66

H.-2

great many. I may add that the system broke down. They could not give us the men. We could not help ourselves. . . , , T ... 935. Nixon was appointed after the system had broken down ?—No, I think betore. 1 will not be certain. . , ~ 936. In June you reported it as having broken down, and Nixon was appointed two mouths before ? —Oh yes, it would be in consequence of that. 937. The constables that were enrolled subsequently to March were enrolled in the same way 938 Was same care exercised in Nixon's case as in those subsequently enrolled ?—Exactly the same. Inquiries were made in the same way—as to their former history and conduct. 939. There is nothing in the regulations stating especially that a constable, if he becomes the father of an illegitimate child, will be dismissed?—No, Sir. ~ •. i_ i. +v 940. There is nothing specific in the regulations indicating that a constable, if he becomes the father of an illegitimate child, will be punished by dismissal, or otherwise ?--No, Sir. _ 941. You think it desirable that there should be a regulation to that effect, considering the position of policemen and complaints made against the Force generally ?—Yes, I think there ought to be a regulation. . . , ~ 942. I suppose most of these cases come to your knowledge as Commissioner, either by outside complaints, or by marks on the defaulters' sheets ?—Quite so. _ 943 And do you think, having regard to the number of men, and other circumstances, that the proportion of those who have illegitimate children is great, or is it any more than could be expected ?—What could be expected ; very small, very slight, from what I know. _ ~,,.. 944. From what you know, you think the proportion of those having illegitimate children is small ?—Yes ; they are few and far between. 945 The Chairman.'] Can you give us the number of cases that have been brought to your knowledge during your term of office ?—I think the one mentioned before the Commission is the only one I can recollect. I think Mr. Taylor said something in the House about illegitimate children. Of course, Ido not know anything about that. Ido not remember any other case. One minute ! I think there was a man dismissed in Napier—a man named Eyan. I could look it up. 946 Not more than two cases in seven years ?—As far as I can remember. 947. That have been brought to your knowledge: There may have been cases, but they have not been brought to your knowledge?— Quite so. 948. Mr. Poynton.] As to these retiring-allowances to Inspector Moore, Constable liattie, and other cases, it would have been repaid to them again on retiring, or to the widow on death ?—Yes. 949. Can you say what was the object of compelling a refund of the compensation before they were reinstated ?—I suppose that, having received the money and then got an appointment again, the country should not lie out of it for the time being. That is the only way m which I can account for it. ~-,.,,■ i , . ~ 950. It would only amount to the interest on the capital during the time he may be in the Force? —Yes, quite so. . 951. The Chairman.] There is the element of risk: He may be dismissed, and thus forfeit his claim to compensation ?—Of course, there is that;. but in those particular cases, where you had old and tried officers, it was not likely it would result in dismissal. 952. Mr. Poynton.] Can a constable take an office from a local body without the consent of the Commissioner ?—No. 953. I mean Inspector of Nuisances, and so on? —No. 954. So that the constables who have these appointments hold them with the consent and sanction of the Commissioner ?—Quite so. 955. Notwithstanding the drawbacks, I understand you to say that the holding of these omees, such as you mentioned yesterday, is desirable by the police ?—Yes, I see no objection. 956. It saves the country a lot of money ?—Yes ; and in some country stations the constable has little or nothing to do ; but still he must be there, and he might as well hold these offices in addition to his police work. . 957. The Chairman.] Are there many or few of those stations ?—There are many such stations. ■ , . . , 958. Mr. Poynton.] Some of these offices involve very little work, and only at certain times oi the year? Yes. I may say I have had an application from a constable to be removed from a station so that he might have something to do. ■ - 959. I suppose it has a good effect in training constables to certain work ?—1 think so, and it brings them in closer touch with the people. . 960. The Chairman.] You have used that expression, " bring them in closer touch with the people," several times. What do you mean by it ? I mean a man goes, for instance, to collect agricultural statistics. He sees the people and their mode of living, and, perhaps, he has never been there before. He knows exactly what their mode of living is, what they are doing on the farm, and so on. 961. Do you not think this bringing them in touch with the people has its disadvantages as well as its advantages ?—I never found it so. . 962. I thought that was a ground of complaint against men who had been stationed in localities for some time ?—Oh, well, that will not occur during five years, or if they are moved periodically. 963. Mr. Poynton.] I want to know your system of collecting crime statistics. Is the system of receiving reports as to crimes committed uniform ?—Yes. 964. A crime is reported and entered in a particular book—the crime-book? —Yee. 965. Whether the crime is detected or not, immediately the crime is reported to the police ?— Yes; and there are, besides that, two warrant-books,