9

H.—l6

I beg to refer to the following matter in regard to existing laws :- - There is a class of women who separately occupy a shop and dwelling as a cover for carrying on a wholesale immoral but profitable occupation by which they spread the worst kind of disease through the community. Such persons are exempt from the law so long as they carry on their business without the aid or presence of another female on their premises, but all the same they are a scourge to the community, as every medical man in the Dominion knows. This is more a matter for the Public Health Department than the police, but all the same the evil is here, and every year makes it worse. If a respectable citizen has the misfortune to have a child taken ill of scarlatina, measles, or other infectious disease he has to report at once to the Health Officer, but the avaricious moneymaking harlots to whom I refer are all at liberty to contaminate the nation from end to end, because innocent persons suffer- as do their children —just as much or more than the men who personally patronize these diseased women. One need not wonder at the number of young people wearing glasses, artificial teeth, and other evidences of constitutional weakness when female vultures are able to fatten and. become wealthy while they disseminate disease in a wholesale manner. Superintendent Kiely, Auckland District.

I beg to submit for your information my report upon police matters in the Auckland District for the year ended the 31st March, 1915. The authorized strength of the Force in this district on the 31st March last was 178 of all ranks, an increase of 6 over the preceding year. The increase consisted of 2 sergeants-- 1 for Parnell and 1 for Pukekohe—and 4 constables—l each for Newton, Newmarket, Mount Eden, and Mount Eden South. A station was opened during the year at Mount Eden South. New buildings have been purchased for police-stations at Mount Roskill and Mount Eden South, and a new police-station has been erected at Northcote. During the twelve months 1 constable died, 1 resigned, and. 2 were dismissed. One sergeant was reduced to the rank of constable on account of overindulgence in liquor, and was subsequently retired from the service as medically unfit. Twenty-five constables were punished for various breaches of the regulations, otherwise the conduct of the members of the Force was good. The yearly offences return shows that the number of offences reported during the year ended the 31st December, 1914, was 5,535, as against 5,611 in the preceding year, a decrease of 76. The principal decreases occur in drunkenness, 117; theft, 23; breaches of the peace, 54; indecent assault, 26 ; and cruelty to animals, 27. There has been an increase in serious crimes such as burglary, 18; assault causing bodily harm, 11; false pretences, 60; indecent exposure, 16; obscene language, 55 ; and theft from dwellings, 13. The indiscriminate carrying of loaded firearms by irresponsible persons in the streets of our cities, through a spirit of bravado, is becoming a source of great danger and should be legislated against.

Superintendent Dwyer, Christchurch District. I beg to submit my annual report on the state of the Christehurch District for the year ended the 31st March, 1915. The actual strength of all ranks of the Force in the district on the 31st March last was 147, and the authorized strength 143. A sergeant has been appointed at Temuka, and another at Addington, an additional constable to Timaru, and two constables to Christohurch Station. A new station has been opened at Waimataitai, a suburb of Timaru. The casualties for the 7 constables resigned, and 1 constable dismissed for misconduct. The conduct of the police on the whole has been very good during the year. Young constables who have had no previous experience are apt to commit disciplinary breaches, but after a little while they become alive to their responsibilities and settle down, and make good progress in their work. The number of offences reported during the year ended the 31st December, 1914, was 4,259, as compared with 3,937 for the previous year. Of the 4,259 offences reported, in 4,108 cases persons were apprehended or summoned, leaving only 151 offences undetected. The principal increases were— Burglary, 15 ; drunkenness, 457 ; furious driving, 15 ; gaming offences, 10 ; obstructing and resisting police, 16 ; soliciting prostitution, 23 ; trespass, 18. The principal decreases were —Absconding from industrial schools, 14 ; abusive and threatening language, 18 ; breaches of the peace, 31 ; disorderly and riotous conduct, 11 ; failing to provide maintenance, 137 ; false pretences, 26 ; theft, 29. The only crime committed in the district calling for special mention was the murder of one Adam Stevenson, near Geraldine, for which Henry Cripps was sentenced to imprisonment for life. Sly-grog selling in the no-license areas of Canterbury has been kept well in check. The gaming laws have also been strictly enforced, and during the year ended the 31st March last fines amounting to £813 were imposed on bookmakers for committing breaches of the gaming laws.

2—H. 16.