5

H.—l6

The amounts of fines in the various districts are as follows :— £ Auckland . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 54 Hamilton . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . 569 Napier .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 145 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 170 Palmerston North .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 35 Wellington . . .. .. . . . . .. . . 180 Greymouth Christchurch .. .. . . . . . . . . .. 20 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 170 Invercargill ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. 53 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,396 The direct cost to the Department in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £361, this being £1,035 less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences. There were 225 prosecutions, resulting in 176 convictions, during the year under the, gaming laws, against 239 prosecutions and 208 convictions in 1917. Criminal Registration Branch. During the year the finger-impressions of 2,233 prisoners were received, classified, searched, and tiled, and 153 prisoners were identified as previous offenders in this Dominion, Australia, England, America, &c. ; 1,153 photographs (excluding 26 enlargements) were taken by the photographers attached to this branch ; the portraits of 1,042 prisoners were dealt with ; and 368 photographs of discharged prisoners were reproduced in the Police Gazette. On the, Slst March the finger-print collection consisted of the impressions of 22,332 offenders, being an increase of 1,350 over the previous year. The following table shows the, increase of the finger-print collection since the introduction of the finger-print system of identification in March, 1903 : —

Candidates for Force. Eight men were permanently appointed to the Force during the year, their nationalities, religions, and occupations being as follows : Nationalities—New Zealand, 3 ; England, 3 ; Ireland, 1 ; Australia, 1. Religions—Church of England, 5 ; Presbyterian, 1 ; Roman Catholic, 2. Occupations— Ex-constables, 6 ; tram-motorman, 1 ; labourer, 1. Police Buildings, etc. The following works in connection with police-stations have been carried out during the year by the Public Works Department: — New buildings erected : Houhora ; Wairoa. New buildings in course of construction : Oamaru. Sites acquired : Blenheim (sergeant's residence), Tokanui. Site and building purchased :. Karori. Alterations, improvements,- &c., were effected at Auckland (Central), Aratapu, .Addington, Amberley, Carterton, Darfield, Dunedin South, 'Featherston, Foxton, Granity, Hamilton, Inglewood, John-

Year. Number of T p . , Increase on . „ 4 S Previous Year. in Collection. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 3,500 4,200 5,000 6,151 7,622 8,718 9,919 10,905 12,097 13,552 15,302 16,682 18,134 19,508 20,982 22,332 3,500 700 800 1,151 1,471 1,096 1,201 986 1,192 1,455 1,750 1,380 1,452 1,374 1,474 1,350 117 72 88 104 123 138 140 148 178 183 230 270 218 166 132 153