476 



PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION GI. 



valueless, unless account were taken of the consumption of non- 

 intoxicating beverages, like tea and coffee, as well as of the general 

 habits of the people. For example, the amount of beer consumed 

 per head in some of the German States appears at first sight 

 extremely high, while in France the consumption of wine is 

 relatively large, although drunkenness is not common. The 

 explanation, of course, lies in the circumstance that light beer is 

 habitually consumed as an ordinary beverage in parts of Germany, 

 while claret and other light wines are commonly drunk by all classes 

 in France, the use of tea and coffee in both cases being compara- 

 tively insignificant. 



Before leaving the returns from magistrates' courts it will 

 perhaps prove of interest to ascertain what proportion of the 

 persons appearing there were charged with offences sufficiently 

 serious to warrant their committal to a higher court. The rate 

 per 1000 of the population is given hereunder at various intervals 

 since 1861. 



Committals to Higher Courts per 1000 of the Population 



1861-1908. 



Year. 



1861 

 1871 

 1881 

 1891 

 1901 

 1908 



Committals per 1000 

 of the population 



0-6 



The above figures, wliich perhaps afford a fairer test than the 

 total convictions at the lower courts, give evidence of a persistent 

 and regular improvement in the moral condition of the Common- 

 wealth. 



Turning now to the record of convictions in the Superior 

 Courts, it will be found that there has been a great decrease during 

 the last half century. Figures shewing the total convictions, together 

 with the rate per 1000 of the population, are given in the table 

 hereunder : — 



Convictions at Commonwealth Superior Courts, 1861-1908. 



A consideration of the above figures, together with those quoted 

 in previous tables, will make it abundantly clear that, judged by 



