POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1938, Page 8

POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YEAR IN REVIEW. INCREASE OF CRIME. Offences reported to the police last year, 38,629, showed can increase of 3181 on the previous figures. Details in the polico report show these totals included 979 minor breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Burglaries, the largest figure in serious crime, totalled 1116, and there were 819 arrests. Four murders had been reported and arrests made. Sexual offences totalled 617 as compared with 599. There was an increase of 363 in prosecutions for drunkenness, but the report shows that, while convictions for drunkenness in the 1 Commonwealth show a .proportion of 83.7 per 10,000 of population, in New Zealand the percentage is 28.8. Bookmaking convictions totalled 216 and produced £5064 in fines.

Radio Experiment. The Commissioner of Police (Mr. D. J. ,Cummings) states that Ministerial authority has been given to inaugurate a wireless plant to try out the efficiency of such equipment. "This experiment is of a highly technical nature, and. a costly v.ndertaking. I am, therqfore, proceeding with it with caution, soliciting; the best expert advice procurable. It is very doubtful if good reception can be obtained in a station erected in a city on account of electrical disturbance and interference from electric tram lines," says Mr. Cummings. "This scheme is now being tested out by the radio experts of the Post and Telegraph Department, and it is expected that the matter will be finalised at an earlv date."