigarettes to be distributed on New Year's Day. In conclusion, I desire to thank the staff for their co-operation. Wellington Prison (Superintendent: Mr. P. McGrath) At the commencement of the year there were 110 males in custody. During the year 1,004 males were received, whilst 1,017 were discharged or otherwise disposed of, leaving in prison on the night of 31st December, 1946, 97 males. The discharges were as follows : on expiration of sentence, hard labour or simple imprisonment, 294; reformative detention, nil; Borstal detention, 1 ; on special remission, hard labour, 83 ; reformative detention, 4; released on the recommendation of the Prisons and Parole Board, hard labour, 19 ; reformative detention, 6 ; debtors, 9, acquitted and after remand, 10 ; transferred to another prison or to the police, 543 ; released on bail, 48. The greatest number in confinement overnight at any one time during the year 112, and the least 75. The daily average number in prison during the year, 93-65. Although 17 males were admitted to the Wellington Hospital during the year, the general health of the inmates has been good. The majority of the admissions were for treatment of minor ailments. The prison medical officer, Dr. Douglas Brown, has been most attentive in his care of prisoners, visiting the prison weekly, and more frequently when necessary. Thirteen cases of venereal disease were received—s syphilis and 8 gonorrhoea. Two cases were admitted to the hospital for penicillin treatment. The dental work of the prison has been carried out by Mr. W. P. Sommerville, J.P., and extractions, fillings, and dentures have been provided as required. Psychiatrists from the Mental Hospitals Department have given valuable assistance during the year examining inmates for the Courts and as a guide for treatment. There were no transfers from prison to mental hospitals during the year. A well-balanced dietary scale has been maintained, and this, together with the regular living-conditions, gives a general improvement in physical condition and a low incidence of sickness. Daily supplies of fresh vegetables from the prison garden and milk and butter from the dairy have been received; also, the manufacture of white and wholemeal bread for rations and to the Arohata Borstal Institution has maintained a very high standard. There were 42 breaches of the regulations during the year. Eighteen were dealt with by the Visiting Justices, and the balance, a number of minor offences requiring disciplinary correction by loss of privileges, were dealt with by myself.

18