4

H.—l6

Pkosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows an increase of 40 as compared with the preceding year, but as the yearly number of such prosecutions has varied from 140 to 231 during the last five years the present number (225) is not abnormal.

Return showing the Number of Prosecutions against Publicans in each District during the Year 1907 as compared with 1906, the Number convicted, and the Number discharged or withdrawn.

Return showing the Number of Prosecutions against Publicans within each Principal Centre during the Year 1907, the Number convicted, and the Number discharged or withdrawn.

Sly-grog. There were 182 prosecutions during the year for sly-grog selling, resulting in 125 convictions, against 145 prosecutions and 113 convictions during the preceding year. Special tactics are still resorted to with the view to eradicate this class of offences, and, considering the difficulties experienced in bringing offenders to justice, on the whole sly-grog selling is kept well in check. If the provisions of section 5 of " The Licensing Act, 1904 " (which places restrictions on the introduction of liquor into no-license districts), were extended to apply to section 18 of the same Act (which deals with Native no-license areas) the Department could maintain stricter supervision over offenders, and thus minimise this illegal traffic. The fines imposed on sly-grog sellers during the year 1907 amounted to £1,391 25., against £1,719 16s. in 1,906. The amounts of fines in the various districts are as follows :— s> & a. d. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 472 0 0 Thames .... .... Napier ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 0 2 0 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 125 0 0 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 0 0 Greymouth Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... ... 420 0 0 Dunedin... ... ... ... ... ... ... 290 0 0 Invercargill , .... •■■ ... ... ... ... 45 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... £1,391 2 0 The direct cost to the Dominion in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £809 10s. 5d., this being £581 11s. 7d. less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences. 1 Thjere were 193 prosecutions, resulting in 142 convictions, during the year under the gaming laws, against 143 prosecutions and 110 convictions in 1906. :

Prosecutions, 1906. Prosecutions, Conyiotions . xvVi ■ Discharged or withdrawn. District. Auckland Thames Napier Wanganui ... Wellington ... Greymouth ... Obristchurch Dunedin 71 32 L5 23 15 14 12 3 48 15 35 40 32 30 14 10 1 19 5 24 10 14 18 9 5 1 29 10 11 30 18 12 5 5 Invercargill... Totals ... 185 225 105 ik)

Centre. Prosecutions. Convictions. D^^ r Luokland and suburbs Vellington and suburbs ... )hristchuroh and suburbs ... )unedin and suburbs 18 2 4 3 4 2 3 1 14 1 2 Totals 27 10 17