H.—l6.

EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF OFFICERS IN CHARGE OF DISTRICTS. Inspector O'Hara, Whangarei District. Three extra sergeants are required in the district —one for Whangarei to relieve and assist the senior sergeant., one to take charge of Kaitaia, and one to take charge of Kaikohe. At present there are only two non-commissioned officers in the district, and it is difficult to cope with the various duties with this very limited number. The offences return for the year shows no special features, and is approximately of average nature. There was an increase of twelve offences of carnal knowledge. These offences were mostly committed by Maoris. The only serious crime was one of murder, committed by a Maori who, in a fit of jealousy, murdered his wife and then committed suicide. During the year one constable was fined for breach of regulations. The conduct of the members of the Force has been satisfactory. There is a large number of wine-makers in this district, which is specially suitable for the growing of grapes. All these wine-makers are licensed under the provisions of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1914, which was evidently intended to govern and regulate the sale of New Zealand wines, but section 3 (c) of the Licensing Act, 1908, nullifies to a great extent the effect of the provisions of the 1914 Amendment Act. I consider paragraph (c) of section 3of the Licensing Act, 1908, should be repealed. Superintendent Till, Auckland District. I recommend an increase of twenty constables and two sergeants at the Central Station, to enable all the day-duty beats to be filled and thus avoid the necessity of alternate fortnightly periods of day and night duty. The increase would enable all the necessary relieving duty to be carried out and generally enable all requirements to be met adequately and efficiently. The offences return shows increases in theft (undescribed), false pretences, drunkenness, unlawfully taking motor-cars, stealing postal packets, and breaches of Motor-vehicles Act. The only decrease of any magnitude was in house and shop breaking. Of 7,237 offences reported, 6,503 were dealt with either by arrest or summons and 734 were undetected. With regard to certain offences such as false pretences, unlawful conversion of motor-cars, stealing postal packets, and damaging postal boxes, many of these were committed in batches by individual offenders. Drunkenness shows an increase for the first time for four or five years. Breaches of the Motor-vehicles Act are still on the increase. Many of the charges of reckless or negligent driving arise out of excessive speeding, and practically all these cases are brought as the result of accidents. Fourteen constables and one sergeant were dealt with for breaches of Police Regulations. Generally speaking, the conduct of the men in this district has been very good. Inspector Lopdell, Hamilton District. The conduct of members of the Force has been very good, only one disciplinary offence having been dealt with. The total offences reported were 2,114, against 2,094 last year. Of these, 1,977 were dealt with by arrest or summons. A percentage of the offences recorded as undetected, which were cKiefly petty thefts, were probably committed by offenders who were arrested for other similar offences. Happily, the district has been free from serious crimes against the person by violence or gross immorality. The most serious offences were burglaries, and a big proportion of these was detected. Breaches of the Motor-vehicles Act are providing annually an increasing number of offences and accounting for many deaths and much injury. In all, 635 drivers were prosecuted, many for minor breaches, but 6 were charged with causing death. Sixteen persons were killed and many others injured. Other charges of causing death are pending. Seventy-three drivers were charged with either negligent or reckless driving. Thirty-three were charged with being intoxicated while in charge of cars, and, apart from these 33, a disturbing feature is the frequent evidence of liquor playing a part where intoxication cannot be proved. These 635 offences do not account for anything like all the accidents which occur, in many of which no offence can be established. Expansion in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui have made it desirable that an additional constable be stationed at Tauranga to cope with the growing need there. Rotorua and its environs are steadily growing, and there is need for an additional constable to give part of his time to Ngongotaha Township till a permanent constable is stationed there. At Frankton Junction a sergeant and three constables are no longer able to give all the attention necessary to passing trains and the work of that sub-district; another constable is required.

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