H.—26

1893. NEW ZEALAND.

THE POLICE FORCE OF THE COLONY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

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

The Commissioneb of Police to the Hon. the Defence Ministee. Sib,— Police Department, Commissioner's Office, Ist July, 1893. I have the honour to submit for your information the annual report on the Police Force of the colony, together with the criminal statistics, for the year ended the 31st March, 1893. 1. On the Ist April last the strength of the police was 481, being a decrease of'l during the year.' The totals are made up as follows : Inspectors—first class, 4 ; second class, 3 ; sergeantsmajor, 3 ; sergeants—first class, 18 ; second class, 17 ; third class, 15; constables—first class, 109 ; second class, 111; third class, 187 ; detectives—first class, 2 ; second class, 5 ; third class, 3; fourth class, 4. Total, 481. There are also 106 troop-horses. In addition to the above-quoted strength of the police proper, there are 11 district and 8 Native constables. New stations have been opened at Ohingaiti and Terrace End (Palmerston North), while Normanby Station has been reopened, and that at Ashurst closed. Increases of strength have been made at the following stations : Gisborne, 1; Napier, 1 ; Picton, 1; Greymouth, 1; Christchurch, 3 ; Ashburton, 1; Temuka, 1. Decreases have been made at the following stations, viz. : Hamilton, 2; Port Awanui, 1; Hawera, 1; Blenheim 1 ■ Wellington, 4; Nelson, 1; Dunedin, 1; Arrowtown, 1. 2. Changes %n Districts. —The Thames and Waikato Stations have been amalgamated with the Auckland and Bay of Islands District, and the head-quarters of the East Coast and Napier District has been shifted from Hamilton to Napier. Kawhia and Foxton have been transferred to the Wanganui and West Coast District, and Dannevirke, Ormondville, and Woodville included in the Napier and East Coast District. 3. Inspectors. —The following transfers of officers have been carried out the year : Inspector Broham, Auckland to Christchurch; Inspector Thomson, Wellington to New Plymouth; Inspector Pender, Christchurch to Wellington ; Inspector Pardy, New Plymouth to Dunedin ; Inspector Emerson, Hamilton to Napier; Inspector Hickson, Dunedin to Auckland. 4. Casualties. —The casualties in the force during the past year have been as follows : Eetired on compensation, 14 ; resigned, 3 ; discharged, 4 ; dismissed, 2 ; died, 2 : total, 25. 5. Vacancies.— Vacancies in the force have been as heretofore filled up by transfers of gunners from the Permanent Artillery, and this system continues to work very satisfactorily. The men—a great many of them New Zealand-born—owing to the fact of their being already drilled and disciplined, quickly pick up the duties of a constable, and, thanks to our educational system, the majority of them are good scholars. They soon become acquainted with the provisions of' the statutes under which they are most frequently called upon to act, and it is seldom any are to be found acting improperly through ignorance of the law. 6. Changes.—l stated in my last report that to have a thoroughly efficient Police Force, periodical changes from one station to another were imperative. During the past year all the inspectors with one exception have been moved, and many of the non-commissioned officers and constables; and I have no hesitation in reporting that these moves have been beneficial to the efficiency of the'Force. There is no concealing the fact that transfers are considered a great hardship by those concerned ' but as long as discrimination and prudence are observed in not making changes too frequently, the colony is rewarded by having extra vigilance, impartiality, and activity in the Force and a more thoroughly organized body of police. 7. Duties. —The duties performed by police outside what is understood as strictly constabulary work continues to increase, which I see no reason to regret. During the past year constables have rendered material assistance to the Education Boards by hunting up truant scholars, and much has been done for the Education Department in collecting maintenance moneys due on account of the inmates of the Industrial Schools. In country districts constables continue to act as clerks of Court and bailiffs. All these extra duties not only tend to benefit the police themselves, and facilitate the dispatch of constabulary duty, but also improve the police and increase the amount of support they can command from the public. The desire of a constable should be to feel that he is the general friend, helper, and adviser of the law-abiding community, and entitled to look to them for support and assistance when he requires it. Continual contact with the general public tends to keep the Force in tone with public feeling, and conduces to a better understanding on both sides; therefore,