BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Details) - Summary of Segment Assets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 1,799,690	$ 1,779,909
Assets of discontinued operations	4,793	2,187
Total Assets	1,804,483	1,782,096
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,030,779	1,020,297
Telephonics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	315,791	334,631
Plastics [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	362,003	365,920
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	1,708,573	1,720,848
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment assets:
Continuing Assets	$ 91,117	$ 59,061