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H.—l6

Return showing the Number of Prosecutions against Publicans in each District during the Year 1906 as compared with 1905, the Number convicted, and the Number discharged or withdrawn.

Return showing the Number of Prosecutions against Publicans within each Principal Centre during the Year 1906, the Number convicted, and the Number discharged or withdrawn.

Sly-grog. There were 145 prosecutions during the year for sly-grog selling, resulting in 113 convictions, against 188 prosecutions and 115 convictions during the preceding year. Although the Department continues to adopt special tactics to bring sly-grog sellers to justice, the offence is still persisted in and carried on with greater secrecy. lam of opinion that if more severe punishments were inflicted when convictions are recorded they would have a deterrent effect. The work of detection is disagreeable and demoralising, but with one or two exceptions it has been carried out by members of the Force, and has resulted most satisfactorily both as regards the number of prosecutions and the reduction in expenditure (£6l 17s. 3d.). The fines imposed on sly-grog sellers during the year 1906 amounted to £1,719 165., against £1,103 10s. in 1905. The amounts of fines in the various districts are as follows :— £ s. d. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 615 0 0 Napier ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 142 0 0 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 73 0 0 Greymouth Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... ... 234 0 0 Dunedin ... ... ... ... ... ... 350 16 0 Invercargill ... ... ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... £1,719 16 0 The direct cost to the colony in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £665 12s. 6d., this being £1,054 3s. 6d. less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences. There were 143 prosecutions, resulting in 110 convictions, during the year under the gaming laws, against 180 prosecutions and 162 convictions in 1905. "The Infant Life Protection Act, 1896." During the year there were 570 registered homes throughout the colony, representing 794 infants, against 557 homes and 862 infants in 1905. Nineteen deaths occurred in the homes during the year, against 20 in the preceding year. Ten licensees were prosecuted for breaches of the Act, and 6 were convicted, against 4 prosecutions and 3 convictions in 1905. No licenses were cancelled, and no neglect of licensees was disclosed at inquests.

District. Prosecutions, Prosecutions, 0onviotion3 . 1905. 190b. Discharged or withdrawn. Auckland Napier Wanganui ... Wellington ... Greymouth ... Christchurch Dunedin 46 43 25 6 33 19 2 71 32 15 23 15 14 12 3 82 8 8 19 11 7 5 2 39 24 7 4 4 7 7 1 Invercargill... Totals ... 174 185 92 93

Centre, Prosecutions. Convictions. Discharged or withdrawn. Auckland and suburbs Wellington and suburbs ... Christchurch and suburbs ... Dunedin and suburbs 28 4 6 3 13 3 5 3 15 1 1 • Totals 41 24 17