BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,774,930	$ 1,727,942
Assets of discontinued operations	3,584	3,491
Total Assets	1,778,514	1,731,433
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,079,215	1,034,032
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	296,137	302,560
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	350,935	343,519
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,726,287	1,680,111
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 48,643	$ 47,831