5

H.—l6

Return showing the Number of Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers within each Principal Centre during the Year 1921 as compared with 1920, the Number convicted, and the Number discharged or otherwise dealt with.

Sly-grog Selling. There were 49 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 38 convictions, and there were also 82 prosecutions, resulting in 64 convictions, for other offences against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on sly-grog sellers during the year 1921 amounted to £1,914, the same amount as in 1920. The amount of fines in the various districts are as follows :— £ Whangarei . . . . . . . . . . 20 Auckland . . . . ... . . . . .. . . 530 Hamilton ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. 480 Gisborne Napier .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 New Plymouth . . . . . . .. . . .. .. 132 Wanganui.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 415 Palmerston North Wellington ... . . .. . . .. 202 Greymouth Christchuroh .. .. . . .. . . . . .. 75 Timaru .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 30 Dunedin ... Invercargill . . .. .. .. .. . . .. 1.0 Total.. .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,914 The direct cost to the Department in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £438, this being £1,476 less than the amount of fines imposed. Gaming Offences. There were 245 prosecutions, resulting in 194 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 279 prosecutions and 196 convictions in 1920. Criminal Registration Branch. During the year the finger-impressions of 3,374 persons were received, classified, searched, and filed, an increase of 293 on the number received last year. 255 persons were identified as previous offenders, either in this Dominion, the Australian States, or England. 1,054 photographs were taken by the photographers attached to the branch, the portraits of 2,631 prisoners (10,869 photos) were dealt with, and 806 photographs of discharged prisoners were reproduced in the Police Gazette. On the 31st March the finger-print collection consisted of the impressions of 28,408 persons, an increase of 1,758 on last year's figures. The following table shows the increase of the finger-print collection since the introduction of the finger-print system of identification in March, 1903 :—

Centre. Prosecutions, 1920. Prosecutions, 1921. Convictions, 1921. Discharged or otherwise dealt with, 1921. Auckland and suburbs Wellington and suburbs Christchuroh and suburbs Dunedin and suburbs 6 23 9 4 4 27 11 25 1 14 11 13 3 13 12 Totals ... 42 67 39 28

Year. Number of Prints iu Collection. Increase on Previous Year. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. Year. Number of Increase on Prints in Previous Collection. Year. Prisoners traced as Previous Offenders. 1904 1.905 1906 1907 1908 1909 .1910 1911 1912 1913 3,500 4,200 5,000 6,151 7,622 8,718 9,919 10,905 12,097 13,552 3,500 700 800 1,151 1,471 1,096 1,201 986 1,192 1,455 117 72 88 104 123 138 140 148 178 183 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 15,302 1,750 16,682 1,380 18,134 1,452 19,508 1,374 20,982 1,474 22,332 1,350 23,686 1,354 . 26,650 2,964 28,408 1,758 230 270 218 166 132 153 176 232 255