H.—l6.

and as it is a very busy railway junction I recommend that this station should be reopened and a constable stationed there. Now that a sergeant has taken up duty at Pahiatua, I recommend that a second constable be stationed there in view of the increase of duties, such constable to relieve at the three neighbouring stations when the constables there are on annual leave. Seeing that 600 men are to be employed in connection with the new aerodrome at Ohakea, near Bulls, and on account of the increase in the population at Sanson, it may be necessary to open a policestation at Sanson, which is on the main north highway between Palmerston North and Bulls. The extra work placed on the police by other Departments is still increasing. It would appear that the time has arrived for the Departments concerned to carry out many of the inquiries in centres where their own officers are stationed, instead of referring them to this Department for attention. In many cases it is found that the Department concerned has made its own inquiry without, for some unknown reason, reaching finality. The offences return for the year ended 31st December, 1937, shows a total of 1,761 offences reported, as compared with 1,464 for the previous year, an increase of 297. Of the total reported, 1,692 were accounted for by arrest or summons. The principal increases were in sexual offences, thefts, housebreaking, unlawful conversion of motor-cars, breaches of the peace, publishing betting-charts, maintenance cases, and breaches of the Licensing Act, while decreases were shown in the case of false pretences, attempted suicide, mischief, and negligent driving. During the year the manager of a local insurance office converted to his own use £3,000. One detective was engaged on this inquiry for some months and was successful in proving the charges against the offender. On the night of the 21st October, 1937, two young men hired a taxi, and on arrival at a quiet spot in the Esplanade presented a revolver, which they had previously stolen, at the taxi-driver and robbed him of his cash. Through good team-work the offenders were arrested next day, and later convicted and sent to a Borstal Institution for two years by the Supreme Court. On the 22nd February, 1937, a woman was absent from her home for the day, leaving the milk for her infant child in a vessel standing in water in the bathroom. On returning home she found that apparently something had been placed in the milk during her absence. An analysis disclosed that caustic soda had been placed in the milk. Inquiries were made, and it was found that a woman had visited the house during the occupants' absence and placed caustic soda in the milk, thereby intending to injure the inmates by consumption of the milk. The offender was charged with attempting to cause to be taken by the child a poison—to wit, caustic soda—with intent to injure the child. A conviction was obtained, and the offender was sentenced to eighteen months' reformative detention. At 8.45 p.m. on the 15th November, 1937, a tobacconist at Woodville was assaulted in his shop by being struck on the head with an engineer's hammer. He was knocked unconscious, and it was alleged that robbery was the motive. The offender was arrested the same night, and later convicted for causing grievous bodily harm, and sentenced to three years' reformative detention. . The conduct of members of the Force in this district has been quite satisfactory during the year, a high standard of efficiency being maintained, and both branches of the service performing good work. There were no defaulters during the year. In my opinion, the words " if required " in the third line of section 5 (2) of the Motor-vehicles Act, 1936, should be repealed, for the reason that, if a person is knocked unconscious by a motor-vehicle' he is not in a condition to require the name and address of the driver of such motor-vehicle. The repealing of the speed-limits at intersections has not been helpful to the police in controlling traffic at intersections. I prefer the speed-limits to the present white lines at intersections. Several of the stations in the district have been renovated during the year. Some are at present being renovated, while a few others require it. The new police-station at Palmerston North is now under way. Superintendent Fraser, Wellington District. The authorized strength of the district on the 31st March last was 238 of all ranks. Since my last annual report the six-day week has been introduced and is working satisfactorily in both town and country districts. This caused an increase of three sergeants and twenty-five constables An extra sergeant was appointed at Central Station to assist in the senior sergeant's office. A detective-sergeant has been stationed at Masterton, the sergeant in charge has been replaced by a senior sergeant, and an additional constable added to the strength. This district is growing and I recommend that another constable be stationed there. An additional constable is recommended for Kilbirnie Station. This district has grown of recent years and includes Hataitai and Evans Bay. Motor traffic in this district has increased considerably An increase of one constable at Wellington South Station is recommended, and it will then be possible to have a constable on duty at night in the station. I also recommend that an additional constable be stationed at both Petone and Lower Hutt Stations, and the strength of Central Station be increased by six additional constables, as the latter station is constantly short-handed owing to relieving duty, escort duty, sickness, leave of absence, &c. Up to the present date the Department has not been successful in securing a house for the constable stationed at Oriental Bay. The Department is endeavouring to obtain a suitable house at Northland, with a view to opening a new station there. Alterations have been carried out and provision made for accommodating extra men at Central Station. There is still insufficient sleeping-accommodation, and since August last thirty constables have been sleeping at the Training Depot.

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