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265 The same in the case of a man taking annual leave: Therefore, you have not a spare man anywhere to take the place of a man who is sick, or a man who is on annual leave, or pending the time a man may be trained ? —That is so. 266 What number do you consider you ought to have as a sort of reserve > I mean tor vacancies that may arise through a man being sick, or on leave, or on escort duty ?—I think we could set on very well with six men more. 267. To have these beats full, and to have reserves to take the place of men on escort duty, or men who are sick or on leave, how many more men do you consider you would require ?—We would want at least four more men. 268. The Chairman.] You want six more men on beat and four on reserve >— 1 think we could get on very well with six or seven men more altogether. 269. That would be roughly an increase of 12 per cent. ?—Yes. 270 Ido not know whether you have any idea of the proportion of police to population in the other colonies ?—No. The Gazette will show that, but ib is less in New Zealand. 271. As regards pensions, you say there is a pension system in all the Australian colonies ?— Yes, with the exception of Tasmania. 272. And you consider the Force would be much more efficient if there was a pension system here ?—No doubt about that. The men would have something to look forward to. 273 They would be more zealous in their duties, and when the men came to an age which made them incapable of the proper performance of their duties they would be able to retire?— Yes. 274 As to the age-limit, I see there was an age-limit till 1885—officer 65, constable 60. You consider'a police constable at 60 years is quite too old to perform ordinary police duties ?—lt is time I think, that he went out at the age of 60. Very few of the men at Home go up to 60. 275 As to free quarters or providing lodgings for married men, do you know if m the Australian Colonies men receive lodging allowances ?—They do in New South Wales. I am not sure about Victoria. 276. What is the amount ?—One shilling a day. 277. Do you know of any other Police Force in which the men have to find their own uniform > —I know of no other Force. . 278. Is it not a cause of very great discontent that they have to purchase their own uniform I Y es _ 279. You do not know of any similar system in any Police Force ?—No. 280 Will you kindly tell the Commissioners how long it takes a man from the time he joins to get promoted one step ?—Up to a short time ago men had been in the third class for twelve and fourteen years. , . 281. Not through any misconduct, but simply because there were no vacancies m the superior class, or, if there were, the vacancies were not filled up ?—Yes. 282. Are not the men feeling this question of class very keenly ?—Yes. No doubt, it is a very important thing. 283. You told the Commissioners you did not think you had been consulted with reference to the recent promotions in class?—l think you spoke to me about it. 284. You are quite right; you were not consulted. From your recollection, do you know any man in your district advanced in class—promoted you call it, but I call it advanced in class—that has not been almost invariably the senior man in the class to which he belonged ?—No, I think they are all senior men. . 285. The questions, then, in regard to which a great deal of dissatisfaction exists are lodgings for married men and the unsatisfactory condition of the classes? —Yes. 286. Mr. Poynton.] And the pensions ?—Yes. 287. Colonel Pitt.'] What are the relative rates of pay in New Zealand and the other colonies? —I could not say exactly. . . 288. With regard to the number of Inspectors in the Canterbury District at the time of the abolition of the provinces and now, is not the means of communication considerably better now than it was then ?—No. 289. Since 1876 ? —No; we had the railway through then to Timaru, Oamaru, and Dunedm. 290! The Chairman.] You consider the Force under-manned and under-officered ?—Here at present in Wellington? . 291. Yes ?— Ido not know about the officers; I could manage myself for a while all right. 292. Mr. Tunbridge.] As to the question of officers, Ido not know whether it has occurred to you, but when you are absent from Wellington on inspection duty in the country, or away on other business, or on leave, your district clerk acts for you?— Yes. 293. Your district clerk was until a very short time ago a constable, was he not ?—Yes. 294. Your district clerk, holding the rank of constable, sends out orders to the sergeant or sergeant-major: do you consider that right ? —No, Ido not. 295. Have you any suggestion to make to obviate that which may be called an anomaly—a constable sending out orders to a sergeant ? —I do not know really how it can be remedied. 296. Do you think there should be some officer holding a rank over the sergeants at each of the four police centres to act in your absence ?—A Sub-Inspector; yes. At Palmerston, for instance, there would be a Sub-Inspector in Victoria, and he would be deputed to take charge during my absence. 297. You rather qualify your statement, therefore, that you do not trunk you are underofficered in Wellington? —Oh, at Wellington we can get on very well, I think. 298. Do you think there should be some officer immediately below you in rank to take charge during your absence ?—Yes ; but I happen to have a very superior man in my office.