H.—l6

3

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 209 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1929 was 6,810 (6,491 males and 319 females), whereas in 1928 the number was 6,601 (6,298 males and 303 females). From the following table it will be observed that 34 per cent, of the males and 49-5 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 4-8 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1929, 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, 315. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1924 to 1928 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. Commonwealth .. .. 98-7 97-3 99-5 101-3 94-27 New Zealand .. .. 52-7 58-6 53-0 44-6 43-2 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of sixteen as compared with the preceding year. There were 651 prosecutions, resulting in 383 convictions, during 1929, as against 667 prosecutions and 361 convictions in 1928. Sly-grog selling. There were 100 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in eighty-six convictions, and there were also forty-two prosecutions, resulting in thirty-three convictions, for other offences against the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The fines imposed on the sly-grog sellers during the year 1929 amounted to £1,342 10s. Gaming Offences. There were 280 prosecutions, resulting in 243 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 319 prosecutions and 295 convictions in 1928. Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1930 : —

! Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 4,283 161 4,444 One previous conviction .. .. .. 749 44 793 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 388 26 414 Three previous convictions .. . . .. 251 28 279 Four previous convictions . . . . . . 133 9 142 Five previous convictions .. .. .. 149 5 154 Over five previous convictions . . .. 538 46 584 Totals .. .. 6,491 319 6,810

Number of Number of Amount of Fines enoe ' Prosecutions. ! Convictions. j imposed. £ Carrying on business of bookmaker .. .. 47 32 1,557 Keeping common gaming-house .. .. 60 j 58 2,842 Found in common gaming-house .. .. 25 j 21 45 Laying totalizator odds .. .. .. 18 17 281 Publishing betting-charts .. .. .. 11 10 165 Betting with bookmaker ...... 2 2 4 Street betting .. .. .. .. 9 7 160 Totals .. .. .. 172 147 5,054