CEIMINAL STATISTICS. 25 



It ia singular to observe this close correspondence as regards 

 the decree of instruction between the Census and Sumnaary 

 Jurisdiction returns — the proportion of those not able to read 

 being the same in both cases. 



I have not hitherto deemed it worth while to distinguish the 

 sexes separately, but the returns for 1871 present such a 

 singular discrepancy in the proportions as to make them worthy 

 of notice. I will give the results as in the previous state- 

 ment : — 



Summary 

 Census. Gaols. Jurisdiction. 



Males : Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Read and write 71 62 78 



Eeadonly 11 17 6 



Notread 18 21 16 



Females : 



Read and write 70 29 69 



Eeadonly 15 34 10 



Notread 15 37 21 



I am unable to offer any suggestion that would afford a satisfac- 

 tory explanation of the singular discrepancy in the figures which 

 represent the relative proportions of the males and females — as 

 regards their educational status — in the gaols of the Colony ; and 

 I do not care to pursue the inquiry further in this direction. 



There are other points of view from which the criminal statis- 

 tics to which I have adverted may be regarded. I have as yet 

 made no comparison between the returns of the earlier and later 

 period under review. I propose, therefore, before closing the 

 present inquiry, to glance at them in this light ; and in order to 

 make a fair comparison, I will cast off the figures representing the 

 earliest year of the thirteen, and divide the twelve years — 1861 

 to 1872 — into two equal parts, and compare the mean of the two 

 periods in regard to their respective educational standards. I 

 find then that of the prisoners received into the gaols of the 

 Colony during the six years 1861 to 1866, and 1867 to 1872, 

 there were respectively, who could 



1861 to 1866. 1867 to 1872. Difference. 

 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Read and write 58 62 4 increase 



Read only 12 18 6 „ 



Notread 30 20 10 decrease 



100 100 



Whilst of those ofienders laid hold of by the police and dealt 

 with summarily, there were respectively who could 



1861 to 1866. 1867 to 1872. Difference. 

 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Read and write 46 • 73 27 increase 



Readonly 26 8 18 decrease 



Notread 28 19 9 „ 



100 100 



