5

H.—l6.

Sly--grog Selling. There were 70 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 58 convictions, and there were also 53 prosecutions, resulting in 43 convictions, for other offences against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on sly-grog sellers during the year 1920 amounted to £1,914, as against £1,820 in 1919. The amount of fines in the; various districts are, as follows :— £ s. d. Whangarei .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 84 0 0 Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 442 10 0 Hamilton .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 766 0 0 Hapier Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 267 0 0 Palmerston North Wellington .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 87 10 0 Greymouth .. .. .. . . .. 5 0 0 Christchurch .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 0 0 Timaru .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 0 0 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 0 0 Invercargill .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 40 0 0 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,914 0 0 The direct cost to the Department in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £439, this being £1,475 less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences. There were 279 prosecutions, resulting in 196 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 324 prosecutions and 224 convictions in 1919. Criminal Registration Branch. The work in this branch continues to increase. During the year the finger-impressions of 3,081 persons were received, classified, searched, and filed, an increase of 395 on the number received in the preceding year. 232 prisoners were identified as previous offenders in either this Dominion, Australia, or England (an increase of 56); 1,716 photographs wore taken by the photographers attached to the branch (increase, 586) ; the portraits of 1,996 prisoners were dealt with (increase, 472) ; and 444 photographs of discharged prisoners were reproduced in the Police Gazette (decrease, 4). The finger-print system has continued to prove its value as a means of identification. During the year many " wanted " persons have been traced by means of their finger-prints, and in all criminal cases in which finger-print evidence was tendered the accused, with one, exception, admitted their guilt. On the 31st March the finger-print collection consisted of the impressions of 26,650 persons, an increase of 2,964 .on last year's figures. The following table shows the increase of the, finger-print collection since the introduction of the system in March, 1903 :—

Candidates for Force. Ninety-six men were permanently appointed to the Force during the year, their birthplaces, religions, and occupations being as follows : Birthplaces—New Zealand, 70 ; England, 9 ; Scotland, 4 ; Wales, 1 ; Ireland, 7 ; Australia, 4 ; Norway, 1. Religions—Church of England, 36 ; Roman Catholic, 24 : Presbyterian, 21 ; Methodist, 12 ; Brethren, 1 ; Church of Christ, 1 ; Salvation Army, 1. Occupations—Asylum-attendant, 1 ; blacksmiths, 4 ; bakers, 2 ; butchers, 2 ; bushman, 1 ; blindmaker, 1 ; clerks, 2 ; canvasser, 1 ; carpenter, 1 ; cook, 1 ; cheese-factory hand, 1 ; cutter, 1 ; draper, 1 ; ex-constables, 6; engineer, 1 ; farm labourers, 22; firebrigadesman, 1 ; fellmonger, 1 ; grocer, 1 ; insurance agent, 1 ; labourers, 21 ; miner, 1 ; motor-driver, 1 ; metal worker, 1 ; plumbers, 3; ploughmen, 5; railway employees, 3 ; storemen, 2 ; school-teacher, 1 ; sawmill hands, 2 ; salesman, 1 ; soldier, 1 ; telegraphist, 1 ; taxi-driver, 1.

Year. Number of Prints in Collection. Increase on Previous Year. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. Year. Number of Increase on Prints in Previous Collection. Year. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 3,500 4,200 5,000 6,151 7,622 8,718 9,919 10,905 12,097 3,500 700 800 1,151 1,471 1,096 1,201 986 1,192 117 72 88 104 123 138 140 148 178 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 13,552 15,302 16,682 18,134 19,508 20.982 22,332 23,686 26,650 1,455 1,750 1,380 1,452 1,374 1,474 1,350 1,354 2,964 183 230 270 218 166 132 153 176 232