H.—l6.

Serious Crimes. The following is a return of the number of serious crimes as compared with the previous year : —

Eleven deaths occurred as a result of murder, being 5 less than in the previous year. Of the offenders, 6 were arrested, 4 others committed suicide, and in one case no arrest was made despite long and diligent investigation. Of those (6) committed for trial, 2 were found guilty and sentenced to death, 3 were acquitted on the ground of insanity, and 1 was, owing to mental condition, unable to plead. These four were ordered to be detained in mental hospitals. Indecent and sexual offences were as under :—

Drunkenness. There has been a decrease of 122 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1935 was 3,170 (3,057 males and 113 females), whereas in 1934 the number was 3,294 (3,152 males and 142 females). From the following table it will be observed that 43-09 per cent, of the males and 55-75 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 2-51 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

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1934. 1935. Crimes - Number of mber of Number of mber of Offences Offences m ofiences Offences in reported. rted . which Arrests r resulted. r resulted. Arson .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 7 25 21 Robbery and aggravated robbery .. .. .. 13 11 7 2 Burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, &c. .. 1,274 831 1,325 938 Forgery and uttering .. .. . . .. 218 213 190 178 Murder . . .. .. .. .. 16 4 11 6 Murder, attempted .. .. .. .. 1 1 6 6 Rape .. .. .. •• •• • • 6 6 13 13 Receiving stolen property . . .. .. 155 155 215 215 Wounding with, intent . . .. .. .. 4 4 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,699 1,232 1,792 1,379

Offences. 1934. j 1935. j Unnatural offence .. .. .. .. .. 6 7 Unnatural offence, attempted .. .. .. . . .. 1 Indecently assaulting a male .. .. .. . . 62 47 Incest .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 21 Indecent acts .. .. .. .. .. I 36 32 Concealment of birth .. .. .. .. .. j 2 1 Assault, indecent .. .. .. .. .. 96 130 Rape .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 13 Rape, attempted .. .. .. .. .. 6 7 Carnally knowing girls .. .. .. .. 62 86 Carnally knowing girls, attempted .. .. .. 14 14 Abortion, procuring, &c. .. .. .. .. 9 18 Exposure of person and grossly indecent acts .. .. 155 166 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 472 543