H.—l6.

2

As a detective body, however, the Force compares more favourably with the preceding year. In the case of "Thefts Dndescribed " and "Thefts from Dwellings," where the aggregate increase on the figures for 1897 was 297, the percentage of arrests to offences committed was, for 1897, 57 - 9, and for 1898, 60-7. Again, taking all classes of theft, including burglary, &c, the percentage of arrests to offences committed is again in favour of 1898, for although the aggregate increase during that year on the figures of 1897 was 301 the percentage of arrests increased from 56 - l in 1897 to 59-5 m 1898. Two out of the three recommendations I made in my last report, with a view of increasing the efficiency of the Force—namely, the augmentation of fifty men and the appointment of four SubInspectors—have been adopted by the Government. The want of some system of superannuation (my third recommendation) is felt as acutely as ever, and the retention in the service of men who are worn out naturally militates against the Force becoming an efficient body. Public attention has latterly been drawn to what appears to be a very serious increase in the .number of offences against women and children. The following return, giving the number of such offences during the past twenty years, however, shows this to be more imaginary than real, for while during that period the population has increased by 64-2 per cent, the offences in question have increased only by 519 per cent., notwithstanding that between the years 1889 and 1896 the age of consent was raised from twelve to sixteen. It having been suggested in some quarters that the activity of police since the year 1891 in closing houses of ill-fame has tended to bring about an increase in the number of these offences against females, and has also increased the number of illegitimate births, I have included in the return figures upon those points for what they are worth. Offences against females, and illegitimate births, have undoubtedly very considerably increased since the date named, but I am not prepared to offer any opinion as to the cause thereof, except that as regards the former I think the increase is more attributable to the raising of the age of consent than to any other cause. The figures are as follows : —

Drunkenness, Sunday-tkading, etc. Drunkenness has, I regret to say, a decided upward tendency, the increase for the year on the figures of 1897 being 328. Wellington has the unenviable notoriety of being the most intemperate of the four principal cities, the figures for those cities and suburbs being —Wellington, 953 ; Auckland, 697 ; Dunedin, 597 ; and Christchurch, 583. The number of arrests for drunkenness on Sundays during 1898 were also higher in Wellington than in either of the other abovenamed cities, the figures being—Wellington, 63; Dunedin, 46 ; Christchurch, 40; and Auckland, 33. Taking the latter figures as an indication as to how far the law relating to Sunday-closing is observed, it would appear that Wellington is the greatest offender in this respect, and the question " What are the Wellington police doing? " naturally follows. During the past year the number of informations laid against publicans in the four cities for breaches of the licensing-laws was— Wellington, 45, resulting in seven convictions; Auckland, 20, with six convictions; Christchurch, 21, with six convictions ; and Dunedin, 12, also with six convictions. It will therefore be seen that in Wellington, although there were more than double the number of informations laid than in

Number if Offences agai: ist Women and ihildren. Year. Carnally knowing Girls and Attempts to oarnally know. Number of Prosecutions against the Keepers of Houses of Illfame. Proportion of Illegitimate births to every 100 Births. Indecent Assaults. Rape and Attempts to rape. Total. 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 28 35 34 22 27 26 22 22 26 '20 9 10 L5 13 23 34 L5 2;> 42 43 1 1 "2 3* 3 3 4 1 10t 5 61 20 17 24 16 20 25 16 12 7 22 20 23 27 16 19 6 24 32 17 26 9 19 52 51 54 47 44 38 30 44 48 43 39 29 37 23 48 76 37 57 71 79 "8 1 2 2 3 1 2 4G 30 28 02 37 45 21 25 3-12 3-23 305 3-32 3-30 3'49 3-32 3-70 3-80 4-50 4-48 4-41 4-23 * Age of com Age of consent lent raised from raised from fiftei twelve to fourtee: in to sixteen yeai a years. t Age of consent rail led from fourtee; to fifteen years :s.