H.—l6

3

Indecent and sexual offences were as under :—

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 283 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1928 was 6,601 (6,298 males and 303 females), whereas in 1927 the number was 6,884 (6,546 males and 338 females). From the following table it will be observed that 35-5 per cent, of the males and 51-4 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 3-6 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1928, 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, 232. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1923 to 1927 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. Commonwealth .. .. .. 102-9 98-7 97-3 99-5 101-3 New Zealand .. .. .. 52-2 52-7 58-6 53-0 44-6 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows an increase of 158 as compared with the preceding year. There were 667 prosecutions, resulting in 361 convictions, during 1928, as against 509 prosecutions and 292 convictions in 1927. Sly-grog selling. There were thirty-seven prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in thirty-six convictions, and there were also fifty prosecutions, resulting in forty-four 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 1928 amounted to £882. Gaming Offences. There were 319 prosecutions, resulting in 295 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 670 prosecutions and 576 convictions in 1927.

Offences. 1927. 1928. Unnatural offence ... ... ... ... 4 4 Unnatural offence, attempted ... ... ... 5 4 Indecently assaulting a male ... ... ... 61 55 Incest ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 5 Indecent acts ... ... ... ... ... 30 42 Concealment of birth ... ... ... ... 7 6 Assault, indecent ... ... ... ... ... 105 85 Rape ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 13 Rape, attempted .. ... ... ... ... 10 10 Carnally knowing girls ... ... ... ... 54 58 Carnally knowing girls, attempted ... ... ... 14 8 Abortion, procuring, &c. ... ... ... ... 9 6 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts ... ... 240 255 Totals ... ... ... ... 557 551

Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 4,062 147 4,209 One previous conviction .. . . . . 734 45 779 Two previous convictions .. .. .. 373 25 398 Three previous convictions .. .. . . 201 18 219 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 133 10 143 Five previous convictions .. .. .. 196 10 206 Over five previous convictions . . .. 599 ■ 48 647 Totals .. .. 6,298 303 6,601