POLICE REPORT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 654, 3 November 1909, Page 5

POLICE REPORT.

{ ; %kiommhj: : STj^lS^Ca^JßiTEAß;' = : .' ;.;vThe.Commissionerlof,Poiice■.(Mγ: W. Dinnie). -~/ni his\:;annual s foport;/whioh';iwas/.preSerited'to; yesterday,' stsil:^'that'ibn": : March; 31 .; : last" the;. StrSßglli vof j" iw\, i ■: all ■ .. :Tfi?}^?>: .'■•Jjfiog '■■ nn : iiicrease ■ : b|fc 37.,; during _-.■■ the, - Avitlv .nil , 'pffeices/h'epoi'ted ,!.to tho;-police '.■ tlio. vAyew ;.ended':; December;; Slvlast, / and;, show; an; ■ "net ; ,:inorease. df.SOIJ on'-tKo-.figuKß..'b'f. ! <1907,;f ;.Thq .'iiicrease the.strength ■ol the ; police force no-doubt accounts to: a degree, for ... the l "'jijc l^a> s i e:;.;in'. i the';nu[nber of ;.nrrcsts sho\vn. 1 The /proportion ibf■;offences.'tovth'o population /fw'as;2i33 i .per.c'eA.'"as.'agniiis i t 2,37. the. '_■>$»% shown' were.; as -follow,■ . *izr:^Burgln^ ■■.efc;^."-i'26^;'deserta , B'Vasd^nfentcesl'''ft , 6m-- 1 merfdhantivessels, failirig/to'prd- ■;. ridq rfor-i wives/find "children, -.12G;' dieobeymg ..vbrflers/.of-.Court'arid;snhimohses,'s9;-.dl-iinken-'.:iresi..,i.l4oV;forgery.arid:'uttering,': 37;' gamins" - oftenceflj-;16;-/illegally ';. on- ! preinis«s,. 83;' malici- . jous ..lnjur^o /property, v 22 •'.obscene.' and : pro-:,ianevlanguage',-'~52.;!'. receiving -stifta- property, ■•.: 38 ;'i soliciting; -prostitution,'- 32'; theft - (undefrom/dwellings;' v; -; ;^'The.;:r i: principal-i-.:decreases .'-were:-T-Assaults, peace, 135; im-rf.woper,;:knowledge,--■2l;<.;'failing -td-v-support /.pSirente. 1 and near '.rel.atiye.s, 91;■ iridecency;-'B2; ■■.obstracting itho'roughfares, 6-4;', opium, smoking■:di being:m'possession'of,'.49;:'sly.grog-selling, ,2o;Vsureties' of,:'the;'peace,'27; 'trespass,' 107; 1 ,/..;;,./'■;/::,' : :: 'sfi. :^lndiscriminate/; :Betting-Licenses.' .'.'■! / ; •''The':.incr,ease (126)''.iri' 'the-.'nrimber'.'of. biir-. ;,Blar'y/cases'anid'itKeft.'(22B) ;has-resulted- partly /. through, the-'influi,.to ;the Dominion of-.an u'n-. j.nsual.number'gf:''AustrnHan ; criininals,'-and the t; coriiniissiorier.'.ascribes this in /a, deeree !to 'the .;;hcensing pfjbqolmakers:'and thearidisoririiinate iiOTantirig'of/betfcag■licensee.by racing authori-' ;-;nes, ..which', has'-jmduced. a number ■ oil Au'stral:ian '.undesirables'.to become .bookmakers, ■ who, :Vwtfc.tKeii«followe»'!Tfhen.'nbt .engaged in book--1 'BJaking/Vxesprt'; to, crime. , '.. Juvenile : offeriders, offences. arrests -or'l summonses 're-' all "-offences, reported during the / -year.; .under--review is ,95.63, /the figures of the preceding -year 'being- 95.86- '"- : ■-" '">'-, .-'■/■•z /', 'Bunrig';the.;last:/eight;jears; ; tb6, : n'n'mbe'r' of venous/crimes: has-varied from 520 'to. 723, so :'.that'therpresent:total ; .;(7s9) s is : ndtiabnormal on, ' a-'population.■; basie.';../ .'■'."" •/: H'~i '. v '.. "■',. ■:• ■. ■ -■ •'... /■:;'■ A'.'ma;der;.caseirecorded;!;as •undefcected:"■oc..curredi;in; .Cou^tenay^.Pla'ce,■;-Wellington: .'. "It iß;brie;of'those.iurifortunateoqcurrericeS," states ' .the:. : i;«pbrti;''"in;.'.whioh::th'e ■ culprit may' be jrooNvn''to/police,--bnty-laek.'of evidence has pie- . venfedV;a.:.piosecution.-;-Ar/reward, '-has. been . offered,.but'thus.far./without.result.'"-:■'.■ -.'- " : ;.'. 1 Thd '.number; of 'iridece'rit-and sexual offences ,-'•: .(luring ; the year .was 323;.'. being 128' ;; during" ithevprevious year./ , The / m!ljorify-).'(267)'.''.wj9.re'':case9 -of indecency.' '■ The ;;eiernplafy.puntehiien't':inflicted' for outrages on . girls ;of,,t«rider-vyears- ■has- apparently: had the ■^aredv : KSult;f;.;/,fc; W v/-.,;';' '/v : ; v -;..;./;/'' : ]:■■■ [■: ■ '■'»s£'v 'ft/ \ ''/'Cif' I ''''' ;"-::-" V;■'-.': ; :' ; , ; '".!riiere/'nae'ibeeii' an\/iinbfease'df'''liO.Cin ; tha ■ : dniingi.tfle , ' year as compared /with the previous v■ yearf'" ■'4hr-.: i[ i : ';.?';r:'^; : ■•/;:'-/'u"A/''. - ; >: -- :■ :■ ;';; [:Ol': tha>iri«ri.VeaniriotSd- of ;41.57 /jpef, . ; cent;:'and-;'.of , ;-.the.?feir(ale? , ;.7o.2s'.per : -cent. .;---!naa ,, Vpftriofe. ,^con'v»toM v v'recotded"'"-' , aga'iiiß ; t ; ;ttetn", and' 8.99 p4V cent:: of tho miles -were' n.dt .-. -perinaiient;;r&i,dents,in;:/thd', Dpniiiiiori.- ;: ' ■' V :jf';TKe'■ 'number-.'of ' prbsepuf:ipris/:(177) -.';against "• shorts ''a ; ,;deerease': of.v.4B.'.as' 'cbin^ ,:i>aiejd:with f the;;i>reyidus',y'ear.;Generally 'speak-' vSUK hotels,- it;/)' this; Doiainidri v' are .'■■; we] I' - -cob' v';dMf«;-;and:;.U^^M",s«em : i^. ? re'4lise';'thatV'H' ~ is.yiii -. their '.own; interests'.', ts : the.'law. . ■ There;:.were';ls8 ■'■ prbseoutipns /for/sty .-'• grog-seil-''prd^utioMiaudJ.'^^coriyic'tio'ns/during, the ■pweding:-,- year'.; f The}' diffitulty ; 'in.-,securirig-;e.vi;. -oHy^by , ; 1 haying'/:-re(»Wse:'-;_to'-inetwds-'which -.. ;.ai«;iebugriait,alike';toithe';publi'c;Hhb police, ' /an^ith^/.who;aisrfet'the, ! lattersthat''the riecee-' ;■•.- Baryj ; can' ; be v : optjiined.,;'' ; Ori;the,;wß'6lo.'sly 'grpg-sijlling : -is ■../kep i - : well?fn''ffiec]4;;bnt:''if 'indfe'seve're' penal- ';• tie?;-'wefe jnfliqffd'bdtter':l:esiiltß'would:ensue. ;:'-TH&'firies: , impb^d;oß''ilyigib'g-sfeHeM^amouKt«d ■te^el749: ■i&d.ti.as'tiga.iiiatsjaspx 2s.' ;in .1907;- The ■;''dittct':'cost>i6 ; the iDominioii;ih; ;: detectingi'and -iE?2b ls; Di-.,: '■ ■ vtKan;.:iheii;amdunt:r of 'ifi^^osep; , -::';';!"'-'.^,:;/,;./;'; v'/w ; ;/./fOndiSr.the. gamin|. laws -therV were'2l3 prose- :. cutions; /resulting' in , 184.cpnyictioriis, .against .. 192 •■;pfd6ec.utidns.,' arid ','142.; convictions in; 18071.-.

'i' ,^|f ,Effi)ct'df.Gart^hgi;A6t/ : }';Y-VK ; . : :TKe;pibvisidns. i of:the r Qamihg.4.ct as regards' • betting-honses, :: street ■ibe'tting,-',.:restrictions nob; ■ : bitting; telegrams,,;betting,- advertisements,; aid. ■■-~-•■ MeVo'ritotaUsatQri,are. eminently satisfactory-; .': tut/i^havingi' regard;-to'the l ' licensing of ■book..;;inalars and the;indiEcriminatoa'ction of racing .'' authorities rihV'isstiiug, betting;.Hcenses,,to all /■■■■■^pM(aiL^''^i'a'::pbsiliqif- i, tp..-pay-\thi' necessary ' fee;VirrespictiTe;altogether or'character. or jit. •;"• ifess 'tohold ;a' license,:'the • result■" hasbeen ,:^quit^contrary; ; :tb;;that;; intended; ■ ■ ■-■-;. andv;their..' followers-have 'seriously increased, ■"■'-.■. the * wi aj or i ty, 'of j. theni .being totally unfit .both ..pecuniarily", and -; to; hold : •."■ .are;;to)belicensed to bet at , 'race;-meetings : (a.vproyisio'n. ! ,which';froni a. long' ,:ahd.Jvs,ried';eiperience 'of^racing-iicould- not : support} thejlaw.'ihould 'provide ■ tliat' iidne-. but ■'■■ : thosiv holding fa '■■ certificate of' fitness ; from a . magistrate A(on^the,'.:repoft;'of 'police)' or'-chief -.;■'■ cfrjSolice; of,: theldistrict,'concerned .should be ".-, lioensed. ■..N6r.:;shpuld:anyone be.perniitte3 to ". - act'ae.a.bookmakorat'anv race meeting • what-.-;eoever-unlees-he holds' : sObh: certificate. . A-.full . ifep3rt.of-the ; workirig of the.'Gaming'Act, .with .;'■ enggestions."for;.amendments thereto;;.-has.v'al- ,-: Teady...bein;6nbmitted for. consideration. ,, -■', . '.'■' '■■0:f- -";''';C6irtiuct i and -Cost of: Forced V^'C-^: -. ■;■■ : ./ oonstables,;;.w.ho'.'haye,"7<aS;>usual; J .iha'd' : 'to 'be .-. ;6trifi^ntlyi'.-dealt'..withv.in -order ! 'to- -maintain . :,discmHne,i,the:;conduct''pf'.the .'force,has', been -.- ; : ;hjghlyigatjsfactqry. -(On -the whole, :the effi v ; : ciehcy.v'pfUhe.'forc^'-has^been:-well'maintained^ '■-.■'.'i-Jt ..haa.:been-;suggested.;that '' , importantj'ohan'gee ■.-■;. . > efficiency/and'reduced.expenditure,- : if• the.'f preb ■•■•-■ wife woperlyVprgahised.'. The commissioner.-'is '■-.;. afraid:-that,'if >the,efficiency bf-,,th'e'forc«-is; to : . ra>v6pnsiderj<!i,.t;those"iexpecting Vgreat reforms \. ■'; !■ ■.;.:':'-.>■': '> ■■:-• 1:..'.'.-,;i t -:'- t^:^P'.^at!;*tifflV..','and\'fi}rJ;somy'-ywM. ,jno.iD6fartment-;hae':'beep.''worked 6n : most ; e&nomical.bi^;:,;'fhe'Vhumerous.' appointment , ..; b.eld/.by: pplice/jandi'cbneeqnent. saving: f to 'other ;;;: Government;--.Departmente.v is .also a ; matter! overlooked Auhen consider- \: jng :the Force.'-:-: '-,' : :, >The'following-.table-.slipws .the-proportion of.. "'•-: police -.to-- population : an"d cost, 'of ..police per inhabitant: in New Zealand' and ; Australia r-r '■'■' - Y -''. • 1 -p:^ : !,v'Propor(:ion of -'''■■•' '■•■■::'"':. ' "'"• ■■.■\.- : ,:' ■'■Sw^ ; '^' ;i ■ Cost of. Police -V ■■■ : '.' .: ; p :f per Inhabitant. '-"•.J , - , . '■'■••''' J"': : .''•&■'', ''i'i.';-' '■■■'?'.■•;".•; '.'-'hy' ■.',: ■5.1, d . :..-.;- '■ -'New;, Zealand /....;.';.'-l t0.1308 "';' ; - 3 4i "■'. •'iVictotiaO;■•;.j.;S..';;-: '■ilto' .;809■■-■-"''4 : s} : ; . •;. New'-South'vWales''■-.VI to'"6io ■■■■■ .'■' 15 9J ', ,' ' : SonthVAusttalia : ;:.; ! :.:ltb" : 9Bs '•''.■■^"-■''-■.i "lJ■■"•.■■ . . Queenslaridi-^:)...^;.:iltb ; /:5C^'.•'.... -V 7 :-4}'< •'.-' Western .Australia 529- ; ' 9-0 -.'■'■r-- :::,: j sCa%manie^':^;;;:;^3.tb ; v.79B' f ;, ' ;■'. l^itetrehchmentvcah 1 undoubtedly be: effected at : .any: time, ;but 'certainly ":-iot- without' mipjmised '- .-'efficiency. --.The.(jbinmissipner cannpt,:,therefbre, : : ; y.recpmmend-.it;./"lt'catinot:-bo. said that eiotism . : m .y.:f?fte;:l)UtVl^b-;claimy-.that;thes:police force-ot-the Dominion compares most favoureply.jwithany.ptheripplico'force,,and that bur ■ vSystein'/is 'superior ; to:;mariy;';and I. iiay 'so ■'■ ;;'-.*^*a;Tened,''knflwle'age';of-''police , 'f6tces'geier-' ■ally-which .'tew; possess." •' .'." '.-■ '.'.'v-' - : -'" : - ■:■" -■■" ;: Apn March ,31-last,'--the ; finger.priut'cblloction 'of., the impressions of: 8718 offenders, .-■ leing.an lncrease-'pf 1090' on .the-previous year. '■■.' , Ilnrinß; ; .the t -year.:'l3B/offenders, ;whhse'■ ante- .■;■ :;..'<!eaents: the ipolice of;the disv'.-. -Wet wera::in;custody, were, by ; '■' means .'if identified., as ':^''.:'PteTipusl7 > -.;'coiiviQfa!il.'jpersons/'-snbwiDir.'';ian':;in- ■ -.crease,of-15J9ver:iast ; year.^ ■■'■. ':.•:;. •'•;'■ '■: ' ":<< the ■'- ttainingi.of■ prpb'ationersiis ; eniinently satisfac- •■-'■. .tery>:V.;i,';.::-.;-:;/:-.':-..v:o i ":. : .':-,:. ''.'■•'.-.■ '•';•■■ - : . ••■■-■'. the, , year.) there iwero": 137.fr'esh Vcandi-.-'•:nates iwho, "after,;inquirjv: measurement, etc., . 'were found (to: be; , eligible for;' service. A ieiifflcient' intimber ■';of .'afitablo.' candidates is if, still /forthcoming :to r : ';fil.f". all'."'vacancies and ; .augmentations ! tp >the - ' ; . strength of -the force, .>v ljnt,'g<!ner'ally t ::speakipA-,tho.class of;candidato "-':'■;' now offoring is'nqt quiteso satisfactory' as ono •■■..:'-':-,wpddl'de^tfi':--; ; Thb'.only;-ime(m9'tp''-impro79 tho ; : ; is; to> offer some ,Mncement-in: tho '■"■;X\fbTmiof/anancreasedirate,-:of ipay : .,>-i .-■'., ..,. ...'. ;; 7 , : scommissipner/ 'knowsi ;of , no -police forco - :tif'which more;'strjct' : inyostigationvis.jinade .in > .urespect ; ,tb'the/previpuß. oharacter,-;etc.;-'pf.'.applir. '■'■■:.-. cants, vnone'boing accepted'unless their 'records : ::ere>%nblemishrf,;;and;unlesff; ; . :gual.iScations."are;equalvtb.the: ; \- ;i'-Nin9^^x-'inen:w«M';taken( , onV-dnrlng--the f ydar , i ■"-■ tb<u>>natioiialitie3.-.and:;relißi6iie,i'-are.jas-fol-' v : -Ibis' :4-Natibnalttie'3: '37; Aus:;tralianß;wlß;:,;lrish;:;;M i<.:Englishi:S;l2 j'iiScotfih, y : 'i $$ $asmJittian',^l : ; ;^Manxman;'Ki;^;;Eeligionß:

•Oburoh • of -England,- SiVEoman ■ Catholics, '32; Jresby tenons, 22; Wesley an;;' I;, Baptist,:, 1; £roteativnts, 4; ;..Luthoran,.' I; 1 •Congrega:,i.:;:l:;' V>: Other Matters v ; -,■' "■'' '■■■,;.( ■"'■r lnsttho amount standing to the ;f. « Pohco Provident Fund . was 4 31, !Jv,. s - mh > ™B«n incronsoon the-year of- j81,2V6 2s. 3d. ;.'■ ■-~..■-. ■ .\-\ ... ■ .;; .;. ( ,: Since' .the'.. Act ;came into force '• the'' Government/nave saved thosum of .£20,369 ls.'Sd; in 'n".,'?™ of retiring allowances which' would no doubt have-been paid had it not "existed. Recommendations for necessary amendments to the Police Providont I'uiid Act have been sribmittedvfor consideration .of' the Government. ■ -.For some years-pastrstates the Commissioner,' thorp has been, a, noticeable development iii-a section of the press of a typo of immoral litcra-turp-which is .totally unfit for publication, and which is a disgrace to the public press of the Dominion.- 'It consists principally of extracts specially/selected froni police, Supreme and Divorce Court proceedings, dealing with divorce and seXiial;.oif6nces,; which .are .commented '.on ■Vfith.no'/regard'-to social consequences. Drastic legislation seems' necessary in .order to suppress all'such corrupt';'-jouraulisra j at the same time care'inust. be', exercised to prevent interference with the/liberty of the'press. / . .' .-,./' v : .In view.-!of the present.necessity of curtailing expenditure, the (Commissioner.recommends-an. augra'entation of bqly' 10 men to .the.', present strength.'-.of the:force-during the current year. iAltUough this.may inot^meet all demands for additional, police , "protection, he is satisfied that with' careful .administration' the necessary • protection' can be rendered' to the public;, and the '.efficiency'. of .5 the vf bree maintained.. with that additional, number , ...'.-. '•;■' /.■ ■■-■..'■ '-:.■/ ■:■"■■

■';/-■ Inspector-Ellison's Report. - L; lnspector. Ellison Tepo ; rts for the -Wellington district/that /the'past year new-police stations;have .been opened ;at Day's Bay,- (Eastbourne) and: Karori./An acting-detective;'and 9 constables have been added";to the.city-.staff, ian increase that:was. mutih needed and is- much appreciated. 1 '.'.-'-At Eetrine ;and. Wellington. South the. constables" wh'p..were .in: charge; last year have recently been replaced by' sergeants. ' New buildings/have- been erected at Petone, Richmond,; and Wellington■ Soiith.'.'and a new station has been-commenced at Takaka. The offences return' furnished in "January shows that the .total/number of offences reported Was 5865, •an increasO'Of ; 126 ■: over,'the: previous; year; whilst-; the .total ■ number." of-i arrests'was 6643, .an' 'iherease'.of ;79.'"The'principal' increases are : as 'follow;— Assaults and robbery,-.13; burglary arid bbusebreaking,'-20; deserting - wives' and children, '9;vdisobeying/orders: of -.Court, 30; illegally on promises, '26j obsceno : ;language, 7i; sl/gros-selling, 27;'.theft,-89. ; . Decreases-appear in the following rrAbnsive and threatening language,:lQ;V. broaches, of peace,..22; drunkenness, 186;>gamipg offences,! 58;. indecent behaviour, 9; /sureties 'of; the .peace, 26; obstructing ! and: re-sisting-'police,'. 10; theft by servaritsj 8.-;',: In-ad-dition, to. thd ; usual-police-work, a great, deal of: clerical Work and inquiry is done for- other Departments, j including ; reports ;- regarding old : . -age .' pensions', ■.'.' machinery. .'■• and", boiler inquiries, v: -reporting;',:. regarding.'.',. applications '.-.-for -licenses V(sifcb ; 'as / V servants' Tejjistry' -offices),'■■ naturalisation ;applications, drivers,'-sharebrokers, adoption-of children,'etc;' The'sub-inspector, station).sergeant, and thei de-.tective-)6taff'hove- dono. good Work year; so -also have:the members.• of; the'-.clerical staff." arid .'..the/.sergeants, arid '-many constables. During the- year 10/ constables' were'..discharged on resignation, 2.were dismissed, 2 discharged on. pension,, 33. constables and. 2 sub-inspectors were 'transferred ,to. other; districts. .-The arrivals'were 1 station sergeant, % eergeants; and 19constables 'from other 'districts, , and'-ft;.- re-crniieS:'';.'-.V;-'*!v.:--..V.;. •■'['■; ''■--:'■ './'". '.' '■'' '''■■■■:■ '