103

H.—2

245. Have you the papers of Constable Henry Patrick Kennedy, of Auckland ?—Yes. 246. When was he appointed?—He was transferred from the Permanent Artillery on the 26th October, 1895. 247. What is his position in the Force now?—He is a third-class constable. 248. Is he doing plain-clothes duty ?—I would suggest that that, again, is a question for the Inspector in whose district he is stationed. 249. As a matter of fact, cannot you tell whether he was taken on as a plain-clothes constable immediately on joining the Force ?—No, I cannot. 250. Is that a matter for the Inspector to say ?—Yes. 251. What Inspector did he serve under—at Wellington, or Auckland ?—At Auckland. 252. Have you got his application form there?— Yes. 253. Who does he refer to for character?— James Allen, M.H.8., and Mr. A. Morrison, M.H.E. He is a coachbuilder by trade. 254. Have you the papers of Constable Hollis ?—Yes. 255. When did he join the Force ?—On the 22nd June, 1896. 256. Who does he refer to for character ?—Mr. B. M. Smith, M.H.E.; Mr. Poole, Normanby Street, Wellington; and Mr. Warwick, Normanby Street, Wellington. He was in the Permanent Artillery. 257. Can you tell me if he has done street duty ?—No; the Inspector can tell you. 258. Is he at Auckland? —Yes, I think so. 259. Have you the papers of Detective Herbert ?—Yes. 260. What were the circumstances attending his removal from Invercargill ?—The Inspector told me that they did not want a detective there ; that the place was too small for him, and that Herbert was a very intelligent man, and would do better in a big place. 261. Was there no public petition asking for his removal? —-No. 262. No request from any citizens ? —No. 263. No documents on that file asking for Herbert's removal? —No. 264. Have you ever had any complaints about the man's moral character ?—No. 265. You have not received any correspondence at all affecting the man's character ?—No. 266. Is Constable Michael Green still in the Force ?—Yes. 266 a. Have you got a conviction against him for striking a superior officer?— Yes. The Inspector reported as follows :— The Commissioner of Police, Wellington. Police Office, Dunedin, 3rd March, 1890. Re Acting-Sergeant Michael Green, No. 178, charged with absenting himself without leave from Maclaggan Street Police-barracks from 10 p.m., 28th February, 1890, until 2.20 a.m., Ist March, 1890, and with being under the influence of drink at 2.15 a.m., Ist March, 1890, in Rattray Street, Dunedin ; also with having assaulted Secondclass Sergeant M. J. Geerin, No. 110, at 2.15 a.m., Ist March, 1890, while performing night-duty in Rattray Street, Dunedin, by striking Geerin in the breast with his clenched hand, and biting the small finger of his left hand (vide defaulter's sheet and correspondence attached). Sib,— Having very carefully investigated the above offences, I have the honour to submit for your information the whole of the correspondence as per margin relating thereto, and to state that I find that Acting-sergeant Michael Green, No. 178, is guilty of absenting himself without leave, being under the influence of drink, and of having committed a most unprovoked and cowardly assault on Sergeant Geerin in the public street while in the execution of his duty, and most strongly recommend Acting-sergeant Green's dismissal from the Force to the end that discipline may be maintained. He is under suspension since 9.30 a.m., Ist instant. I most respectfully ask that you may be pleased to send as soon a practicable a sergeant here to replace Acting-sergeant Green, who will discharge his duties fearlessly, which is very much needed.—l have, &c, S. Mooke, Inspector of Police. At first, Major Gudgeon minuted the papers, " Sergeant Green to. be dismissed the Police Force.—■ 6/3/90"; but he evidently changed his mind, for on the following day he took the papers to the Defence Minister with the following minute : " Hon. Defence Minister.—Am not quite satisfied that this man ought to be dismissed." Then, there is the following minute : "As the last record against Acting-sergeant Green dates so far back as 1879 ; and as the offence committed was not when on duty, and not in uniform, I think reduction to third-class constable and removal to another district will be sufficient punishment. —W.E.E." Constable Green sends in a very long report, dated the 21st January, 1891, in regard" to his case, and asking for a rehearing. This was forwarded to me with the following minute: " Forwarded to the Commissioner of Police. Constable Green has been stationed at Invercargill ten months, during which time his conduct has been satisfactory. — J. Hickson, Inspector. 22/1/91." I replied, " Inspector . Hickson. — Please inform Constable Green that his case was very fully gone into and considered by my predecessor, and therefore I decline to reopen it. —A. Hume. 27/1/91." This was indorsed, " Noted and returned to the Commissioner." Then, there is a letter to the Defence Minister from Mr. J. W. Kelly, M.H.E., as follows: — Sib,— Wellington, 29th June, 1891. I have the honour to bring under your notice the case of Constable Green, who was reduced some time ago from that of an acting-sergeant to third-class constable. I have perused all the evidence in your office relating to his case, and I think no impartial person can come to any other conclusfon than that the reduction was unjustifiable. The then Commissioner, Major Gudgeon, as well as Captain Russell, seem to have swallowed the advice of ex-Inspector Moore, and so disrated the constable. I beg of you to review the case, and lam certain that after you have done so your conclusions thereon will be the same as my own. I have, &c, Hon. Minister of Defence. J. W. Kelly. I then wrote to the Honourable the Defence Minister : " I have read these papers very carefully and am not satisfied that there was a clear case against Acting-sergeant Green. Many of the late Inspector Moore's decisions were to my mind unsatisfactory, and this is one." This was submitted to the Minister, who wrote: " Eeinstate as first-class constable from Ist July, 1891.—E.J.5. 18/7/91." This was done.