11

FL—l6

EXTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS OF OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF DISTRICTS. Superintendent Kiely, Auckland District. The authorized strength of the Force of all ranks in the district on the 31st March, 1919, was 183, the same as the previous year. The actual strength was —1 Superintendent, 1 Inspector, 1 SubInspector, 3 Senior Sergeants, 18 sergeants, 111 permanent constables, 27 -temporary constables, 1 Chief Detective, 2 detective-sergeants, and 6 detectives ; total, 171, being 2 sergeants, 9 constables, and I detective short of the authorized strength. In addition to the above there were 5 district constables, 4 Native constables, and 1 matron. The police-station, at Owen's Road was transferred to Ranfurly Road (Epsom) during the year ; and a new station building was erected at Houhora. 'I'lie casualties during tho year were, as follows : Deaths I sergeant and A constables. Superannuated —1 sergeant. Voluntary resignations 9 permanent constables and 1 temporary constable. Compulsory resignation--] constable. The, influenza epidemic, which swept the. Dominion last November was responsible for the death of four constables. And here let me place on record my appreciation of the members of the Force throughout this district for the self-sacrifice and devotion to duty displayed by them during the epidemic. The few of them who were fortunate enough to escape the disease worked incessantly both on and off duty to succour their comrades and the, public in general, and for this devotion to duty one of them at least (the late Constable, Gordinc) gave his life. Tho total number of offences reported for the year ended 31st December, 1918, was 4,295, as compared with 4,745 in the previous year a net decrease of 450. Of the total number of offences reported over 95 per cent, were accounted for by either arrest or summons. The following arc the principal increases and decreases : Increases--Common assaults, 26 ; assaults on police, 14 ; breaches of the peace, 62 ; disobeying order of Court and summonses, 60 ; false, pretences, 24 ; malicious injury to property, 37 ; mischief, 28 ; neglected and criminal children, 22 ; receiving stolon goods, 15; sly-grog selling, 12; attempted suicide, 12; theft, 169; theft from dwellings, 28. Decreases — Abusive, insulting, or threatening words or behaviour, 44 ; carnally knowing girls, 27 ; cruelty to animals, 36 ; deserting or absenting from merchant vessels, 88 ; drunkennness, 320; failing to provide, adequate maintenance for wives, &c, 170 ; illegally on premises, 31 ; incest, 12 ; indecent exposure or behaviour, 39 ; keeping disorderly houses or brothels, 11 ; obscene and profane, language, 46 ; soliciting prostitution, 36 ; vagrancy, 29. In respect to the decreases of offences the most noticeable came under the headings of drunkenness (320) and failing to provide adequate maintenance for wives, &c. (170). Both arc, no doubt, attributable to war conditions -the former to 6 o'clock closing, and the latter to the number of indifferent husbands who have been absent with the Expeditionary Forces and whose wives have been drawing their allotments and separation allowances. 1 cannot say that the district has been free from serious crime altogether, but I am pleased to be in a position to report that very few cases have gone undetected, which in itself is satisfactory considering the understaffed condition and the, enormous amount of work the police have been called upon to perform for other Government Departments. Sixteen constables were fined for breaches of the regulations, and one of them was called upon to resign, otherwise the conduct of the men in general has been very good. In view of the steady increase in the population of Henderson the time has arrived when a station should be opened there. The district is a large fruitgrowing one, and there is a good deal of thieving reported by the orchardists. If a station were opened at Henderson the district constable at Hobsonville could bo discontinued. Inspector Sheehan, Hamilton District. The authorized strength on the 31st March, 1919, was 1 Inspector, 1 detective-sergeant, 3 Senior Sergeants, 5 sergeants, and 61 constables. During the year one Senior Sergeant was transferred and replaced by a sergeant. No increase has taken place in the strength during the year, with the result that owing to transfers and resignations the Headquarters Station is working three men short of the strength of the previous year. Waikino Station was closed during the year. Further additions are required to the strength as follows : Frankton Junction, 1 constable ; Rotorua, 1 constable. A. second constable is much required at Frankton in order to attend to the arrival of trains and the, patrolling of the borough. At present a proper system of night duty cannot be carried on at Rotorua, and an extra constable is required as an addition to the present staff there. A new station is badly required at Matamata. The population is increasing, the district is a large and progressive one, and a permanent constable should be stationed, there. At present no suitable building can be obtained for use as police quarters. When the railway-construction works get info working-order again a permanent constable will require to be stationed at Ohura. Piopio is also a centre requiring attention and the services of a permanent constable in the near future. I very much regret to state that during the influenza epidemic in the month of November last two efficient, painstaking constables died from the effects of the disease. All non-commissioned officers and constables in the district who had the good fortune to escape the epidemic deserve the