H.—lo.

The principal decreases were : False pretences, receiving property dishonestly obtained, drunkenness, unlawfully using horses or motor-cars, Sunday trading, selling or supplying liquor to prohibited persons, and reckless or negligently driving motor-vehicles. The increase in oflences relating to house and shop breaking, and mischief was due to a gang of juveniles having committed the oflences in question. They were dealt with in the Children's Court. The other increases do not call for comment. With the exception of a constable being dismissed from the Force, and three other constables being convicted for breaches of the Police Regulations, the conduct of the members of the Force has been excellent, and a high standard of efficiency maintained. Inspector Rawle, New Plymouth District. No new stations have been opened, but one, Tangarakau, has been closed, due to exodus of population on completion of the Auckland-Stratford Railway. The oflences return for the year ending December, 1933, show a total of all oflences committed to be 1,158, compared with 1,147 for the previous twelve months, being an increase of 11 oflences. Of the number reported, 1,098 were accounted for by arrest or summons, equal to 94-82 per cent. No crimes committed during the year deserve special comment. Increases and decreases occurred under the following headings : Increases —house and shop breaking, uttering forged document, mischief, breaches of peace, intimidation, keeping common gaming-house, and breaches of Motor-vehicles Act; decreases —forgery, drunkenness, obscene language, damage to Post and Telegraph equipment, unlawfully selling liquor, and dangerous or reckless driving. The conduct of the police during the past twelve months has been good and the duties satisfactorily performed, with two exceptions. One constable, who was recommended for dismissal, resigned, and the other was fined £2 and transferred to a city. Inspector Ward, Wanganui District. I recommend that a third detective be stationed at Wanganui, the reason being that the district is a large scattered one and the services of the detectives are continually required in the country. The town is then left without a detective, and many thefts and other oflences have to be inquired into by uniformed police with unsatisfactory results. The oflences return for the year ending the 31st December, 1933, shows a total number of all offences committed to be 1,376, compared with 1,191 for the previous year, being an increase of 185. Of the number reported, 1,193 were accounted for by arrest or summons. The principal increases were : Offences against morality, theft, mischief, selling or exposing liquor for sale, and found on licensed premises. The principal decreases were : Carnal knowledge, theft from dwellings, false pretences, house and shop breaking, forgery, unlawfully using horses or motor-cars, intoxicated in charge of motor-vehicles, and illegally dealing in liquor in proclaimed areas. The increases shown in theft, robbery, and mischief are probably due to the lack of employment. The decreases shown are no doubt due to the temporary cessation (which occurs occasionally) of particular crimes. Two murders were committed during the year. In one, a husband murdered his wife, and, in the other, a man murdered a young woman with whom he was keeping company. In each case the murderer committed suicide. The motive for the murders was jealousy. Two offences of robbery under arms occurred in the city. The conduct of the police during the year has been good. There were no defaulters. Inspector Harvey, Palmerston North District. The Marton Junction Station was closed during the year and a second constable appointed to the Otaki Station. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1933, show that the total number of all offences reported was 1,478, compared with 1,520 for the previous year, a decrease of 42. Of the offences reported, 1,389 were dealt witii by arrest or summons. The principal increases were: Assault causing actual bodily harm, theft, receiving stolen property, false pretences, conspiring to defraud ; and using profane, indecent, or obfjene language. The principal decreases were : Assault, house or shop breaking, mischief, and unlawfully on premises by night without criminal intent. A young woman was murdered by 4 man with whom she was keeping company, and who immediately after the murder committed micide. On the 11th August, 1933, a youth e itered the Union Bank of Australasia, Palmerston North, and pointed a loaded revolver at the teller. ' The latter discharged the bank revolver at the intruder, and the youth decamped, but was shortly afterwards arrested on a charge of " being armed with an offensive weapon, did attempt to rob." He was subsequently sentenced to four years in a Borstal institution. Two men were sentenced in the Supreme Court, Palmerston North, to five years' hard labour and three years' hard labour respectively, for assault with intent to rob a storekeeper, eighty-three years of age, at Himatangi on the Ist August, 1933. These were the only cases of s&rious crime committed in this district during the year. The general conduct of the members of the Force has been good, and their duties have been satisfactorily performed.

2—H. 16.

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