74

H.—2

13 The ChairmanA A man who deliberately asks the department to accept his resignation by a certain date because it will cost him £1,000 if the department does not, and when the department meets him in that request he can hardly have any claim for compensation. You never applied for compensation, did you?-There was no one to apply to, as I had been told I would not get it Then, when I saw an impartial Board had been set up to inquire into police matters, I thought 1 would come before the Commission to see if I could not get my rights. _ _ 14 What is your grievance ?—I think I am entitled to some compensation, more especially considering these men got it, and have since gone back to the service. I was quite satisfied to let mv case drop until I found that these other men were getting compensation. 15. But they resigned under different circumstances altogether to you. They were ill, and produced doctors' certificates proving that they were incapacitated from duty. 16 Colonel Pitt] You spoke of the dissension between the police and the Detective lorce, and you have given us one instance as concerns yourself: Are we to understand from you that you had experience of that generally in the Force ?—Yes. I understand you are going to Nelson, and I would ask you as a special favour to call ex-Inspector Goodall on this point. 17. Where was Inspector Goodall stationed then?—At Wellington. 18 Have you any knowledge of that dissension existing now ?—I know nothing about the Force at the present time. Any knowledge that I have would be from outside talk. 1 hear ot it from the men, but I cannot say anything of my own knowledge; therefore, it is no use talking 3U 19 'Mr Poynton.l Would you suggest any remedy to prevent this dissension ?—There is one thine I should like very much to see, and that is this infernal system of pohtica influence done away with An honest, straightforward man has not a ghost of a show against political influence. The Commissioner should not be tied by the nose to a Minister at all. It is a disgrace to the service. I can speak from personal experience. I know if I had used political influence I could have sot promotion over the heads of all these men, but I would not use it. I spurned the thought of it, because I thought if I was not worthy of promotion by my officer on my merits 1 was not worthy of the service. „ ~ . . ~ 20. Can you speak from your knowledge of the men generally ?—lt is general conversation with them that the man with the most influence can get promotion. 21. That was the opinion?—lt is the opinion even to-day. 22 Do you think that the Force would be more satisfied if the head were made independent ot political influence ?—Yes, Ido positively. I consider a good, honest, and impartial Commissioner will eive a man worthy of promotion or reward his just dues. 23 And was the political influence when you were in the Force a cause of discontent ?—lt was very strong then, and I could have had five members of the House to take up my case, but 1 would not allow it. In fact, it went so far that one member told me he would bring it up m the House. That would be in 1889. . . . ~ , 24 You say the feeling in the Force at that time was that political influence was rifeand undesirable ?—Yes. There was another thing I might mention which was in vogue at that time, although Ido not know if it is the custom now. Any reports of crimes coming in were locked up in the detectives' offices until they could do nothing with them, and then they were handed over to the general police to deal with. In the case of White, I never knew anything about the case until I saw the report in the Evening Post. I then wired to the Inspector if it was true, and asked for particulars These papers were locked up for nearly a week in the detective office, and all the time White was between Wellington and my station, where I had seen him. Yet I was not allowed to know anything about it. It was from the Evening Post that I found out that White was wanted on a charge of horse-stealing. The general police have not a ghost of a show while the detectives keep things locked up as they do. 25 There is a monopoly, or was ?—Yes; but Ido not know how it is at present. 26 The Chairman.] At the time you left the Force did not the Police Gazette contain particulars of all warrants, and descriptions of supposed offenders ?—Yes; but they came out once a fortnight There was a case of a man named Fitzgerald who was in my district, where I saw him, and I did not know he was wanted on a charge of forgery. The Gazette came that day, and when I read the notice I was satisfied that the man referred to was the man I had passed on the road. I got a letter or telegram saying he was in my district—saying that the man was supposed to have gone to my district—and telling me to arrest him. I went out and arrested him, and he was convicted That was another case where the thing was locked up, while the detectives were running about between the Wairarapa and the Upper Hutt; while the man was all the time in my district, and I knew nothing of the charge. . . ' 27. Mr. Poynton.] What would you suggest ?—That whenever a crime is committed knowledge should be sent to every member of the Force in the district. _ _ 28 Colonel Pitt 1 When a man is wanted, as this man White was, is it usual to telegraph to all the constables round, or is it merely put in the Police Gazette ?— No; it was not telegraphed then, but a Crime Eeport was sent out by mail to each member of the Force. However, in that case I got no Crime Eeport at all. , , 29. The Chairman.] You think these cases were exceptional ?—They must have been, because no Crime Eeport reached me. , . 30 Colonel Pitt.] When you say that five members of the House were prepared to take up your case, was that in reference to this matter of White ?—Yes, to get me promotion. _ 31. What is your opinion in regard to the police having the right to vote at elections?—l do not think they ought to have the right. ' 32. Why not ?—Simply because it makes partisans of the police.