THE FINGER-PRINT SYSTEM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10499, 6 July 1910, Page 2

THE FINGER-PRINT SYSTEM.

By Telegraph. (Special to the Oamaru Mail.) Wellington, July 5. The value of the finger-print system of identification is again emphasised in the annual report on the police force that was presented to Parliament yesterday. On March 31st the finger-print collection consisted of the impressions of 9919 offenders, being an increase of 1201 on the previous year. During the twelve months 140 offenders whose antecedents were unknown to the police of the districts in which they were in custody 'wore by means of their finger impressions identified as previously-con-victed persons, showing an increase of two over the year before. Fingerprints of persons in custody here have been identified in each of the Australian States, in Capetown, London, and Denmark as those of persons previously convicted in those places; while prints of persons in custody in the various States of Australia and South Africa have been identified here as those of. persons previously convicted in. New Zealand. Of forty-seven finger-marked articles taken possession of by the police in the investigation of various offences 11 prosecutions resulted, convictions being recorded in all cases. The photographic portion of the branch is still working well; 628 photographs being furnished during the year at an average price of just under 2d each. I