H.—lB.

1886. NEW ZEALAND.

THE CONSTABULARY FORCE (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. Sir George Whitmore to the Hon. the Defence Minister. Sir, — Commissioner's Office, Wellington, 14th May, 1886. In submitting a report, with statistics, of the Constabulary force for the year ending the 31st March, 1886, the Police branch shows a strength on that date of 494, as against 474 last year —not including 22 Native and 8 district constables, at reduced salaries ranging from £10 to £100 per annum—being an increase of 20 on the previous year ; while the Field force shows a decrease during the same period of 170. New police stations have been established at Denniston (Westland District), Martinborough and Eketahuna (Wellington District), Manaia, Pukearuhe, Pungarehu, and Opunake (Taranaki District), Kihikihi, Alexandra, and Kawhia (Waikato District) ; and others reopened at Eichmond (Nelson District) and Kaitangata (Dunedin District) ; besides an additional constable granted to each of the following stations—viz., Kumara, Westport, Woodville, Gisborne, Wanganui, Palmcrston North, Gore, and Cambridge, and two to Auckland; whilst the stations at Manutahi and Havelock, in the Taranaki and Napier Districts, have been closed. The casualties in the Police branch amount to 24, as against 20 in the previous year, made up as follows : Transfer to Volunteer staff 1, resignations 9, discharges 8 (4 of which were on compensation, and 1 for medical unfitness), dismissals 5, and by death 1. The criminal statistics attached show a small decrease in the more serious and an increase in the minor offences in the North Island, as well as a reduced number of offences of both classes in the South Island. With regard to simple drunkenness there have, however, been increases in the Provincial Districts of Auckland, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay of 175, 144, and 44 respectively; while in Taranaki there are fewer such cases by 25, in Otago by 249, in Nelson by 31, in Westland by 79, and in Canterbury by 96. Below are given the proportion of police to population and cost per inhabitant of this and the adjoining colonies, which shows a comparison favourable to New Zealand. The general conduct of the officers, and other members of the force has been very satisfactory, and many of the former have highly distinguished themselves, notably those in Native districts ; while the non-commissioned officers and men employed as Clerks to the Bench have given general satisfaction to the Magistrates. The members of the Field force having been largely withdrawn from Native districts have been replaced, where necessary, by one or more civil police constables with the best results. These changes have necessitated the creation of new police districts, which have been placed in charge of experienced officers. Serious offences in the Police force are almost unknown ; and, as the desire to obtain appointments is very general, any instances of drunkenness have been punished by instant dismissal from the force. I have, &c, G. S. Whitmore, The Hon. the Defence Minister. Commissioner.

Return showing the Proportion of Police to Population, and Cost of Police per Inhabitant, in each of the following Places.

Place. Proportion of Police to Population. ■ Cost of Police per Inhabitant. Remarks. Tew Zealand 1 to 1,266 s. d. 3 2 Calculated on the basis of estimated population, G25,849, on the 31st March, 1886, and the net expenditure for police, £99,402 12s. 9d. (Vide Appropriation Account for year ended on same date.) Calculated on number of police, vide Annual Report for 1884, and estimated population on the 31st December, 1884, vide Statistical Register, 1884, page 2. Cost of police for 1884, vide Votes and Proceedings, 1885, Vol. i., page 272. Calculated on number of police, vide Annual Report for 1884, and estimated population on the 31st December, 1884, vide Pugh's Queensland Almanac for 1886, page 527. Cost of police, vide Estimates, 1884 -85. Takon from Victorian Year Book, 1884-S5. Calculated on number of police for 1884, vide Proceedings, South Australia, 1885, Blue Book, page 25, and estimated population on the 31st December, 1884, vide Statistical Register, 1884, Part I., page 5. Cost of police, vide Statistical Register, 1884, Part VI., page 7. Tew South Wales 1 to 672 5 7 Queensland 1 to 502 8 8 Victoria South Australia ... 1 to 803 1 to 718 4 6 6 6