H.—l6.

General. Efficiency. —During the year an additional Sub-Inspector was appointed at Auckland in order to cope with the work of that district. Lectures on practical police and detective, duties have been introduced in all police districts. These lectures are given by officers to all grades once a fortnight in the centres —the probationary constables receive a lecture weekly —and at least monthly in the smaller districts. These lectures are very popular, and I am hopeful they will improve the standard and efficiency of the Service. I have made tentative arrangements for a series of lectures being given in chemistry and on criminal law and medical jurisprudence. I hope to be able to fix dat.es before very long for the lectures, which will be given by specialists. Special lectures have been given by our finger-print expert on the value of finger-prints, how to preserve prints when found, and on photography and its value to the Department. Our expert in firearms also gave a number of lectures in all police districts on firearms—how to use them, and how to handle firearms that were in any way connected with an accident or crime. A comparison miscroscope for ballistic work, cameras and microscopes for micro-photography, improved lighting-apparatus and exposure-meter for the photographic room, and a balopticon projector for reproducing objects and lantern-slides on a screen for lecture purposes have been procured. These appliances will greatly facilitate the work of the Department in the Arms Bureau and the Finger-print and Photographic Branches. The library of legal and other reference works at Headquarters has also been brought up to date by the purchase of a number of additional text-books and more recent editions of those already on hand. Ministerial authority has been given to inaugurate a wireless plant to try out the efficiency and value of wireless communication between a city police-station and patrol-car fitted with wireless equipment. This experiment is of a highly technical nature and a costly undertaking. lam therefore proceeding with it with caution, soliciting the best expert advice procurable. It is very doubtful if good reception can be obtained in a station erected in a city, on account of electrical disturbance and interference from electric-tram lines. It is necessary to try out experiments perhaps from a station on the Tinakori Hills to a patrol car in the city and suburbs to find out the quality of reception obtainable before embarking 011 a final scheme. If good reception can be obtained from Tinakori Hills, it will be necessary to arrange for the transmission and receipt of messages between a station there and the patrolcar — an office in the. Central Police-station being established to communicate with Tinakori Hills station. This scheme is now being tested out by the radio experts of the Post and Telegraph Department, and itis expected that the matter will be finalized at an early date. Some very fine work of a highly technical nature has been performed by members of the Force in various cases that have come before the Courts during the past year. I hope, with lectures, practical demonstrations, and examinations to further increase the efficiency of the Service and bring it up to a high standard. Since the inauguration of the 48-hour week the men feel the benefit of the one day ofi during the week, particularly the men on night duty—one night off in a week breaks the monotony of the dreary cold nights, particularly during the winter months, when constables have to patrol their beats consistently throughout the night with but a half-hour break for supper. The break during the week is greatly appreciated and makes the men more happy and contented —this tends to greater efficiency. It is only when men are happy in their job you get the best out of them. I can say with confidence the men are happy in their job. Transport. —During the year four additional new motor-cars of high power, seating five persons each, were purchased and are in commission, one at each of the four centres. Two more new cars were purchased to replace two cars at Auckland that had outlived their usefulness for police service. Four more new cars are required, one for each centre, to replace four that are practically worn out —two of them have travelled over 100,000 miles each ; the other two close up to 100,000 miles. Three new vans for the conveyance of prisoners are also required to replace ones now becoming unserviceable — they are constantly going to the repair-shop. lam having inquiries made for a lighter and more modern type of van, in keeping with the present-day outlook —one that will give better service and be less costly. The old vehicles are too heavy and clumsy and heavy on benzine-consumption. During the year the cost of benzine advanced 2d. per gallon, consequently an increase in the allowance to members of the Force who use their own cars in country districts on police duty was granted to meet the increased cost of benzine and the additional travelling. During the last eighteen months an increase in allowances to the extent of over £3,000 has been granted members of the Force who use their own cars on police duty. In return, the men must provide good cars capable of performing efficient service. Our transport to-day can be said to be fairly efficient. At the present rate of progress we should be able to claim in a few years' time an efficient transport service. To-day it is 100 per cent, more efficient than it was two years ago. Additions to Staff. —To enable the 48-hour week to be inaugurated the strength of the Force throughout the Dominion was increased by 11 sergeants, 99 constables, 4 detective-sergeants, and 11 detectives, a total of 125. During the year further increases to the authorized strength to the number of forty-seven were made to meet the normal increase of work and to facilitate the working of the 48-hour week. An additional constable was posted to Kaitaia, Pukekohe, Henderson, Balmoral, Tauranga, Te Kuiti, Ruatoria, Whakatane, Opotiki, Waipukurau, Moturoa, Hawera, Stratford, Patea, Taumarunui, Lower Hutt, Petone, Kilbirnie, Wellington South, and Rangiora. Additional men were also posted to Auckland City, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Blenheim, Timaru, and Dunedin. The status of the following stations has been raised and a senior sergeant placed in charge : Devonport Mount. Eden, Queen Street Wharf (Auckland), Masterton, Blenheim, Lvttelton, and Oamaru. This necessitated several promotions from the rank of sergeant to senior sergeant.

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