THE POLICE COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2557, 19 July 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE COMMISSION

SITTINGS AT DINEDIN. [Per Press Association.J DUNEDIN, July 17. Before the Police Commission this morning, Sergeant Willis said he considered policemen should get railway concessions when on holiday leave.. He drew attention to the relative positions of travelling allowances to sergeants and detectives. Sergeants got 6s a day and detectives Bs. In the case of a sergeant in charge of a country station with a detective attached, the sergeant’s pay was 12s a clay and the retective’s 15s. Thus a man in charge was paid a lower rate than the man under him, and .should the two be travelling together the detective went first class and the sergeant, who was over him, went second class on the railwaysCommissioner Dinuie said that _as there seemed to be some misconception about his meaning in respect to a statement made in the House of Representatives by Mr. Arnold, he wished it understood clearly that what lie meant was that the statement was not correctand there was jjroof to the contrary . He did not suggest that Mr. Arnold made the statements knowing them to be incorrect. Mr. Arnold asked Commissioner Finnic if it was in consequence of au article in “Truth” that application for leave for Mr. Dinnie, junior, which Mr Arnold contended was originally for six

months on full pay, had since been altered. Mr. Dinnic swore that the application'with his minute thereon, recommending only one month’s pay, was the original and only application. He had meditated instituting proceedings against “Truth,” but was not encouraged by the Minister. Mr. Dinuie asked Mr. Arnold to withdraw the statement concerning his recommendation of his son for leave of absence on full pay. Mr. Arnold said he was not satisfied with the files. '

Mr. Dinnio said he would bring further proof. Dealing with the matter of promotion, Mr. Dinnie'said he only promoted constables to charge of stations without consulting the Minister. Other promotions were submitted with his recommendation to the Minister for approval. .. Later.

Sergeant "Willis said that married men objected to having to go home in uniform. The rate of pay should be raised, as the present rate did not attract the right class of man. •Mr. Dinnie’s cross-examination was continued by Mr. Arnold, M.P. . A large number of questions were put to tlie witness with the view of eliciting the method pursued by the Department before enrolling a candidate for the force. Mr. Dinnie contended that the examination and inquiry into candidates’ antecedents were as full as couldreasonably be expected, but Mr. Arnold did not agree with him. Mr. Dinnie called attention to the percentage of arrests for offences reported to the police from 1901-2 to 1908-9. They were respectively 93. 94, 95, 94, 95, 95, 95. ■ That showed that the force had shown a high degree of efficiency. The file of papers bearing on the application of the finger-print expert for leave of absence was referred to at length. Mr. Arnold’s contention was that originally the expert was granted six months’ leave on full pay, but that documents were .subsequently altered to give only one month on full pay, ' Mr. Bishop said that he had examined the file, and if the allegations made were true, the ex-Minister of Justice must have been a party to the withdrawal of the original application and the substitution of another document. The Commission will sit again on Monday.