M.—2o.

offences including drunkenness, vagrancy, &c. The offences against property are higher than in pre-war years, but it is satisfactory to observe that the number of offences of this class last year showed a decrease on the number for the previous year by 20 per cent. : —

A similar comparison, with offenders classified under age groups, is shown in a further table. It will be observed that whereas in pre-war years the greater incidence of crime was among offenders of thirty years and upwards, in recent years there has been a tendency for more crime among younger persons, particularly among the groups falling between the ages of twenty and thirty. This has been sometimes characterized as the " reckless age." In England this phenomenon has been regarded as a reaction from the influence of the war, but it is more probably symptomatic of the times, the lack of restraint and discipline, the difficulty in securing suitable vocational outlets, and the facilities afforded by cars, &c., for " pulling off jobs." Notwithstanding the upward movement in recent years so far as these younger age groups are concerned, it is pleasing to note that there was a drop last year, particularly amongst those in the groups under twenty and twenty-five years of age. A sympathetic fall has also been observed in the cases dealt with in the Children's Courts. The general position in the Dominion is thus exceedingly gratifying.

Ages of Distinct Persons received (Comparative Table).

A further table is included stowing the receptions for the past five years classified on a nationality basis. It will be observed that there has been a fall of nearly 350 in the number of persons born in New Zealand committed to prison last year as compared with the previous year. In my report for last year I referred to the disquieting increase in the amount of crime amongst Maoris, and it is satisfactory to note that during 1933 there were 253 commitments of Maoris as compared with 316 for the previous year.

Nationality of Prisoners received.

3

. , „„ • , Drunkenness, Year. Offences against Offences against Vagrancy, and Total. the Person. Property. ot h e r Offences. 1909.. .. .. .. 181 727 2,251 3,159 1910 .. .. .. 238 772 2,232 3,242 1911 . .. .. .. 153 587 2,137 2,877 , 1912.. .. .. .. 153 598 2,272 3,023 1913.. .. .. 220 685 2,324 3,229 1929.. .. .. .. 196 854 1,546 2,596 1930.. .. .. .. 194 968 1,703 2,864 1931 .. .. .. 216 1,155 1,832 3,203 1932 .. .. .. 194 1,313 1,893 3,401 1933 .. .. .. 196 1,048 1,487 2,731

During Pre-war Quinquennium. During Past Five Years. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 1913. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. Under 20 .. 98 100 85 130 119 181 164 203 222 175 20-25 .. .. 342 356 291 256 349 350 429 555 559 459 25-30 .. 497 535 436 464 505 400 426 488 504 403 30-40 .. .. 897 972 902 947 1,071 594 716 822 903 747 40 upwards .. 1,325 1,279 1,163 1,120 1,185 1,064 1,118 1,129 1,207 937 Not stated . . .. . ■ ■ ■ ■ • • • 7 11 6 6 10 Totals .. 3,159 3,242 2,877 2,917 3,229 2,596 2,964 3,203 3,401 2,731

,, New Zealand-born Ma , British and Tntnl Year - (excluding Maoris). Ma0rIf " Foreign. iotal ' 1933 .. .. .. 1,604 253 874 2,731 1932 .. .. •• 1,941 316 1,144 3,401 1931 .. .. .. 1,779 271 1,153 3,203 1930 .. .. ■■ 1,576 184 1,104 2,864 1929 .. .. •• 1,383 173 1,040 2,596