THE POLICE FORCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5024, 23 July 1903, Page 3

THE POLICE FORCE.

~.-,LAL J.U, Tile ~i.e..gln 111 liiu po.loo U-M'C-.J Oi. tllO Bi.». .-iarui i>i;s ore ot ail ram-..-., nu .ueivase of 9 during inu year, iiu total i:s JiiaUo up a., unions:— lurs, 3; sub-iu.-peeiore, i ; sergian,.major, 1; M?rgci,nw,, no; coiisUtMiua, 51'-:; tif'vi'clivcr., nu. T-hero were also 4 police surgeons, 4 matrons, 40 ui,striut con-stabim, 11 ilium; constable* auil 70 horses, The number oi iuon retired during tho year under the I'oiicu Providom. 1*110(1 Act were 15; and lliere umro also—Unsigned, 11; died, 4; services dispensed with, 4; dismissals, 2: total, 39, or 13 mere 1 bun in the protoding year. Tim criminal statistics show an aggregate net increase of dot in tlio minibor of offences during Uic year emied 31st March last, as compared with the preceding twelve months. Tlio annual loport prosonteti to Parliament yesterday from jlr Tunbridge, Into Coimniscionor of Police, states that tlio increase (loos not, from a pollination basis, represent any' real increase at all, Inasmuch as in 1901 !!]'■ proportion uf offences to population was 4.-TO per cent., while in 1903 it was 11.35 per cent.; or, ill oilier words, there was in 1901 one offence to every 42.35 ot the population, whereas in 19013 t lie re was one offcnco to every <12.03 of the population. Cases of lunacy and escaping from lunalio asylums, which have hitherto been included in the criminal returns are now omitted therefrom for the first time. Preventable offences, such as burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, etc., forcible entry, forgery, malicious injury lo property, and thefts cf various hinds, have increased during the year liy 45 via., from. 3452 in 1901 to 3-177 in 1902. This increase, hov. ever, is not- in proportion to the increase ill population, the figures being nno offence to every 239.25 of the population in 1901. whereas in 1902 tbere was but one offence to ovory 241.35 of the population, thus showing that, there has been no deterioration in (lie ediciencv of the force as far a-s these preventable offences arc concerned. Tho percentage of arrests, summonses, etc., to tho number of olfoaces against tlio person reported during tho year, winch was 98.55 in 1901, was during 1902 97.49; while for offences against property the percentage of arrests, etc., rose from 72.98 in 1001 to 70.02 in 1902, and this is much the highest yet attained. Tho percentage of arrests or summonses to all oases reported, irrespective of class, also shows slight improvement, the figures being, for 1901, 93.8 G, while for tho year under review they Wore 9-1.45; thus demonstrating, says Mr Tunbridge, that as a detective body Uio force still continues to improve from year to year notwithstanding that tho population goes steadily on increasing, which renders detection more difficult. Tltcre wore 82G9 persons charged with drunkenness throughout the colony during the year (7-105 males and 864 females), against 8057 (7031 males and (176 females) during tho preceding year, being an increase) of 212. Xu the four principal centres there were 135 arrests for drunkenness on Sundays during tlio year, against IGB in 1901, being a decrease of 33. “Although this,” says Mr Tunbridge, “shows a considerable diminution as compared with tho figures for the preceding year, these Sunday arrests continue to demonstrate that_ Sunday trading still exists to a ■considerable extent; and I reiterate that until tho law is amended in tho direction of making it illegal for perilous other tha.n lodgers or bona-fide travellers to bo on licensed promises during prohibited hours it will bo absolutely impossible for tho police to keep t-liis illegal trading within reasonable bounds.” There were 230 prosecutions against publicans throughout the colony during tho year, resulting in 94 convictions, against 219 prosecutions and 91 convictions in 1901.

“I repeat, 1 ’ Mr Tunbridge states, ‘‘tha remarks in my last report'anent tho futility of attempting to coerce the ohronio drunkard into sobriety by tho imposition of a monetary penalty or temporary loss of liberty. These unfortunate persons should bo treated as if Suffering from a disease, and for their own sake as well as for the benefit of the community generally, should be placed iu some institution, there to bo medically treated until they regain their sclf-oontrol, meanwhile being employed upon some suitable remunerative labour, tho preoeods of which should go towards tho cost of their maintenance.”

There were during tho year 122 prosecutions for sly grog-selling, resulting in 64 convictions, against 1-18 prosecutions and 82 convictions in 1961; tho aggregate amount of fines imposed being' £702 3s, against £116.1 5s during tho preceding year. On tho subject the lato Commissioner states:—"Tho sly grog-sellers still have the sympathy of those opposed to prohibition, and this sympathy frequently assumes tho tangible form of wilful perjury to save tho sly grog-dealer from conviction. On tho other hand, those in favour of prohibition will not„assist the police in procuring convictions, their excuse being that it is tho duty of tho polioo to enforce tho law without the assistance of tho public. It is needless to add that under these circumstances tho police _ experience great difficulty in procuring the necessary evidence to carry a conviction. Tho direct cost to tho colony in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog cases during tho year was £578 Gs sd; but owing to tho additional prohibited areas after 30th Juno next, as tho result of tho recent local option poll, tho expenditure under this head will bo much increased in future. It is not, however, likely to exceed tho amount of fines imposed, therefore thoro will bo no actual loss to the public funds.”

There were during the year 256 prosecutions, resulting in 31$ convictions, under the gaming laws, against 104 prol Rocrations and 83 convictions in 1901. Mr Tunbridge emphasises ,tho ; experience under the existing laws in decline- with fcho illegal “tote” betting man, and the necessity for amended legislation on tho lines of tho Bill presented to Parliament a few years back. Ho states that “tho so-called public billiard-rooms are still increasing rapidly throughout tho colony, and up to tho present tho municipal authorities have failed to pass tho necessary by-laws giving power to regulate them, with tho result that many ;of them habitually keep open until tho early hours of tho morning, and occasionally all nighty Some of them also open on Sundays.” Concerning tho rcoent lottery conviction in Wellington, which was quashed on appeal, Mr Tunbridge says:—“Tho position now is that although a lottery cannot be conducted in this colony, it is not illegal to receive money within tho colony for a lottery conducted elsewhere. To mo this appears an anomaly with which Parliament should bo asked to deal.” During tho year there wore 553 registered homos under tho Infant Life Protection Act throughout tho colony, representing 936 infants, against 563 homes and 9-13 infants in 1901. Forty-

four deaths occurred in Use homos during Uio year, ug.vnot 29 m Urn preceding year, being equal to 47 pur Uiousaiid, against ,iu. i■} during iool. Tins increased mortality is true to the ciaucimc ot si.vr.et lever and mcaAc... Regarding the conduct of members of Clio lorce, -ar Tunbridge says time timing tlm year it Inis been ionnd necessary lo impose a larger number o’ punishments ttia.il during tho preceding year, ulthougn, tuki.g u generally, Che conduct ot the men calmer be said to have deteriorated to any appreciable extent. Two men were dismissed during tho year, and tho services of lour others were dispensed with. Six men v/oro convicted for offences in connection with drink, but in none of these coses was the ofienc-o ono of downright drunkenness on duty. Two cf tho lastnamed offenders aro no longer in tlm force, and In tho other cases reductions in pay and substantial fines wore imposed. Tho training-depot continues to work well, and its eifeeb on the men who have passed through it Is very marked. Instruction iu tlio system ol taking um finger-prints of persons foe the purposes of identification will in future bo imparted to all moil passing through Uio depot.

Tlio report adds: —“Owing to the increase of population, especially tit the principal centres, tim gradual opening up of tho back country, the close seltlesmont of largo estates, and tlm increase of shipping, especially foreigngoing, at tho various ports, continual demands are being made for the opening of new stations or additions to existing stations, and to meet tlio legitimate requirements of tlio community I consider an augmentation of at least twenty-fivo constables absolutely necessary. This augmentation, if granted, would represent an increase of about Id per head of population per annum, and would advance tho cost per head from 2s 10Id to 2s Hid. Tho cost of police in this colony would still be much less than in any of the Australian States, tho lowest of which last year was South Australia, whore tlm cost was 4s 21(1, ana tlio highest West Australia, which was 11s 10fd.” Inspector J. TV. Ellison reports concerning tho 'Wellington district; Undetected offences show a considerable decrease, the number?, being 204 for .1902, against 274 for 1901. Many of these were very trivial cases. Tho increase in cases of drunkenness was confined to Wellington city. At tho country stations there was a docr«ose < of ten arrests in tho aggregate; but in vVeilington there was an increase of 5-11. Out of a total of 1740 arrested for drunkenness iu Wellington city, 554 were firemen and seamen belonging to vessels in port. Some of the causes for this increase arc:—lotto decisions on tho charge of “permitting drunkenness” (on licensed premises) have diminished tho risk of conviction, and some licensing committees have not been disposed to listen to any complaints, thus a feeling of security was given to hotelkeepers who permitted excessive drinking on their promises. There was also general prosperity and plenty of work during tho year, which made it easier for persons so inclined to obtain liquor. Tlio conduct of the members of the force lias been good. A few broaches of discipline were dealt with, and one constable had to ho discharged for continued neglect, of duty. A word of praise is fairly duo to tho detective staff, all of whom have exerted themselves willingly and successfully; their work lias been done smoothly and carefully. Tho sergeants and men iu charge of stations have also been attentive and painstaking, and likewise tho clerical staff.” Air Eljisou recommends that at least two constables should bo added to Lambton quay station, Wellington, ono to Manners street, and ono to Lower Britt, and that provision also' bo made for an extra man at Petone. It is, lie says, impossible to work the city beats with tho number of constables now available. Provision should also be made for a station in tho neighbourhood of Ohiro read or Brooklyn! for a constable to work Brooklyn, Mitohelltown and Aro street. An additional constable at Manners street and tho removal of tho Clyde quay station to Oriental Bay would be a great advantage. Tho question of regulating public billiardrooms and other similar places by statute, says Mr Ellison, deserves so-mio attention.