IL—l6,

There were increases during the year under the following headings, viz.:— Theft by clerks or servants .. .. 104 Gaming offences .. .. 35 Theft of animals .. • • .. 27 Selling or supplying liquor after hours . . 36 False pretences .. • • ■ ■ 229 Offences against provisions of no-license in Forgery .. • • • • .. 43 Native proclaimed areas .. .. 45 Breach of the peace or behaviour with intent 48 Opium-smoking .. .. 25 Assaulting obstructing, or resisting con- Minor breaches of Motor-vehicles Act .. 158 stables .. • ■ • ■ .. oo The principal decreases were — False statements or declarations. . .. 32 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts 41 Indecently assaulting a male .. .. 20 Using profane, indecent, or obscene language 66 Assault (common) .. • • . . 165 Vagrancy offences .. .. 49 Theft (petty) . . • • • • • ■ 458 Unlawfully using motor-cars, &c. .. 112 Obtaining credit by fraud .. .. 29 Stealing postal packets .. .. 31 Burglary, house or shop breaking .. 74 Failing to maintain wives and children .. 268 Receiving property dishonestly obtained 54 Breaches of Arms Act .. .. 38 Mischief . . • • • • • ■ 131 Being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car 78 Drunkenness .. .. • • ■ • 205 The following return shows the number of offences reported in each police district during the year, the number of cases in which arrests or summonses resulted, and the number in which no prosecution followed : —

The percentage of arrests or summonses resulting from offences reported during the year 1934 was 91-16, the figures of the preceding year being 9048. Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year :—

Sixteen deaths occurred as a result of murder, being 6 less than in the previous year. In respect of the 16 offences reported there were 9 offenders, 4 of whom (responsible between them for 11 deaths) committed suicide following their crimes ; and 4 were committed for trial. Of those committed for trial, 2 were acquitted and discharged ; 1 was acquitted on the grounds of insanity and detained ; in 1 case the Grand Jury returned a" no bill." In the remaining case the alleged offender has since been arrested and is awaiting trial.

2

Number of Offences Number in which t> v tv * •.+ Number of in which Arrests no Arrests ' nc ' Offences reported. or Summonses or Summonses resulted. resulted. Whangarei .. .. .. •• •• 1,189 1,124 65 Auckland .. .. .. •• •• 6,629 5,898 731 Hamilton .. .. .. •• •• 2,094 1,982 112 Gisborne .. .. .. • ■ ■ • 983 888 95 Napier .. .. .. .. • • 1,665 1,537 128 New Plymouth .. .. •• 1,185 1,113 72 Wanganui .. .. . • • • • • 1,159 996 163 Palmerston North .. .. .. .. 1,651 1,494 157 Wellington .. .. . • 5,796 5,446 350 Nelson .. .. 800 677 123 Greymouth .. .. .. •• 873 794 79 Christchurcli .. .. •• 3,808 3,454 354 Timaru .. .. .. • • • • 813 717 96 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 2,324 2,199 125 Invercargill .. .. .. .. 1,317 1,108 209 Totals 32,286 29,427 2,859

1933. 1934. Crimes " Number of of Number of Number of Offences Offences ln offences ?? e l n ° es ln w "£s"" Arson .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 9 12 7 Robbery and aggravated robbery .. .. .. 11 8 13 11 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. .. 1,348 875 1,274 831 Forgery and uttering .. .. .. .. 176 160 218 213 Murder .. .. .. .. .. 22 12 16 4 Murder, attempted .. .. .. .. 3 3 1 1 Rape .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5 6 6 Receiving stolen property .. .. .. 209 209 155 155 Wounding with intent .. .. .. .. 4 2 4 4 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,792 1,283 1,699 1,232