Page image
Page image

H.—2

174

to enable the men to do it; not simply how they could be used to inflict punishment. There is another question which has been a cause of complaint, that there is a great deal of crime undetected in the colony. I want from my observation, and from what I know, to show that there are a great many criminals who are not convicted, while at the same time their crime is detected; and I think it would be well to show that, at any rate, you may put down as crime not detected every crime committed by a man who is not convicted; but my observation goes to show that the police detect crime, but they cannot owing to the nature of things secure convictions because of the state of the law under which they have to work. Now, for instance, I hold that when you come to deal with the question of capital punishment, or taking the crime of murder, I have known the police to detect crime all right, and sheet it home to the murderers, and yet the man has walked out of Court snapping his fingers at the police, and the law, and everything else. Well, it would be wrong to say that that crime was not detected. 405. Is there anything further you wish to say from your own observations ?—I have observed what I have said ; and 1 want you to recommend to his Excellency to render the police more efficient to prevent murder, and secure the punishment of criminals, and alteration of certain laws. I want the law as to capital punishment to be altered. 406. Inspector Pender.] You are in the habit of attending the Courts very often ? —Yes. 407. What is your opinion with regard to the efficiency or otherwise of the police in prosecuting crime and bringing it before the Court ? —My opinion is that the police of this city at any rate, and I can say the same of Christchurch when I was there, as are thoroughly efficient as in any other part where I have been. 408. During the time you were employed in connection with the mission, did the police render you any assistance they could in the discharge of your duties?— Very great assistance, and that is why I am here, to try and get that amount of assistance for a mission here. lam satisfied that the police rendered me very great assistance. 409. Mr. Taylor.] I would like to ask Mr. Crewes whether he of his own knowledge knows anything about the extent to which the licensing law is enforced in Wellington?—l know by frequently attending the Police Courts, and watching what goes on in the city. 410. How often do you go the Police Court in Wellington?— Whenever an important case is on, or whenever a poor person to whom I think I can be of service is being tried. 411. How often—once a week or once a fortnight?— Sometimes, perhaps, half a dozen times in a week; and sometimes, perhaps, not once a fortnight. As often as I find I can be of assistance at all. 412. Do you know whether the licensing law is being observed in Wellington on Sunday? I have just said it is not observed in Wellington or anywhere else. 413. What do you know about it? Can you tell us an instance during the last year where it has not been observed ? Ido not want to know what you think. Do you know of your own knowledge that the law is not observed ?—I suspect; that is all I can say. I see persons who are the worse for liquor on Sundays, and if I see more than one —several—I presume there has been a breach of the law ; but I cannot say whether the men got the liquor on Sunday or on Saturday. I see persons go in and out of hotels, but I cannot swear if they get liquor. 414. You say that punishment is generally inflicted on the best men, when a case comes before the Court. Can you name one? —I have never taken note of a name, but lam prepared to swear to the fact, or what I have observed since I came to the colony. There was a case recently in this city in which it was stated by the Magistrate himself that he was sorry, or something to that effect, that the man had to be punished. 415. Who was it ? —I do not know the party's name, but I know it is a pretty general thing. 416. You know of no facts in connection with the matter of your own knowledge ?—Yes; I say it is a fact that while you have this Act in existence it cannot be enforced. 417. That is an opinion ? —That is what I have seen in the Police Court. 418. You said there were "black sheep" in the Police Force, and amongst public men, and amongst those who advocate temperance. Is that only a general statement, or will you give us details ? —lt is not general. For all the statements I have made I have facts. If I were to give you the names of temperance workers whose moral character would not bear light I would be giving names for half an hour. 419. Could you go on for half an hour with names of the other classes you mention ? —I would not say that. I would not know until I had finished, but I presume I could. 420. I want to know whether you can give us a single instance to support your general statement in reference to your use of the term " black sheep" in any of the classes you have mentioned ?—I am not prepared here to drag in the names of medical men or ministers of religion, and, more than that, I say that the very last thing the reformer who wishes to reform men would do would be to drag their names into the light before the public and publish them to the world. You know that as well as I do. 421. Do you know any details in connection with the deputation you referred to in 1886?— I have taken the official report of the New Zealand Alliance. 422. But of your own knowledge; you have no knowledge at all as to the accuracy of the statements made in 1886 which you have quoted ? —I have the official report of the Alliance as to what was said by Sir William Fox, and as to what took place at the meeting. 423. Can you of your own knowledge prove what Sir William Fox said ?—I take it on the Alliance report. 424. The Chairman.] You have no personal knowledge as to what took place at that depu* tacion ?—No. 425. Mr. Tunbridge.] Do you attribute the illicit drinking and selling that is going on to the inactivity of the police, or to the unsatisfactory state of the law ? —There are other things to be taken into consideration ; but I say more to the unsatisfactory state of the law than to the negligence of the police ,

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert