BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,717,996	$ 1,806,259
Assets of discontinued operations	3,756	3,750
Total Assets	1,721,752	1,810,009
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,062,188	1,033,453
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	296,937	319,327
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	348,743	389,464
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,707,868	1,742,244
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 10,128	$ 64,015