Ten Murder Cases In New Zealand Last Year

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1947, Page 3

Ten Murder Cases In New Zealand Last Year

“There were 10 ca&es of murder ih 1946, five of attempted murder, and three of manslaughter,” states the annual report of the Commissioner of Police, Mr J. Cummings, which was presented in the House of Representatives. The corresponding figures z for 1945 were 20, seven, and five.

“In. last year’s cases of murder, one offender committed suicide, in two cases the offenders were found mentally defective, hi one case there was an acquittal, convictions were recorded in five cases, and in one the offender was not traced. “Criminal statistics for 1946 show an increase of 272 over 1945 in offences reported. The percentage to population was 1.92, against 1.97 in 1945. In 34,016 cases reported, arrests or summonses resulted in 28,818 cases, a percentage of 84.72, compared with 82.87 in 1945. “Serious crimes, indecent and sexual offences increased in 1946, as did false pretences and obtaining credit by fraud. The unlawful conversion of motor vehicles decreased by 12 per cent. “Arrests for drunkenness last year were the second lowest on record, being 2069, against the record low figure of 1854 in 1945. Back in 1878, when the population was only a quarter of today’s, 6668 persons were arrestee! for drunkenness, and in 1908, 10,343, the highest recorded. Since then the figure has dropped, except for minor fluctuations upward, until in the last four years it has been around 2000.

“Prosecutions in connection with liquor at or near dance halls (1752) increased by 44 per cent, in 1946, and the force .was making every effort to combat this offence,” said the commissioner. “There were 402 prosecutions against hotelkeepers, and 300 convictions, against 368 and 257 respectively in 1945. Sly-grog selling prosecutions totalled 114 and fines £1067. “During the year ended March 31 last there were 521 prosecutions under the Gaming Act, including 249 for bookmaking. In all but five ol the bookmaking cases convictions were recorded, and fines totalling £l7 978 were imposed. In the previous year the total of prosecutions under the Act was 1001-