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Motor Patrol.—-The usefulness of the motor patrol in the main centres has again been demonstrated during the year. It is available to answer urgent calls from the public particularly in the hours of darkness and to ensure that the police are on the scene of the crime as quickly as possible. This leads to public confidence, while an immediate arrest may save hours of time which otherwise would have been taken up in the investigation and the detection of the offender. Police Launches.—A water patrol of the harbour is maintained by police launches at Auckland and Wellington. Their services are required for a variety of purposes, including the checking of theft from yachts and launches, the rendering of assistance in connection with boating accidents, and attendance upon the arrival and departure of seaplanes. The matter of replacing the launch at Auckland is one which requires consideration. Communications.—A system of telephone broadcasting to all the suburban police stations at "Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch is now in operation. This has proved satisfactory and effective. By this medium police throughout the city and suburban areas are advised simultaneously and promptly on matters of urgency and importance. Good use has been made of the teleprinter units at Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, which provide a prompt and confidential channel of communication between these centres. Advantage has been taken, as rapidly as material has become available, of every means to improve channels of inter-communication. The radio-telephone system at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch has been of substantial assistance to the police in dealing with serious crime, and especially in the capture of escapees and the recovering of unlawfully converted cars. Owing to unforeseen difficulties, some delay has been experienced in completing the system of three-way radio communication at the main centres, but it is expected that the installation will be completed and in operation within a very short period. At Wellington the system is now in operation and is proving very satisfactory indeed. Uniforms. —An alteration in the design of uniforms, providing for a lapel-fronted tunic, to be worn with collar and tie, has been approved in principle, but a change-over involves heavy demands on both supplies of material and tailoring requirements, and a change from the old to the new style must necessarily be a gradual process. Arms Bureau.—The Arms Bureau was established in 1935 and continues to provide a useful service. Lectures in the investigation of shooting cases as well as practical demonstrations and instructions regarding the use of arms have been given to members of the Force in the various police districts and to all recruits during their course of instruction in the Police Training School, while public lectures regarding the prevention of shooting accidents were given to several rifle clubs. Investigations into several serious criminal cases involving firearms were carried out and evidence given in the Courts. In many other cases evidence was submitted to Coroners' Courts regarding the cause of death, accident, or suspected suicide where firearms were concerned. The work of disposing of surrendered and forfeited firearms has been heavy during the year due to the activity and vigilance of the police in tracing and recovering weapons, including war souvenirs, which were unlawfully held. Another activity of the Bureau is the recovery of filed-out serial numbers, legends, and trade-marks from articles suspected of having been stolen. The articles commonly dealt with are bicycles, firearms, tools, and motor-engines. The accident rate with firearms is lower than that of 1947-48, being 43, of which 11 were fatal, as against 48 (including 14 deaths). This year's total does not include 3 deaths regarding which the Coroner could not decide whether they were due to accident or design.

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