XLIII

H.—2

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

WELLINGTON. Me. Poynton arrived in Wellington Friday, 11th February, 1898. Colonel Pitt arrived in Wellington Saturday, 12th February, 1898.

Satueday, 12th Febeuaey, 1898. During the day an informal meeting was held at the residence of Mr. Wardell, at which preliminary matters were discussed and agreed upon.

Monday, 14th Febeuaey, 1898. The Commission sat at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, the 14th day of February, 1898. Present: Albert Pitt, Esquire, barrister; Joseph William Poynton, Esquire, S.M. ; and Herbert Samuel Wardell, Esquire, S.M. Resolved, on the motion of Colonel Pitt, That Mr. Wardell be appointed Chairman of the Commission. The official reporters, A. M. Kay and J. Dunbar Gray, and the Secretary, E. W. Kane, were in attendance. The Commission was read. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Poynton, That the public proceedings of the Commission shall be open to the Press. The Commission resolved as follows :— 1. That any person making an allegation or complaint, or against whom any complaint is made, may appear personally or may be represented by counsel. 2. A form of advertisement, to be inserted in all daily papers throughout the colony outside the Wellington Provincial District, was agreed to, as follows : — Royal Commission to inquire into Mattebs affecting the Police Pobce op the Colony. Notice is hereby given that a Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire, inter alia, into the general organization, distribution, control, enrolment, discipline, efficiency, pay, emoluments, and rewards of the Police Force of the colony as it now exists, and as to the general conduct, sobriety, and morality of the members of the said Force, and the alleged failure of the said Police Force to maintain order and enforce the laws of the colony. Pursuant to the terms of the Commission, no inquiry will be held by the said Commission into any matter or thing which has already been investigated and determined before any judicial or other lawfully constituted tribunal, or where any member of the Police Force has been dismissed from the service, or whose services have been dispensed with in consequence of his misconduct or for any other reason. All persons who desire to make any complaint or allegation within the terms of the Commission are hereby notified that a general statement of such complaint or allegation, in writing, must be forwarded to the Secretary of the Commission, at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, so as to reach him on or before the 10th day of March, 1898. The Commission will sit to hear evidence and make inquiry into such complaints or allegations, and generally into the administration, efficiency, and control of the Police Force, at such places as may be most Convenient, at times to be hereafter notified. E. W. Kane, Wellington, 14th February, 1898. Secretary of the Commission. 3. A form of advertisement to be inserted in all daily papers within the Wellington Provincial District was agreed to as follows :— Royal Commission to inquire into Mattebs affecting the Police Foboe of the Colony. Notice is hereby given that a Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire, inter alia, into the geneial organization, distribution, control, enrolment, discipline, efficiency, pay, emoluments, and rewards of the Police Force of the colony as it now exists ; and as to the general conduct, sobriety, and morality of the members of the said Force, and the alleged failure of the said Police Force to maintain order and enforce the laws of the colony. Pursuant to the terms of the Commission, no inquiry will be held by the said Commission into any matter or thing which has already been investigated and determined before any judicial or other lawfully constituted tribunal, or where any member of the Police Force has been dismissed from the service, or whose services have been dispensed with in consequence of his misconduct, or for any other reason. All persons in the City and Provincial District of Wellington who desire to make any complaint or allegation within the terms of the Commission are hereby notified that a general statement of such complaint or allegation, in writing, must be forwarded to the Secretary of the Commission, at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, so as to reach him on or before the Ist day of March, 1898. The Commission will sit to hear evidence and make inquiry into such complaints or allegations, and generally into the administration, efficiency, and control of the Police Force, at such places as may be most convenient, at times to be hereafter notified. B. W. Kane, Wellington, 14th February, 1898. Secretary of the Commission. 4. That Mr. Tunbridge, Commissioner of Police, be asked to have a copy of the Commission inserted in the Police Gazette, and also a notification inviting all members of the Police Force to lay any complaint or suggestion they may desire before the Commission. 5. That the Commissioner of Police be asked to supply all papers and records that may be likely to afford information to the Commission.

vii—H. 2.