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873. Do you consider superannuation essential to a good Force ?—Yes. 874. Do you suggest that it should be provided by the men out of their pay, or by the State ? — By the State. 875. Do you find that constables serving civil processes and acting as bailiffs work satisfactorily? —Yes; but at the same time if they did not carry out their duties satisfactorily it would not be reported to me, but to the Justice Department. 876. Do constables so acting furnish any return of the moneys received for such services ?— Yes; it is furnished to the Justice Department. 877. You do not know what sum is made by a constable who is a bailiff, in addition to his pay ? —I cannot answer that question. I have at times asked the Accountant, and he has given me the answer, but I do not know whether he had to go to the Justice Department first for it. 878. Do you think you ought to know ? —I cannot say; it is a fluctuating quantity. 879. Colonel Pitt.} Do I understand you to hold that this long-service pay should cease, and that the superannuation scheme should take effect ? —I do not know that I would deprive them of it, because they are very old hands. 880. Can you carry out the superannuation scheme without that ? —No. I think if you had a superannuation scheme you should put these men out of it. Ido not see how you are going to provide for them now because they are so old. This was one of the objections from the first. 881. How many classes would you have, Colonel Hume? —I would have Inspectors, sergeants, senior constables, and constables; and I think I would have all the detectives one class. 882. Would you have Sub-Inspectors? —I do not think, myself, that there is any necessity for them. They were not a success, I understand, when they were appointed before. 883. Now, do you recommend a total cessation of recruiting from the Permanent Militia ? —No. I do not see any reason why a man, because he happens to be in the Permanent Artillery, should be debarred from going into the police. 884. I mean on the ground of the efficiency of the Permanent Militia itself, or the Police Force ?—No ; I think there are good men in the Permanent Militia, and if too many are not taken I do not see that they have any giounds for complaint. 885. You said that this political influence is the principal matter that leads to disorganization in the Police Force ?—Yes. 886. How do you recommend that that should be met ? —Of course, if you had my classification scheme, or my payment scheme, in force you would do away with all influences of any sort, political or otherwise, to get men promoted. That goes without saying. Then it comes down to transfers and giving men stations. That I would leave entirely in the hands of the Commissioner. I might say I consider he would be strong enough to resist any pressure that might be brought to bear upon him. 887. Do not you think that the Commissionor should be made absolutely independent of Ministerial control. lam not altogether in favour of that. In fact, I said in my report, " I have no desire to lay it down as an axiom that the Force should be controlled entirely sole will of one individual." But I say in the matter of transfers he should certainly have sole control. 888. Now, in your opinion, are the police districts, as at present constituted, satisfactory?— Yes. I have not found them too big. 889. If the superannuation scheme was in force, would the compulsory life insurance of the members of the Force be necessary too ? —No, I should think not. 890. You stated, in your opinion, the police ought not to have a vote : would that, in your opinion, operate against getting good men as recruits for the Force ?—No ; I am certain it would not. The men, as a rule, tell me they do not want to vote. 891. When was the franchise given to them ?—I cannot say at once. It was before I was in office. [Since ascertained it was in 1886.] 892. So that a great many men joined the Force on the understanding that they would not have the franchise ? —Yes ; more than half of them, I should say. 893. Now, do I understand from your evidence that you are in favour of the Government providing uniforms for the police ?—Yes, I think they ought to. I have never given the matter much attention. The police never complained to me much about it, and I have never thought about it. 894. How are injuries to the uniforms met at the present time ?—The department bears the expense of repairing. 895. Will you say how you would deal with the case of petitions against the transfers of constables ; I mean with a view to preventing them ? —lf they knew that the Commissioner had sole control, and that he was a strong-backed man, they would not try it on. 896. As to the reduction to £120 for third-class constables : in your opinion, should that stand if a scheme for increase of pay is not adopted ? —Yes, I think it is a very fair pay for a commencement. I may say that since then the pay of a Permanent Militiaman entering the service has also been reduced. 897. Do you consider that the present number of the Force is sufficient in comparison with the population ?—No ; I intended to have asked for twenty more on the estimates this year. I may say I had an increase last year and the year before. 898. Is the Police Eeward Fund often drawn upon ?—Yes; bat it is not reducing much. The fines for the year and the percentage pretty well cover the expenditure. 899. Can you make any suggestion as to the alteration of that eight-hours night-duty ?—No, I cannot. I have thought the question out, and I cannot see how any alteration can be made without a considerable increase in the number of non-commissioned officers and men. I might add that, as men can do it in the English climate, I certainly think they can do it in the New Zealand climate.