75

H.—2

33. The Chairman.] When you joined the Force there was a rule prohibiting men from taking any part in elections or political canvassing: Was that rule ignored ?—Yes, it was taken no notice of. 34. Do you think that the withdrawal of the right of the franchise would in any way affect the character of the men who would join the Force ? —No, I do not. 35. Do you think it would act as a deterrent to joining the Force ? —No, I think you would get the right class of men. 36. When you joined you gave up your right to the franchise ?—Yes. 37. At that time was there any feeling in the Force amongst the men owing to their being disfranchised?— Yes, many of the men did complain, and it was owing to their agitation that they got the right to vote. I never felt myself injured when I had no franchise. 38. Colonel Pitt.] As to the rate of pay to the police: Do you think that it is sufficient? —Of course, married men have not the same advantages as single men, but I think the rate of pay is fair. Ido not think there is any fault to be found with the rate of pay, if they get uniform, and long service, as of old. 39. Mr. Tunbridge.] You joined the service in 1881 ?—Yes. 40. And you were appointed to the charge of a station at the Thames ?—Yes. 41. And afterwards appointed to a station in Willis Street?— Yes. 42. Within three years ?—Yes. 43. And you had charge of a station right up to the time of your resignation ?—Yes. 44. You were advanced in class how soon, after you joined the Force ?—I think I was made second-class in the third year after joining. 45. And your complaint is that you were not made a first-class constable ?—I believe Inspector Thomson recommended me for first-class rank and a reward of £10, in connection with the arrest of White, but it was not entertained. 46. It simply amounts to this : You were placed in charge of stations almost immediately after joining the Force, and got your first advance within three years after joining, and you were in charge of a station during nearly the whole of your service ? —Yes. 47. And yet you think you were not fairly dealt with ?—I certainly think I was not. When I was in charge of Pahautanui during Major Gudgeon's time, fuel and light were taken away, and on three different occasions I had to sit up in my office with a prisoner and burn my own fuel and light, and never got any refund. 48. That was a general order; it did not apply to you only ?—That is so; but I wished to show the injustice it inflicted on the whole of the country stations. ; 49. There is no fuel or light granted now?— No. 50. Are you aware that at the present time constables are going eight and ten years, and in some cases longer, without getting a rise?—lam not aware of the fact, and if such is the case it is time they were dismissed, or justice has not been done to them for want of influence to get promotion, &c. 51. Well, if such is the case, you would consider you were very well dealt with in comparison with the men who are going eight and ten years without getting a rise ?—Hardly, because I know of any number of men who have never done anything to get a rise in their lifetime. 52. Are you also aware that there are very few men indeed under six or seven years' service who are in charge of stations?—l am not aware of it. 53. You say the Commissioner should have full power in dealing with the Force. Perhaps you will tell the Commisioners who it was you came down to Wellington to see, when the Commissioner declined to take action in the way of giving you a transfer in consequence of your wife's illhealth?—l applied to no one, but went direct to Captain Coleman. I went and reported myself at the depot, and the result was that I got a transfer to Wellington. I never consulted a member with a view to promotion or transfer. 54. You did not go to any one outside the Force to advocate your transfer?—No; except my wife. 55. Colonel Hume.] At the time you entered the service, you say, political influence was rampant ?—Yes ; there was no difficulty in getting rewards, or promotion, or anything else, if you liked to use influence. 56. You also told the Commissioners you had a good deal of political influence yourself, but never used it ? —That is the positive truth. 57. You also gave the Commissioners to understand that anybody without political influence at that time would have very little chance of advancement ?—They would trot along for ever and a day. That is my opinion. Of course, if anybody did anything exceptional they might have had a chance. 58. Is it not a fact that you, without the slightest political influence of any sort being exercised, got your first step shortly after joining the Force ?—Yes; and I will tell you how I consider I got promoted. A man named Eemer, who was my junior, got promoted to second-class, and I applied for my grade, pointing out this man was junior to me and had been promoted. The next thing was that 1 got my step. 59. However, it comes back to this point—that you got it without the slightest political influence of any sort ? —Yes. 60. Then some men at that time, apparently, without political influence, did get on ?—I must have done. 61. How do you reconcile that with your statement that no man could get on without political influence ?—I did my duty well, and was praised by my officers for it. 62. You quoted the names of two officers who were promoted, you say, through political influence?—l did not say anything of the sort. I suppose you mean the men Maddern and Gray.