H.—lo.

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 897 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1938 was 5,446 (5,293 males and 153 females), whereas in 1937 the number was 4,549 (4,399 males and 150 females). From the following table it will be observed that 32-02 per cent, of the males and 32-02 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 3-48 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1938, 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, 184. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1933 to 1937 in Australia and New Zealand :— 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937. Commonwealth .. .. 67-6 68-9 76-3 83-7 78-4 New Zealand .. .. 23-3 22-3 21-6 28-8 31-6 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of 15 as compared with the preceding year. There were 603 prosecutions, resulting in 428 convictions during 1938, as against 618 prosecutions and 419 convictions in 1937. Sly-grog Selling. There were 106 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 93 convictions, and there were also 45 prosecutions, resulting in 45 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 1938 amounted to, £2,639 15s. Gaming Offences. There were 598 prosecutions, resulting in 559 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 681 prosecutions and 662 convictions in 1937. Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1939 : —

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Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 3,598 104 3,702 One previous conviction .. .. .. 492 11 503 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 319 11 330 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 196 5 201 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 144 3 147 Five previous convictions .. .. .. 98 2 100 Over five previous convictions .. .. 446 17 463 Totals .. .. 5,293 153 5,446

,-. ff , Number of Number of Amount of Fines n(je- Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. £ Carrying on business of bookmaker .. .. 107 104 2,884 Keeping common gaming-house .. .. Ill 107 4,405 Found in common gaming-house .... 8 7 12 Laying totalizator odds .. • ■ • • 2 2 10 Publishing betting-charts ...... 3 2 25 Street betting .. • ■ • • • • 5 4 200 Betting with bookmaker ...... 4 4 9 Totals .. .. 240 230 7,545