H.—l6.

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 363 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1937 was 4,549 (4,399 males and 150 females), whereas in 1936 the number was 4,186 (4,043 males and 143 females). From the following table it will be observed that 37-87 per cent, of the males and 59-33 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 2-84 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1937, 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, 125. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of the population for each year from 1932 to 1936 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. Commonwealth .. • • 60-7 67-6 68-9 76 • 3 83-7 New Zealand .. •• 26-7 23-3 22-3 21-6 28-8 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows a decrease of 49 as compared with the preceding year. There were 618 prosecutions, resulting in 419 convictions during 1937, as against 667 prosecutions and 421 convictions in 1936. Sly-grog Selling. There were 167 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 133 convictions, and there were also 110 prosecutions, resulting in 95 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 1937 amounted to £2,020 10s. Gaming Offences. There were 681 prosecutions, resulting in 662 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 670 prosecutions and 635 convictions in 1936. Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1938:

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Males. Females. | Total. Not previously convicted .. •• 2,733 61 One previous conviction . • • • ■ • 434 6 440 Two previous convictions .. • • • • 260 10 270 Three previous convictions .. • • • • 192 7 Four previous convictions .. 136 10 146 Five previous convictions .. • • • ■ 117 12^ Over five previous convictions . . • • 527 49 516 Totals .. ■ • 4,399 150 4,549 1 I

Number of Number of Amount of Fines Offence. Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. £ s. d. Carrying on business of bookmaker .. .. 88 87 2,166 0 0 Keeping common gammg-house .. 06 ou si n n Found in common gaming-house . . • • 42 42 81 0 0 Laying totalizator odds 2 2 19 in n Publishing betting-charts .. • ■ ■ ■ 3 ■! IU U Street betting .. •• •• n in n Betting with bookmaker ...... 1 1 Totals .. • ■ 220 216 5,064 1 0