H.—l6.

boundaries reducing the size of Karori and Tinakori Road districts and the inclusion of the areas so lost to these districts in a newly-formed Northland district would result in all the constables being fully employed. At the present time both Tinakori Road and Karori districts are too large for efficient control by one constable at each station. An additional constable is required at Ivilbirnie. This district has grown during the past few years, and it includes Hataitai and Evans Bay. This bay is a favourite resort for bathing, &c., and in my opinion should receive more police attention. The present staff is not sufficient to cope with the work. Another constable is required at Wellington South. I also recommend increasing the strength of Petone and Lower Hutt Stations, one constable to be added to the strength of each station. Two additional men are required for the detective staff and at least seven more constables are required at the Central Station. On account of relieving duty, escort duty, sickness, and leave of absence we are continually short of men and the regular beats are very seldom fully manned. This shortage of stafi does not allow either for the making of any new beats or for the shortening of the present long beats. I beg to recommend that a new motor-car be added to the present fleet of four vehicles, which number is made up of one Vauxhall car, a Ford V 8 car, an old Ford car, and an old converted Austin van. It frequently occurs that all three cars are in use at the one time, and if another car is required urgently one must be hired. The barracks for single men at the Central Station require a good deal of alteration and reconstruction in order to provide additional bedrooms, offices, lockers, and library. There is insufficient sleeping accommodation for the single men. A number of constables stationed at Central Station are sleeping at Taranaki Street Station, and these men come to Central Station for meals and to do duty. Fifteen additional bedrooms can be provided by making the necessary alterations. The Taranaki Street Station is urgently in need of renovation. At Mount Cook Police Station two and three men are sleeping in one room, and the offices are overcrowded. I would suggest a start be made with the new building at the earliest possible date. During the year the general conduct of the members of the Force has been good and their duties have been satisfactorily performed. The detectives have worked hard and have put in long hours. They have carried out their work efficiently, and both branches of the Service have worked exceedingly well together. During the year lectures were given on the subjects of general police duty and the use of firearms. The total number of offences reported during the year ended 31st December, 1936, was 6,266, compared with 5,817 for the previous twelve months, the increase being 449. Of all offences reported, 5,928 were accounted for by arrests or summonses being issued, the undetected, ofiences numbering 338. Of the cases dealt with, 149 males and 12 females were committed for trial or sentence, and of those so committed 104 males and one female were convicted. The serious crimes committed during the year were one of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm by discharging a firearm. In the former case a farmer of Carterton was accosted on his farm by a man who discharged a firearm at him, wounding him in the face and neck ; the offender is known, but has not yet been located. In the latter case a youth of seventeen years threatened to shoot his mother, who took shelter in a room. The offender fired at her through the door, wounding his grandfather. He was dealt with at the Children's Court, the charge being amended from one of attempted murder to one of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Inspector Lewin, Nelson District. The strength of the Force in this district was increased by three during the year—an additional constable for Motueka, and a detective and one constable for Nelson Station. The additional constable for Nelson Station now permits a day watchhouse-keeper, whereas there was none previously, but two further constables are required for this station to enable a constable to be on duty in the watchhouse for the full twenty-four hours. An additional constable is required for Blenheim Station ; the present staff cannot adequately cope with all the calls made upon them, and, as a consequence, the Streets are frequently left without a constable to patrol them. Regarding the necessity for the opening of a station at Renwicktown, I should be pleased if the matter of having a constable permanently stationed there could now be considered. For the year ending 31st December, 1936, the total number of offences reported was 788, compared with 931 for the previous twelve months, being a decrease of 143. Of all offences reported, 733 (93 per cent.) were accounted for by arrest or summons, leaving 55 (7 per cent.) undetected. There were decreases in persons found on licensed premises after hours, selling liquor after hours, indecently assaulting a male, assault, false pretences, burglary, receiving stolen property, default of maintenance, and unlawful conversion of motor-cars. There were increases in drunkenness, negligent driving of motor-cars, theft, and breaches of the peace. The conduct of the police during the year lias been good, and the duties have been performed in a satisfactory manner. The following suggestions are forwarded for consideration :— Section 36 (1) (a) of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22, empowers .a Magistrate only to issue a warrant to enter premises for the purpose of detecting an offence. In some towns of a fairly large population—for example, Blenheim—there is no resident Magistrate, and the police are at a disadvantage when a warrant is required urgently. If a Justice of the Peace had the authority to issue the necessary warrant, offenders could be detected with greater celerity, as there is usually in many cases considerable delay in locating the Magistrate when required. The Stock Amendment Act, 1930, Section 2 (1), in its present state provides too many avenues for obtaining permits to remove stock at night. This power should be limited to a Justice, constable,

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