5

H.—l6

held in each case, but in no instance was wilful neglect or other misconduct on the part of the licensee disclosed. The mortality in the homes was equal to 3257 per thousand. The mortality throughout the colony of infants under four years of age—the age to which the Act applies—for the year was 26 - 92. Considering that a large majority of these infants are illegitimate, and are the offspring of very young mothers; that they have struggled into existence against tremendous odds, their advent being naturally regarded as a curse; that when received into the homes they are, with few exceptions, what may be termed "rickety" infants; that they are all deprived of their natural food (their mother's milk) and have to be reared artificially, I think the mortality compares favourably with that of infants of corresponding age throughout the colony. During the year twenty-four licensees were prosecuted for offences under the Act, sixteen of whom were convicted, and three licenses were cancelled. EXTEA WOEK PEEPOEMED BY POLICE. Frequent complaints are received from the public to the effect that, owing to the numerous other duties the police are called upon to perform, the legitimate police duties are neglected. These complaints were more noticeable while the men were recently engaged compiling the Militia rolls. To carry out above work 266 men were employed, the aggregate number of days engaged being 3,720.

The following is a list of the outside appointments held by police:—

Betibing-allowances and Geatuities. It is futile to attempt to bring the Force into a state of efficiency without some system under which worn-out men can be retired with an allowance for life, unless they are to be cast adrift with one year's pay immediately they become too old for active police duty. I cannot bring myself to the necessary state of callousness to permit me to recommend that men who have faithfully served the colony for perhaps thirty years or over should be so dealt with, nor do I believe it is the wish of the general public that they should be so treated, simply because they have passed the age of efficiency. Consequently many men are now retained in the service who are both mentally and physically unfit. I feel convinced a fund under which retiring-allowances could be granted on the lines indicated in my last report could be established and maintained as follows : (1) A deduction of 5 per cent, from the pay of the men; (2) 50 per cent, of all emoluments received by members of the Force in connection with outside appointments; and (3) a contribution by the Government of an amount, on the retirement of each man, equal to that now paid by the Government as compassionate allowance. To provide a nucleus items (1) and (2) should accumulate for two years before any allowance be granted, all men who might be returned medically unfit during that period to receive as hitherto from the Government a compassionate allowance of one year's pay in the case of sergeants and constables and two years' pay in the case of Inspectors. I would also transfer to this nucleus the amount now standing to the credit of the Police Eeward Fund. The rewards granted from this fund do not give general satisfaction, and, in future, instead of money rewards, being granted, records of merit should be given in cases of meritorious conduct. Taking the pay for the year ended the 31st March last as a basis of calculation, the deduction of 5 per cent, from the pay for two years would realise £8,470. The emoluments from outside offices may, I think, be estimated at £1,300 per annum, 50 per cent, of which would, in two years, contribute to this nucleus £1,300. Add to these two items the amount standing to the credit of the Eeward Fund, £1,683, and the sum of £11,453 is produced, with which to start the fund proposed. The retirements from the Force during the year ended the 31st March last of men who under the scheme I propose would be entitled to retiring-allowance were as follows: Two Inspectors, two sergeants, and five constables. Assuming that these officers had been chargeable to the fund during the whole year —as a matter of fact, they would have been on the fund only about a third of that

Nature of Appointment. Number of Officers holding Appointment. Nature of Appointment. Number of Officers holding Appointment. Bailiffs to Magistrates' and Wardens' Courts Clerks to Magistrates' and Wardeas' Courts.. Clerks to Licensing Committees Clerk to Assessment Court Agents to Publio Trustee Agents, Labour Agent, Charitable Aid Board Inspectors of Faotories Inspectors of Weights and Measures Inspector under Shop-assistants Act Inspectors of Abattoirs, &c. Inspectors of Licensed Vehicles Inspectors under Fisheries Aot Inspectors of Distilleries Inspectors of Nuisances Inspectors of Clubs Inspector, Fire Inspector of Dairies Inspector of Vaooination Deputy Registrars of Old-age Pensions Gaolers .. 116 94 18 1 5 28 1 146 55 1 52 2 25 7 5 7 1 1 1 26 23 Licensing Officers under the Arms Act Officers under Beer Duty Aot Offioers, Probation Officer, Borough Counoil .. .. Rangers under Kauri-gum Industry Act .. Rangers and Poundkeepers Rangers of Crown Lands Ranger of Acclimatisation Society Registrars, Gold-mining Registrars, Births, Deaths, and Marriages .. Registrars of Dogs Registrars of Electors Collectors of Agricultural Statistics Native Interpreter Postmaster Telegraph Linesman Magazine-keepers Receivers of Gold Revenue Oolleotor of County Revenue Sheriff's Officer 40 38 38 1 7 17 2 I U 4 7 3 21 1 1 1 4 14 1 1