H.—lB

1881. NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND CONSTABULARY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to loth Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Lieut-Colonel Eeadee to the Hon. the Defence Ministee. New Zealand Constabulary, Commissioner's Office, Sib — 31st May, 1881. I have the honor to submit to you the annual report of the Constabulary Force for the year ending the 31st March, 1881. Since the date of my last report considerable changes have taken place in the Police branch. The duties of Superintendents have been abolished, and consequently the rank. The strength has been further reduced to the extent of 12 officers and 48 men, at a saving of £10,000 a year, without apparently having, in the least degree, impaired the. efficiency of the Force. The use of the Telegraphs and Railways has enabled the Department to effect this saving by dispensing with several stations, which the present facilities of communication render no longer necessary to retain. In carrying out the reduction of the Officers the 12 juniors were given the option of retiring, on a most liberal scale of compensation, or reverting to the ranks. Six accepted the compensation, and the remaining 6 elected to revert to non-commissioned rank. The reduction of the constables was effected by first culling indifferent characters, and completing the number by discharging the juniors, noting such of the latter as were thought desirable for readmission as vacancies occurred. Twelve of these sought and obtained readmission within a month, and 7 accepted compensation, according to their service, in lieu of further employment. The reduction in the number of Officers necessitated a readjustment and amalgamation of Districts. The North Island was divided into four Districts, viz., Wellington, Wanganui including Taranaki, Auckland, and Hawke's Bay, under the charge respectively of Inspectors Shearman, James, Thomson, and Scully The South Island was formed into seven Districts, viz., Nelson including Marlborough, Christchurch, Westland, Timaru, Dunedin, Southland, and Lake District, under Inspectors Weldon, Broham, Atchison, Pender, Buckley, Emerson, and Hickson. The whole of these Districts are now in direct communication with Headquarters at Wellington. The present proportion of Officers to constables is Ito 40, and of constables to population Ito 1,200. By the attached criminal statistics, compiled from returns furnished me by Officers Commanding Districts, it will be seen there is a decrease of general offences throughout the colony over the previous year of 233. The offences return of the North Island for the year 1880 shows 8,520 offences reported, 309 offenders committed for trial, 6,159 summarily convicted, and 1,611 discharged, as against, in 1879, 8,787 offences reported, 303 offenders committed for trial, 6,483 summarily convicted, and 1,427 discharged. The return for the South Island for 1880 shows 9,317 offences reported, 280 offenders committed for trial, 7,056 summarily convicted, and 1,308 discharged; as against in 1879 9,283 offences reported, 273 offenders committed for trial, 7,016 summarily convicted, and 1,157 discharged. These statistics have been compiled by Islands, as formerly, for the greater convenience of comparison. In addition to their ordinary Police duties the constables perform the following: They compile the jury-list every year, and serve all jury summonses; take the census, and collect agricultural statistics; report upon all applications for charitable aid; attend as orderlies at the Supreme, District, and Magistrates' Courts ; enforce the Dog Nuisance, Trespass of Cattle, and Arms Acts ; discharge the duties of Inspectors of Weights and Measures ; prosecute all cases for breaches of the City and Eailway by-laws; report upon the estates of lunatics and deceased persons; inquire into the circumstances of persons having children in the Industrial School, and summon such for failing to comply with the Magistrates' orders for maintenance ; serve all civil summonses ; and, in the Canterbury District, enforce the provisions of the Contagious Diseases Act. The casualties in the Police branch of the force during the past year are as follow: By resignation and completion of service, 28; by discharge, 3; on compensation, 3; by dismissal, 10; by death, 2 : total, 46. In addition to which 60 were dispensed with on reduction of the Force. Vacancies in the Police are filled up from the Reserve ; all candidates for the former being required to enrol, in the first instance, in the latter, for the purpose of being trained in the use of arms and in habits of discipline, and, when reported on favourably, are transferred to Police duties as vacancies occur. It is with much pleasure that I have to record that the Officers Commanding districts speak in the highest terms of the good conduct and zeal displayed by those under them during the past year. By my last Report, dated the 31st May, 1880, the strength of the Reserve Branch of the Constabulary on the'3lst March, 1880, was shown as 996 of all ranks. On the 31st March, 1881, this number had,