H.—l6

3

Indecent and sexual offences were as under :• —

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 970 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1927 was 6,884 (6,546 males and 338 females), whereas in 1926 the number was 7,854 (7,489 males and 365 females). From the following table it will be observed that 34-6 per cent, of the males and 49-7 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 3-6 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1927, and the Number of Previous Convictions against them, so far as is known.

Number of foregoing who were members of the crews of vessels in port .. .. 236 The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1922 to 1926 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. Commonwealth .. . . .. 101-8 102-9 98-7 97-3 99-5 New Zealand .. .. .. 48-4 52-2 52-7 58-6 53-0 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of two--as compared with the preceding year. There were 509 prosecutions, resulting in 292 convictions, during 1927, as against 511 prosecutions and 285 convictions in 1926. Sly-grog selling. There were sixty-eight prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in fifty-four convictions, and there were also fifty-nine prosecutions, resulting in forty 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. 1927 amounted to £1,074. Gaming Offences. There were 670 prosecutions, resulting in 576 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 420 prosecutions and 373 convictions in 1926.

Offences. 1926. 1927. Unnatural offence . ... ... ... ... 7 4 Unnatural offence, attempted ... ... ... 4 5 Indecently assaulting a male ... ... ... 36 61 Incest ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 7 Indecent acts ... ... ... ... ... 30 30 Concealment of birth ... ... ... ... 3 7 Assault, indecent ... ... ... ... ... 112 105 Rape ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 11 Eape, attempted .. ... ... ... ... 8 10 Carnally knowing girls ... ... ... ... 47 54 Carnally knowing girls, attempted ... ... ... 14 14 Abortion, procuring, &c. ... ... ... ... 10 9 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts ... ... 312 240 Totals ... ... ... ... 607 557

• ■ I • • ■ ■ ■' ■ • . ; ! Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 4,281 170 4,451 One previous conviction .. . . .. 898 47 945 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 422 33 455 Three previous convictions . . . . .. 232 14 246 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 177 14 191 Five previous convictions .. .. .. 163 14 177 Over five previous convictions .. .. 373 46 419 Totals .. .. 6,546 338 6,884