THE PULICE COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2553, 14 July 1909, Page 4

THE PULICE COMMISSION

evidence at dune die.

(Per press Association.; K D UNi.-x.N, July 13.. The Police Commission resumed tins morning. jnvereargill, an k- gsu r *BS&?& “ V Riverton and InvercargillfS At £ hid heard 1 «d * 4- r , infln**ncf* was on tin* incix i*x in 1 regard to members of the force, who thought that unless they got a pull on StliouM b= oor.tr,,ll«d by ono Uron* S-’A’tf, /jitchell, Invercargill. Ho UiM Inspector Tunbridge lie recalled, arm thus the Department acre wou.d ic .semble that model of cveiy Pjxice cm the Irish Constabulary. Jhe l >jijce were insufficiently paid, and bad wrong methods for detecting ay-gi-OK Lclhnfc. Candidates for the police shorni lx. dir ferentlv selected. . . Witness was eevoroly cross-examined bv Mr Bishop and Commissioner Dm„ie * but stuck, to the statements alleging too much influence in the matter [."‘‘promotion. Moo W not com,, forward to give evidence because they were afraid such action would prejudice their chances of promotion, and they must get evidence' to make iue report of any use. , y , Frederick Mallard, ex-inspector, strongly opposed the promotion of pmm clothes men into high positions m the uniformed branch, and believed this alteration of the rules of the Department was made for political purposes, there were political pulls m all police departments. He, - himself Was retired owing to political influence. Under cross-examination, the witness adhered firmly to the opinion that the chief-detective .should not become a sub-inspector or inspector. The next witness, Sergeant Hoggins, stationed at Lawrence, said that the force was well organised now, control was effective, and the men for the force were not selected haphazard. He thought the pay' should be increased. There was nothing in the political-in-fluence cry. Men were promoted now without length of service. He thought that no man under 45 should be a sergeant. He considered detectives nad a right of promotion. Inspector O’Brien, in charge of the Dunedin district, said he was voicing the feelings of the force throughout New Zealand in saying that everyone had complete confidence in the present Minister of Justice. He thought it fair to the present Commissioner of Police to tell him that there was a general impression, amounting to a feeling of unrest, amongst the members of, the force, -he might say from the extreme north to the extreme south, that the. Commissioner of Police had stationed in each centre some member of the service known as a ‘■‘useful man.” that man’s chief function was to convey to the Commissioner, through some channel or another, the names of members of the force who'epoke in praise or dispraise of him. Witness knew nothing of such an appointment himself. Y\ fitness would not say there was one word of truth in it. but it was only fair to the Commissioner that he should have an opportunity to deny it on oath, tor some reason there had been little promotion in the Otago district for some years, although he had recommended such. He thought it desirable in the interests of the service that the Commissioner should take more notice and give more effect to the recommendations of his district inspectors. The transfer of inspectors in districts should be made if the inspector recommended them, and in making the appointments of constables to no-license districts the inspector should have an absolute choice. In the matter of recruiting inspectors should be allowed to enrol a good man in their district when he saw one without there being any necessity for recruits to go to Wellington to present himself for enrolment. He thought it highly necessary to offer more inducements to a better class of young men to join the service. The pay of a constable on joining the service was at present too loSv, and houseallowance of 7s a week was far too little for a constable who had to reside in the city'. A constable should have added to the free list a uniform. He was now receiving one pair of boots per annum at persent, and no boots were supplied with a uniform. He thoughtsergeants should have an equal advance in pay and their house allowance increased to 14s per week. He thought t-lie time had arived. when the chief detective should attain the rank of a sub-inspector. A number of defaulter's from other districts in the Dominion had been sent to this district in the last 45 years, and had occasioned witness great surprise, so much so that be had begun to look upon the Dunedin district as a common dumping ground for defaulters. On the other hand ho had his defaulters, but his defaulters, in about nine cases out of ten, were left with him. He had had constables sent him not long ago whose defaulters’ list gave witness much concern. It was anything but creditable to the men, and the thought arose, why was this man not discharged from the service in the district when ho came? The inspector expressed disagreement with the mode of recruiting constables, and said Home men bad been sent to him from the depot whom he could not recommend to a chimney sweep, the physique and intelligence being deplorable. The apportioning of awards for special convictions such as sly-grog selling also gave dissatisiac-tion. A heated debate then took place between Commissioner Dinuie and Inspector O’Brien with reference to evidence given by tho former ato Wellington before the previous Commission, the inspector contending that Commissioner Dinuie acted unfairly in making sweeping charges when neither the, inspector nor sub-inspector had an opportunity to reply. He contended that such evidence should have been given here. Mr. Bishop said if the previous Commission had been aware that Commissioner Dinuie was going to make statements reflecting on officers, evidence* could have been taken in the districts, where the officers were. Nothing of t!jo kind would occur on this occasion. Discussion took place concerning men rocoinmended by Inspector O’Brien for promotion, but who bad not been promoted.. .Reference was also made to the ease of a man promoted by the pxAUnister of Justice against Inspector ’J'u abridge w wishes and in spite of Commissioner Dinuie’s protest. • Tho question of the promotion of district clerk’s after ten years’ service was also referred to, d*d Mr. Bishop said that . that aspect would bekericusly considered by the Commission. . The. Commission will sit again to- . morrow. y \ j