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57. Do you think the law is defective ?—Yes. 58. On what points would you suggest amendments ?—I think the Commissioner would give you more information than I could. 59. You really approve of anything the Commissioner says in that respect ?—Yes. I may say the difficulty is in establishing a " place " in regard to this question. 60. Colonel Pitt.] It has been decided at Home that betting on a racecourse was not betting on a place ?—Yes, it has been decided again and again. A man can move about in the street and you cannot do anything at all to him. 61. Mr. Taylor.] You have Detective Brobergin Wellington?— Yes. 62. And Nixon and Cox ?—Yes. 63. And do you say they are not equal to the detection of any gambling shops that may be run in Wellington ?—Well, of course, there is Detective Campbell as well. 64. Detective Campbell cannot do anything, because he says there are none here. Are not those three detectives equal to the detection of any gambling shops ?—First of all, the moment they go into a shop they are known. 65. But do they not sometimes get their evidence from other people ?—We have been trying to do that. 66. But have failed so far ?—We had a raid on a betting-house a year or so ago, and a number of men were arrested and brought to the station, and they were all fined. 67. Do you think since you made that raid the thing has been absolutely suppressed ? —No, I do not think so. We have been trying the whole time. 68. Trying the whole time and failed to get a conviction ?—I forget whether there was a conviction within the year or not. Mr. Tunbridge has spoken to me two or three times about it. 69. Do you find it difficult to enforce the licensing law?— Yes, rather difficult. 70. Very difficult?— Yes. 71. Do you think Sunday trading is carried on to any great extent in Wellington?— Not to a very great extent. There has been a check on it for some time past. 72. Have you been more active during the past six months than usual?— Yes, I think so. We have had more cases. We have one on this morning, of Sunday trading. 73. What is the explanation of the increased activity—have you had discussions with the Minister of your department, or the Commissioner, about Sunday trading ? —I never have any communications whatever with Ministers. 74. Have you had any communication with the Commissioner on the subject ?—Yes. 75. And what was his instruction ? —I do not think I ought to say that. There is nothing to conceal —but on principle. 76. Before a Eoyal Commission there is nothing to conceal ? —I have always understood that anything that passed between myself and the head of my department is privileged. 77. What was the nature of the communication between the Commissioner and yourself in regard to the enforcement of the Sunday-trading clauses of the Licensing Act?—l need not give the exact conversation, but generally the conversation was as to how we could manage to detect it —put a stop to it. 78. And have you taken special steps since the conversation ?—I do not think that we have taken special steps. For some considerable time—a couple of years, at all events—we have sent out men every Sunday, and they make reports. 79. I simply want to know whether, as a matter of fact, the enforcement of the licensing law has not been the subject of special communication between the Commissioner and the Inspector ?— Ido not know that it has been special. The Commissioner has spoken to me about other matters as well from time to time. 80. The Chairman.] Have you received any further instructions within the last three months as to the enforcement of the liquor law ? —The Commissioner is anxious that the law should be enforced. 80a. Mr. Taylor.] If there had been no laxity prior to Mr. Tunbridge arriving, was there any necessity for the Commissioner's interference on that point ?—Laxity on my part ? 81. No; not on your part, but on the part of the department generally in regard to that particular law. If there had been no laxity, why was there need for special communications on the matter? —I do not know that there was anything very special. The Commissioner arrived here new from Home, and he inquired from me how things were going on from time to time. 82. What did you tell him about the licensing laws? —I told him we had great difficulty in enforcing them. 83. And he wished? —He wished me to do all I could. 83a. Mr. Tunbridge.] Briefly, did I not say to you it was my intention, as Commissioner of Police, and being held responsible for carrying out the laws of this colony, that the law should be carried out as far as it was possible, whether it be against publican or prohibitionist ?—Yes. 84. Is that not the stand I have taken? —Yes. 85. It was a matter of indifference to me whether it was publican or prohibitionist who broke the law ; if the law was broken, by whoever it might be, proceedings should be taken against them ? y es j you told me that —that we should enforce the law independent of every one —do our best as the law stood. 86. Mr. Taylor.] Did you make strenuous efforts to enforce the licensing law ?—We have made efforts. Men visit the houses every Sunday. 87. And what have their reports been—that there has been no trading on Sunday?— No. There have been several convictions. 88. How many do you think in the year ?—I really could not tell you.

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