THE POLICE COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2592, 28 August 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE COMMISSION

HON, I. A. McGOWAN'S EVIDENCE

(Per Press Association.. AUCKLAND, August 27. This morning the Hon. J. A. McGowan, ex-Minister of Justice, came forward voluntarily to give evidence. He said he was nine years Minister of Justice and political head of tho Police [Department. He had no ground for complaint in regard to Mr. Dl nine's administration of the Department. The only complaint he had was a general desire for more pay, also in ragard to promotion. While in office he was quite satisfied with the control of the force. -He had frequently been approached in regard to the promotion of police by members of Parliament. If a man worthy of promotion was recommended by a member of Parliament there could be no objection to a recommendation being made, but if the man was not worthy of promotion no recommendation of any member of Parliament would avail. ’ These applications unquestionably were at times prompted by the police themselves. He could suggest a remedy; but would not like to apply it, viz., to take away the franchise from the police. Mr. Bishop: But the question of democracy is at the root of it. I do not think you can apply that remedy in New Zealand. Mr. McGowan said he believed the Commissioner should have a free hand to a certain point. He should have the power of suspending a man. He would not say the Commissioner should have the power of dismissing a man. He (Mr. McGowan) appointed police constables on the Commissioner’s recommendation. The Commissioner and officers were appointed by Cabinet on the Minister’s recommendation. Mr. Wright was promoted from chief clerk to sub-inspecter on Mr. Dinnie’s recommendation- He could not remember the special circumstances. Only one application for leave for Mr. Dinnie's son came before him. It was not an application for six months’ leave, which would certainly have been refused. Mr. Bishop: Mr. McGowan is a disinterested person. If he says there was only one application before him that should suffice. Mr. McGowan gave the following reason why in his opinion there is a difficulty in securing and enrolling new men in the police force: “With the formation of so many unions and the making of so many arbitration awards, the rate of wages has gone up much higher than it was. The result is that men prefer to go in for manual labor. The principle of increasing wages by arbitration awards is, in my opinion, an unsound one. If the price of labor is put above its economic value, something must happen. While the country prospers it is all right, but with a time of depression, there will he a very different state of affairs, and we must suffer. I think that this has some bearing on the present scarcity of candidates for the police force.”