A.—4,

POLICE AND PRISONS DEPARTMENT. Establishment. Reductions in the European personnel have been continued throughout the year. On 31st March, 1931, the European strength in all ranks was thirty-seven, on 31st December, 1931, it was thirty, and on 31st March, 1932, it was twenty-two. The Native Police Force, including warders (but excluding messengers and clerks), numbered thirty-eight at the end of the year. The six posts in outer districts have functioned normally ; the mobile patrol mentioned in the report of last year was discontinued as from the end of November, 1930. Prisons. On Ist April, 1931, the total number of prisoners in gaol was 98. During the year 412 prisoners were received and 431 discharged, leaving 79 in custody at the end of March, 1932. The number of mental patients on 31st March, 1932, was seven. General. There has been a general decline in criminal offences, which may be classified approximately as follows : — 1930-31. 1931-32. Serious crimes .. .. .. .. • • ■ • 179 134 Breaches of measures affecting native affairs . . . . . . 770 129 Lesser offences .. .. .. •. ■ • • ■ 529 724 1,478 987 The principal increases have been —theft and trespass, largely in connection with removals of foodstuffs from plantations ; wilful mischief connected also with removal of beef from plantations ; and affrays, being domestic quarrels in villages. Police activities have been facilitated by the passing of the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1931, the Shopping Hours Ordinance, 1931, and the General Laws Ordinance, 1931, all being revised consolidations of previously existing law. The warrants held for execution on 31st March, 1931, were : for arrest, 153 ; for commitment, 86 ; and on 31st March, 1932, the numbers were 97 and 55 respectively. There were 310 licensed motor-vehicles in the Territory at the end of the year. CUSTOMS AND MARINE DEPARTMENT. Trade Statistics. There was a sharp decline in the trade of the Territory in 1931, the total trade for the calendar year having been £359,397, as compared with an average of £635,491 over the preceding five years, in the following table imports and exports are set out by quarters : —

The fluctuation in quarterly figures is caused by non-regular arrivals and departures of overseas vessels.

11

Exports. I Total Bananas. Other. Imports. Trade. _ Total Value. Tons. Value. Tons. Value. Cases. Value. Value. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 31st March, 1931 .. 2,739 26,557 170 8,897 18,736 8,601 2,369 46,484 41,445 87,929 30th June, 1931 .. 2,355 24,218 157 8,107 6,630 3,067 6,535* 41,927 47,216 89,143 30th September, 1931 2,060 19,900 20 1,362 20,224 9,114 l,153f 31,529 34,410 65,939 31st December, 1931 3,908 38,545 273 16,918 39,641 18,180 864 74,507 41,879 116,386 31st March, 1932 .. 2,475 24,654 158 10,079 13,758 4,127 964 39,824 33,194 73,018 Totals for calendar year 12,285 166,221 1,007 61,294 95,867 44,259 12,741 284,515 275,355 559,870 1930 Totals for calendar year 11,062 109,220 620 35,284 85,231 39,022 10,921 194,447 164,950 359,397 1931 * Includes specie (silver coin), £5,100. t Includes specie (silver coin), £100.