H.—l6.
Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1932 :—
Police Prosecutions. The following is a return of the number of convictions for which fines were imposed and the total amount of such fines in respect of prosecutions instituted by the police during the year ended 31st March, 1932 :—
Ceiminal Registration Branch. At headquarters the finger-impressions of 3,154 persons were received, classified, searched, indexed, and filed during the year ; 215 persons were identified as previous offenders who, had it not been for the finger-print system, would have passed as first offenders ; 2,105 photographs were taken by the photographers attached to the Branch ; the photographs of 2,499 prisoners (5,355 photographs) were dealt with, and 624 photographs were reproduced in the Police Gazette. In sixteen cases of breaking and entering finger-prints left by the offenders when committing the crimes were identified, and the offenders brought to justice. In four of these cases enlarged photographs were prepared and the necessary evidence tendered, resulting in a conviction in each case. The twelve other offenders pleaded guilty in the Lower Court. During the year the finger-print system was responsible for the identification of fifteen persons wanted by the police, and also three deceased persons. The Branch supplied over six hundred photographs (microscopic enlargements, &c.) in connection with a noted murder case in Palmerston North, and also prepared numerous enlarged photographs for the Coats murder trial in Wellington last November. The following table shows the increase in the finger-print collection since the introduction of the finger-print system of identification in March, 1903 : —
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nff Number of Number of Amount of Fines Ottence. Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. £ s. d. Carrying on business of bookmaker .. . . 36 34 1,696 10 0 Keeping common gaming-house .. .. 58 49 2,091 10 0 Found in common gaming-house .. .. 12 8 10 0 0 Laying totalizator odds .. .. . . 21 18 204 0 0 Publishing betting-charts .. .. .. 10 6 49 10 0 Betting with bookmaker .. .. .. 1 1 40 0 0 Loitering for betting purposes .. .. 4 4 180 0 0 Totals .. .. .. 142 120 4,271 10 0
, Number ot Total Amount of Fines payable to Convictions. Pines imposed. I I £ Consolidated Fund .. .. .. .. .. 10,481 23,003 Main Highways Revenue Fund (section 24, Motor-vehicles Act, 1924) 3,986 7,773 Local authorities (by-law offences) .. .. .. .. 335 256 Total 14,802 31,032
Number of Increase on Number of Increase on Year. Prints in Previous Year . Prints in Previous Collection. Year. Collection. Year. * = . 1904 .. 3,500 3,500 117 1919 .. 22,332 1,350 153 1905 .. 4,200 700 72 1920 .. 23,686 1,354 176 1906 .. 5,000 800 88 1921 .. 26,650 2,964 232 1907 .. 6,151 1,151 104 1922 .. 28,408 1,758 255 1908 .. 7,622 1,471 123 1923 .. 30,284 1,876 292 1909 ■ .. 8,718 1,096 138 1924 .. 31,929 1,645 289 1910 .. 9,919 1,201 140 1925 .. 33,802 1,873 267 1911 .. 10,905 986 148 1926 .. 35,844 2,042 292 1912 .. 12,097 1,192 178 1927 .. 37,808 1,964 255 1913 .. 13,552 1,455 183 1928 .. 39,409 1,601 276 1914 .. 15,302 1,750 230 1929 .. 40,852 1,443 208 1915 .. 16,682 1,380 270 1930 .. 42,371 1,519 239 1916 .. 18,134 1,452 218 1931 .. 43,973 1,602 257 1917 .. 19,508 1,374 166 1932 .. 45,692 1,719 215 1918 .. 20,982 1,474 132