BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,776,293	$ 1,727,942
Assets of discontinued operations	3,348	3,491
Total Assets	1,779,641	1,731,433
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,018,530	1,034,032
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	318,654	302,560
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	347,096	343,519
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,684,280	1,680,111
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 92,013	$ 47,831