H.—l6.

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 1,016 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1936 was 4,186 (4,043 males and 143 females), whereas in 1935 the number was 3,170 (3,057 males and 113 females). From the following table it will be observed that 42-74 per cent, of the males and 58-04 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 2-87 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1936, 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, 116. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1931 to 1935 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. Commonwealth .. 58-6 60-7 67-6 68-J 76 3 New Zealand .. -- 32-1 26-7 23-3 22-3 21-5 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a increase of 22 as compared with the preceding year. There were 667 prosecutions, resulting m 421 convictions during 1936, as against 645 prosecutions and 404 convictions in 1935. Sly-grog Selling. There were 134 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 126 convictions, and there were also 79 prosecutions, resulting in 52 convictions, for other ofiences against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on the sly-grog sellers during the year .1936 amounted to i.1,713 3s. Gaming Offences. There were 670 prosecutions, resulting in 635 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 578 prosecutions and 554 convictions in 1935. Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1937

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Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. ... •• 2 >315 60 2,375 One previous conviction . . . • • • 472 14 Two previous convictions . . • • ■ • 262 o Three previous convictions .. • • • ■ 153 o Four previous convictions .. • • • • 120 4 Five previous convictions . • • • • • 1 Over five previous "convictions • • ■ • "0^ Totals .. -! 4,043 143 i 4,186 J ! :

Number of Number of Amount of Fines Offence. Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. __ 1 ■ * '7 " " 1 | £ s. d. Carrying on business of bookmaker .. •• 55 55 Ho? in 0 Keeping common gaming-house 94 93 3,221 10 0 Found in common gaming-house .... 7 52 0 0 Laying totalizator odds • • • • ■ ■ 7 1 n 0 Publishing betting-charts 550 0 0 Street betting • ■ • • • • • • Totals •• ■■ "9 177 5,596 10 0