H.—l6.

The circumstances in which these crimes are committed indicate that they are not preventable by any police measures. Of the thirteen murders in 1931 prosecutions resulted in nine cases, and in one case the offender committed suicide immediately after committing the crime, leaving but three so far undetected. In two instances abandoned infants were found in circumstances indicating that they had been murdered. Indecent and sexual offences were as under : —

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 1,438 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1931 was 4,687 (4,480 males and 207 females), whereas in 1930 the number was 6,125 (5,862 males and 263 females). From the following table it will be observed that 38 per cent, of the males and 58 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 4-8 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1931, 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, 216. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1926 to 1930 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. Commonwealth .. .. 99-5 101-3 94-27 89-5 73-0 New Zealand .. .. 53-0 44-6 43-20 46-3 42-4 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepees. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows an increase of forty-four as compared with the preceding year. There were 605 prosecutions, resulting in 355 convictions, during 1931, as against 561 prosecutions and 339 convictions in 1930. Sly-gbog Selling. There were 64 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 54 convictions, and there were also forty-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 1931 amounted to £1,445 10s. Gaming Offences. There were 354 prosecutions, resulting in 324 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 398 prosecutions and 314 convictions in 1930.

3

Offences. 1930. 1931. Unnatural offence ... ... ... ... 6 5 Unnatural offence, attempted ... ... ... 2 3 Indecently assaulting a male ... ... ... 40 54 Incest ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 2 Indecent acts ... ... ... ... ... 21 6 Concealment of birth ... ... ... ... 3 7 Assault, indecent ... ... ... ... ... 127 102 Rape ... ... ... ... ... 10 7 Eape, attempted .. ... ... ... ... 7 7 Carnally knowing girls ... ... ... ... 68 69 Carnally knowing girls, attempted ... ... ... 8 7 Abortion, procuring, &c. ... ... ... ... 5 11 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts... ... 305 209 Totals ... ... ... ... 605 489

J Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 2,777 87 2,864 One previous conviction .. .. .. 515 33 548 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 296 10 306 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 201 6 207 Four previous convictions .. .. . . 136 7 143 Five previous convictions .. .. . . 114 7 121 Over five previous convictions .. .. 441 57 498 Totals .. .. 4,480 207 4,687