H.—l6.

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 685 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1930 was 6,125 (5,862 males and 263 females), whereas in 1929 the number was 6,810 (6,491 males and 319 females). From the following table it will be observed that 34-5 per cent, of the males and 51-7 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 4-2 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1930, and the Number of Previous Convictions against them, so far as is known.

Number of foregoing who were members of the crews of vessels in port, 251. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1925 to 1929 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. Commonwealth .. .. 97-3 99-5 101-3 94-27 89-5 New Zealand .. .. 58-6 53-0 44-6 43-20 46-3 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of ninety as compared with the preceding year. There were 561 prosecutions, resulting in 339 convictions, during 1930, as against 651 prosecutions and 383 convictions in 1929. Sly-grog Selling. There were 104 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in eighty-seven convictions, and there were also thirty-seven prosecutions, resulting in thirty-four convictions, for other offences against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on the sly-grog sellers during the year 1930 amounted to £1,433. Gaming Offences. There were 398 prosecutions, resulting in 314 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 280 prosecutions and 243 convictions in 1929. Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1931 : —

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Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 3,837 127 3,964 One previous conviction .. .. .. 693 40 733 Two previous convictions .. .. . . 371 24 395 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 237 19 236 Four previous convictions .. . • • . 145 12 157 Five previous convictions .. . . • • 105 7 112 Over five previous convictions .. .. 494 34 528 Totals .. .. 5,862 263 6,125

Number of Number of Amount of Fines Offence. Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. £ Carrying on business of bookmaker .. .. 30 27 2,311 Keeping common gaming-house .. .. 77 70 3,480 Found in common gaming-house .... 20 4 10 Laying totalizator odds .. . • • • 16 14 118 Publishing betting-charts ...... 6 5 24 Betting with bookmaker .. .. . ■ 1 1 2 Street betting .. .. ■■ 28 28 1,071 Totals .. .. •• 178 149 7,016