BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,739,253	$ 1,727,942
Assets of discontinued operations	3,936	3,491
Total Assets	1,743,189	1,731,433
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,052,909	1,034,032
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	300,622	302,560
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	338,536	343,519
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,692,067	1,680,111
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 47,186	$ 47,831