H.—l6.

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 819 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1932 was 3,868 (3,695 males and 173 females), whereas in 193] the number was 4,687 (4,480 males and 207 females). From the following table it will be observed that 42-4 per cent, of the males and 50-8 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 2-2 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1932, 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, 92. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1927 to 1931 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. Commonwealth .. .. 101-3 94-27 89-5 73-0 58-6 New Zealand .. .. 44-6 43-20 46-3 42-4 32-1 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of 53 as compared with the preceding year. There were 552 prosecutions, resulting in 336 convictions, during 1932, as against 605 prosecutions and 355 convictions in 1931. Sly-grog Selling. There were 59 prosecution* during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 46 convictions, and there were also 30 prosecutions, resulting in 29 convictions, for other offences againsi the provisions of the Licensing Act in force in no-license districts. The lines imposed on the sly-grog sellers during the year 1932 amounted to £1,107. Gaming Offences. There were 467 prosecutions, resulting in 412 convictions, during the year nnder the Gaming Act, against 354 prosecutions and 324 convictions in 1931.

Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1933 :—

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Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 2,127 85 2,212 One previous conviction .. .. .. 406 14 420 Two previous convictions .. .. ... 289 4 293 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 173 7 180 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 117 6 123 Five previous convictions .. .. .. L28 3 131 Over five previous convictions .. .. 455 54 509 Totals .. .. 3,695 173 3,868

Number of Number of Amount of Fines Onenoe. Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. £ s. d. (': i nying on business of bookmaker .. .. 56 51 1,553 0 Keeping common gaming-house .. •• 48 42 2,111 0 0 Found in common gaming-house .... 7 5 7 10 0 Laying totalizator odds 24 20 170 0 0 Publishing betting-charts ...... 4 4 42 Betting with bookmaker .. .. .. 3 3 Street betting 12 12 640 ° ° Totals 154 137 4,532 10 0