H.—l6.

Drunkenness. There has been an increase of 489 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during the year as compared with the previous year. The number charged with drunkenness in 1939 was 5,935 (5,788 males and 147 females), whereas in .1938 the number was 5,446 (5,293 males and 153 females). From the following table it will be observed that 31-35 per cent, of the males and 24-49 per cent, of the females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 2-38 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion.

Return showing the Number of Persons charged with Drunkenness during the Year 1939, 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, 138. The following table shows the convictions for drunkenness per ten thousand of, the population for each year from 1934 to 1938 in Australia and New Zealand : — 1934. 1935. 1936. 1937. 1938. Commonwealth .. .. 68-9 76-3 ,83-7 78-4 80-1 New Zealand .. .. 22-3 21-6 28-8 31-6 35-8 Prosecutions against Hotelkeepers. The number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers during the year shows an increase of 25 as compared with the preceding year. There were 628 prosecutions, resulting in 469 convictions, during 1939, as against 603 prosecutions and 428 convictions in 1938. Sly-grog Selling. There were 158 prosecutions during the year for selling liquor without a license, resulting in 145 convictions, and there were also 70 prosecutions, resulting in 62 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 1939 amounted to £2,612. Gaming Offences. There were 491 prosecutions, resulting in 463 convictions, during the year under the Gaming Act, against 598 prosecutions and 559 convictions in 1938. •" "to: Prosecutions of Bookmakers. The following return shows the result of prosecutions in connection with bookmaking during the year ended 31st March, 1940 : —

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Males. Females. Total. Not previously convicted .. .. .. 3,973 111 4,084 One previous conviction . . . . . . 777 20 797 Two previous convictions . . . . . . 356 6 362 Three previous convictions .. .. .. 192 1 193 Four previous convictions .. .. .. 99 .. 99 M ' Five previous convictions .. .. .. ' 78 2 80 Over live previous convictions .. .. 313 7 320 Totals .. .. 5,788 147 5,935

Offence Number of Number of Amount of Fines Prosecutions. Convictions. imposed. r £ s. d. Carrying on business of bookmaker .. .. 101 100 3,193 0 0 Keeping common gaming-house .. .. 126 124 5,142 10 0" Found in common gaming-house .. 26 24 58 10 0 Laying totalizator odds .. .. .. 6 4 42 10 0. "' Publishing betting-charts .. .. .. 1 1 Street betting .. .. .. .. 9 7 315 0 0' ; Totals .. .. 269 260 8,751 10 0