H.—l(j.

Indecent and sexual offences were as under : —

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 807 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1925 was 8,277 (7,899 males and 378 females), whereas in 1924 the number was 7,470 (7,129 males and 341 females). From the following table it will be observed that 37-22 per cent, of the males and 44-7 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 7-86 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1925, 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 .. .. .. 621 The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1920 to 1924 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923. 1924. Commonwealth .. .. .. 92-7 96-9 101-8 102-9 98-7 New Zealand .. .. .. 71-6 69-0 48-4 52-2 52-7 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows an increase of seventythree as compared with the preceding year. There were 560 prosecutions, resulting in 294 convictions, during 1925, as against 487 prosecutions and 256 convictions in 1924. Sly-grog Selling. There were seventy-one prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in forty-eight convictions, and there were also forty-two prosecutions, resulting in thirty-one 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 1925 amounted to £1,294. The direct cost to the Department in detecting and prosecuting sly-grog sellers during the year was £286, this being £1,008 less than the amount of fines imposed.

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Offences. 1924. 1925. Unnatural offence ... ... ... ... 33 6 Unnatural offence, attempted ... ... ... ... 5 Indecently assaulting a male ... ... ... 65 52 Incest ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 7 Indecent acts ... ... ... ... ... 19 42 Concealment of birth ... ... ... ... 2 7 Assault, indecent ... ... ... ... ... 113 106 Rape ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 11 Eape, attempted .. ... ... ... ... 4 12 Carnally knowing girls ... ... ... ... 34 55 Carnally knowing girls, attempted ... ... ... 10 9 Abortion, procuring, &c. ... ... ... ... 17 16 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts ... ... 211 224 Totals ... ... ... ... 529 552

| Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 4,959 209 5,168 One previous conviction .. .. .. 992 42 1,034 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 522 20 542 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 321 15 336 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 217 14 231 Five previous convictions .. .. .. 240 19 259 Over five previous convictions .. .. 648 59 707 Totals .. .. 7,899 378 8,277