BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,772,736	$ 1,779,909
Assets of discontinued operations	2,149	2,187
Total Assets	1,774,885	1,782,096
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,044,739	1,020,297
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	312,124	334,631
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	351,268	365,920
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,708,131	1,720,848
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 64,605	$ 59,061