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because if you are acting legally in the execution of that Act you do not want any protection. It is only when you happen to have made a mistake that you want protection. These men went to a man's house whom they suspected of stealing. They had not got a search-warrant. They asked the wife if she had any objection to their looking through the house. She invited them in. They did not find anything, and twelve months afterwards the man brought an action and recovered damages against both of them. I would suggest that the section be amended so as to cover constables against all actions in connection with anything done in pursuance of their calling. Instead of the words "pursuance of this Act," put " pursuance of their calling." 289. It was held in the case you mentioned he was not doing his duty?— That is, he had not got a search-warrant. Sometimes, in the back districts, there is no opportunity of getting a warrant without much delay. Another suggestion I have to make is about travellingallowances. I think the present travelling-allowance is inadequate in some cases. For instance, a man going on relieving duties to an out-station, if he is a single man he is only allowed Is. 6d. a day; if he is a married man he gets 3s. a day. Naturally he has to stop at a hotel, and it is not sufficient to cover the cost. I think it is a great temptation to a man to try and come to some arrangement with the hotelkeeper, instead of being in an independent position and paying his way. 290. He need not necessarily stop at a hotel ? —Well, at most of these small country places there is nowhere else to stop. 291. Mr. Poynton.] He would have to pay something for his keep in the town if he did not go out ?—Oh, yes. That is why the distinction is made between married and single men, but still Ido not think it is enough in any case. It is only an inducement to a man to get his keep for nothing at the hotel. 292. The Chairman.] What do you suggest ? —I suggest that they should get the ordinary allowance —that is, 6s. a day for the first week, and ss. a day afterwards. That was the old circular, and I think it was a very fair one. 293. How long has that been altered?—lt has been altered two or three years now. I also suggest that the Force should be supplied with up-to-date handcuffs and batons. The ones we have got are very old fashioned and clumsy, and they are not suitable. The handcuffs are either too small or too big, and there is no way of adjusting them. They have splendid handcuffs in America that will fit anybody, and the American batons are a wonderful improvement on the wooden ones. The wooden ones are too clumsy, and they are dangerous to use, whereas the American ones are made of compressed leather, and you need not be afraid to use them, while they are quite sufficient for the purpose. You would kill anybody with some of these big heavy boxwood batons.A great number of our men have purchased their own handcuffs from America, and they would sooner use them than the regulation ones. If you get a man with a large wrist and you have a small handcuff —that is, a regulation handcuff— you cannot handcuff him. Another suggestion is that the Inspector's office should be provided with some standard legal works. You have to fight against all the solicitors in the town, and have nothing to fight them with except what you borrow. 294. Mr. Tunbridge.] Which do you suggest?—" Archibold's Criminal Pleadings," and " Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence." Then, with regard to leave, I think leave of absence should be allowed to run on instead of compelling a man to take it every year. 295. The Chairman.] You think it should be cumulative ?—lt was always so until recent years. It was only some few years ago that the circular countermanding it was issued. It may not suit a man to take leave every year; but if he has got twenty or thirty years' service he should be allowed two or three months' leave, and it would be no greater inconvenience to the department. 296. Mr. Tunbridge.] You suggest they should be allowed the full extent of their accumulated leave ? —I do not think so. They should be allowed reasonable leave. For instance, if a man wants a couple of months off, to go to Australia or anywhere else, after serving a number of years. 297. Is not that leave allowed now : do you know of any special case where a man has asked and it has not been allowed ?—Since you have taken charge it has. It was not allowed before. There is a man here now on twenty-one days' leave. 298. Colonel Hume.] Do you know any service where- it is cumulative?—l do not know anything about any other service except this. It is cumulative in other departments. 299. What departments ?—Well, I often hear of a man getting a month's leave and going away for'months. 300. The Chairman.] What about the quarters, and the accommodation for the men? Do you know anything about them ? —They are very bad in Wellington. 301. Colonel Pitt.] You mean at Lambton Quay ?—Yes, very bad. Then, with regard to medical certificates, sometimes, a married man has perhaps a bad cold, or he does not feel well enough to come down for duty. He has to provide a medical certificate at his own expense. Perhaps there is nothing much wrong with him ; he does not want a doctor, but still he has to pay for one. 302. The Chairman.] For temporary absence from duty ? —Temporary absence from duty on account of sickness. He has to pay a doctor 7s. 6d. for that, whereas he does not want one at all. He knows perhaps that a day's rest will put him right. I suggest if the department wants a certificate it should pay for it, in the way of appointing a police-surgeon, and deducting so much from the pay of the man to go towards paying for the surgeon. 303. It is paid for by the man himself on all occasions?— Yes ; unless he can clearly prove it is from injury sustained while on duty. In a case of ordinary sickness, when a man wants to lay up for a day on account of a bad cold, he has to pay 7s. 6d. or 10s., as the'case may be, for a doctor's certificate. I think in the Artillery they deduct Is. 6d. a day from the man while he is sick.

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