H.—l6b.

leading honest lives. Ido not think that there is the slightest ground for a general accusation of this sort. On the contrary, there is evidence that the police—and with them I include the detectives —have done much to keep men straight after a lapse, and have assisted to get them suitable employment. It is inevitable that a certain class of criminals should be always under surveillance by the detectives, and when a crime is reported inquiries are frequently made at once amongst this class, wherever they may be. I believe that this duty is carried out, as a rule, with a minimum of injury to the particular class. Strength. To show the growth of the Police Force from 1899 to 1909, I have caused to be prepared a comparative return, which gives all the required information.

District Constables. There are twenty district constables doing duty in various parts of the Dominion. The following is a return showing where they are stationed, their rate of pay, and their length of service : —

XLV

1899. ' 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. Inspectors Sub-Inspectors Station Sergeants Sergeant-major Sergeants Chief Detectives Detectives Constables Acting-detectives 7 4 2 51 4 6 5 2 54 4 16 499 7 4 2 54 4 16 504 7 5 2 56 4 16 514 8 4 1 58 4 16 522 8 4 1 58 4 17 534 8 4 1 64 4 21 553 8 6 4 1 66 4 21 540 17 8 6 4 1 73 5 25 561 16 9 6 4 1 78 5 27 586 18 9 7 4 1 82 5 30 619 14 11 ! 475 Totals 534 586 591 604 613 626 655 667 699 734 771 In addition to the above there were, — Police Sergeants Matrons District constables Native constables 4 4 20 7 1 4 11) 7 4 4 20 7 4 4 ■22 7 4 4 20 11 4 4 22 II 4 4 i 4 21 9 1 4 18 9 4 4 20 9 4 4 20 10 22 9

u CD ,2 a I Police District. Station. Rate of Pay per Annum. Length of Service. Auckland • Thames Cowes Herekino Hobsonville Hohoura Mangawai Ohaewai Okupu Panmure Katikati Te Whaite Tokaanu Fraser Town Herbertville Weber Moawhango Cullensville Waikari Broad Bay Portobello Half-moon Bay £ 60 50 75 65 100 75 60 62 62 50 75 137 50 62 50 30 40 50 40 75 Yrs..mos. 0 10 1 11 1 1 3 7 4 7 9 11 14 1 8 3 20 11 9 1 0 4 10 9 1 10 1 2 2 10 12 9 0 10 10 2 1. 7 9 I Napier 1 1 1 2 Wanganui Wellington Christchurch .. Dunedin 1 Invercargill . .