THE POLICE COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2548, 8 July 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE COMMISSION

OPENED AT INVERCARGILL.

[Pur lhtiisß Association .J INVERCARGILL, July 7. Mr. Bisho~ S.M., opened tho police enquiry to-day. Commissioner Dinnie was present on behalf of the Department, and road a letter ho had sent to the Minister, asking, in view of the sorious and reckless charges which were brought against himself and the Police Department by certain .members of Parliament, that an independent tribunal be appointed to investigate and report, and that the result be made public through the press. Mr. Bishop said no specific allegations had been made to him, and he knew nothing of the matter referred to by Commissioner Dinnie, except through Hansard and the press. lie would send notice to- the members of Parliament to attend and Mve the Commission any information that might be in their possession. Constable Scandrett, who had been appointed'a delegate to bring general matters under-the notice of the Commissioner, was the first witness, and said the pay was insumcient, considering the nature of the work and the risks run. The cost of living had risen considerably. The conduct of tho men here was exemplary, the nhysique satisfactory, and there was no insobriety. Some time ago there was a case, and the men were removed from the force. He knew of , no cases of political influence. Ho had heard the same class of men did not enter the force as formerly, valid attributed it to tlie poor pay. Tho witness said that the house allowance was inadequate, and asked that a railway concession be given to police oh holiday leave. He was perfectly satisfied with the system of promotion. ALLEGATION AGAINST A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. Constable Connel. of the local force, who is a disrated detective, stated that he had had 16 years’service,including six years acting-detective and two years detective. The witness alleged that steps had been taken by Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., under pressure from his constituents, to have witness removed from Lyttelton, because, as he said, he was too successful for the comfort of his constituents. The witness alleged that Mr. Laurenson had actually said to him privately, that before he (Connel) came his constituents could furnish their houses and provide boots and clothing from, the ships in port. Tho witness stated that he was appointed to the position on account of the enormous amount of pillaging at the wharves. After a number of lumpers had been through his hands, Mr. Laurenson complained to Commissioner Dinnie on their behalf, that the witness was interfering' too much with them. Mr. Laurenson subsequently asked him to accept a good out-station, implying that the grievance was that the lumpers were not able to continue thieving and so dishonestly supply their homes with boots, etc. Subsequently the witness was removed to Christchurch as acting-detective, and was -afterwards detective, but bad been reported for trilling offences and was a “marked man.” He had been shifted to Dunedin, where he was subsequently disrated. He alleged that no opportunity had been given for answering charges of neglect of duty made against him. It had been alleged that he had been drunk, but he had never been drunk in his life. He had done three weeks’ uniform duty in Dunedin, and had then been shitted to Invercargill. He considered his'treatment cruel and tinjust. The case will be further considered when the Departmental files come before the Commission. Constable Connel privately submitted to the Commission the name of one detective who he alleged was in th© habit tff getting drunk.

Insnector Mitchell gave a very favorable report on the Southland district. He considered' the difficulty of procuring recruits was due to the too high education test, which blocked a desirable class of candidates from the country. It could be by no means contended that a higher education standard could make a man. a better constable. He endorsed the system of promotion. In reference to the headquarters .sta.. he considered that' it is not desirable that in the absence of the Commissioner a sub-inspector should have power to assume duties which make it necessary for him to dictate to men holding a higher rank. The Commission will sit again tomorrow.