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238. Has anything come to your knowledge in respect to such a thing? You may not know it but such and such a thing might be reported in the Force as being done. Statements come to your hearing; and if you have any to make, we can make inquiry into them, and whether there is any truth in them or not ?—At present, I cannot bring to mind any case. 239. You have not heard anything to show that political influence has been used to secure the promotion or reduction of men in the Force ?—No, Ido not know that I could give any information. Of course, as I said before, I have no knowledge of these transfers and promotions, until they come to me, except since Mr. Tunbridge came. _ 240. What I want to know is, whether it has come to your knowledge that any political influence has been used to the disadvantage or advantage of particular men in the Force ? I could not say ; I could not give you any particular instance. I hardly know what political influence you mean. ' 241. Colonel Pitt.] Supposing a publican, for instance, thinks that a constable is unduly zealous in the performance of his duties in watching his house. He thinks that constable would be better employed in another district. He goes to the member for the district, who goes to the Minister or the Commissioner ?—I do not know of any such case. No such ease has come under my knowledge in my district. Of course, the Commissioner manages the Force. J 242. The Chairman.] Do you know of political influence being used to bring about the removal of % man from one district to another?—No, I cannot recollect any case. i 243. Mr. Tunbridge.] As regards the question which has just been put to you, although you are not able to put your finger on any particular case, I would like to know whether you are aware that some of the men—l do not mean to say all the men—feel that there is a power behind the police-officers that they can go to, which is subversive of discipline ?—I have heard that they go to members. 244. I do not expect you to be able to state any particular case ; but is there not a feeling in the breasts of some of the men that it is better for them to seek outside influence—l am not saying any particular party, or anything of the kind, outside influence—than go to their officers; that they are more likely to get promotion from another source than by proper performance of their duties ? I think there was a feeling of that sort, bat it has disappeared now. 245. Mr. Poynton.] You are aware there was such an impression?—By mere talk and nothing more. * 246. Mr. Tunbridge.] As regards the strength of the police at Wellington: you came here in 1892 ?—January, 1893, I think. 247. You do not happen to know what the population of the City of Wellington was at that time ?—No. 248. At any rate, from a rough calculation, within the last year or so the population has increased by 7,000 ?—Yes ; within the last eighteen months. 249. Would you say, from a rough calculation, that the population of Wellington within the last five years has increased 15,000 ?—I would not be a bit surprised. It is increasing daily. 250. In 1892, according to the annual reports, the strength of the police at Wellington was 46, and in 1897, 52—an increase of six men. Now, would you consider that increase of six men sufficient to keep pace with the increase of population?— Scarcely, I think. 251. You say your Police Force is fairly efficient. That, I take it, is their efficiency according to their numbers ?—Yes. 252. But you think the Force would be much more efficient if it was more numerous ? I do. I think it requires more men to insure prevention. 253. You speak of the Police Force at Christchurch being efficient. Do you mean it was an efficient Force under the old provincial system, or right up to the time you left ? Well, it was more efficient under the old provincial system, but still it was efficient up to the time I left.' 254. As a matter of fact, under the old provincial system the Force was more numerous ? More numerous and more efficient. 255. Although the population was less the numbers were greater, and consequently the efficiency of the Force was better?—Oh, yes. No doubt about it. 256. For instance, what was the number of officers under the old provincial system ? Well, at Christchurch there was a Commissioner and an Inspector, and an Inspector at Timaru. Then Oamaru was added, and there was an Inspector there. Then the two at Timaru and Oamaru were cut off, and the Commissioner left. 257. Under the old provincial system there were three Inspectors and a Commissioner ?—lt was after the provincial system ceased that the Oamaru district was added, but there was an Inspector at Christchurch and an Inspector at Timaru, and a Commissioner, under the old provincial system. 258. But for many years past there has been simply one Inspector for the whole district ?— One Inspector; and he has Oamaru as well. 259. That is to say, there is one Inspector now where there were three before ?—Yes. 260. As far as you know there has been a similar reduction throughout the whole of New Zealand ?—Yes. I think it was in 1881 there was a reduction of the Force, and that told very much against its efficiency. 261. As regards the instruction of recruits : at present you have no recruit sent to your station unless you have a beat for him ?—No. 262. Every man you have has a beat ? —Yes. 263. Therefore, the little time that you can spare to put a man on a beat with a recruit causes another boat to suffer ? —Yes. 264. The same in the case of a man being sick ?—Yes.

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