I.—lα.

100

[c. mackay.

would not allow myself to be influenced either one way or the other. If they had done what was wrong and it came to my knowledge I should certainly have reported it—that is, if I considered they had committed an offence. 124. In the report of the Commissioner it is stated that you did not carry out your duties, and I want to ask you this : Throughout your career as a policeman have you been in the habit of refraining from reporting upon such matters ?—No. If anything came to my knowledge and I considered it serious in any way I reported it. 125. Then, your reason for not reporting was that you did not consider those things serious enough to report ?—What do you mean by " those things " ? 126. Say, the presence of the young women in the station at a late hour ?—I did not consider that was a serious matter in consequence of my knowing the young women, and knowing the constables, and knowing that one of the constables was engaged to one of the young women, and the fact that all the lights were turned up, the doors all open, and there being no secrecy whatever about the matter. I walked straight out and found them all sitting at the table having a cup of something. 127. You say there was nothing in these circumstances which would have led you at any time to report unfavourably against the men for their action in this matter ?—I would not say there was anything, in my opinion. I would like to add, however, that had it occurred again I certainly should have reported it at once. 128. The Chairman.'] Was it ever reported to you at any time that the constables under you were in the habit of assaulting people in the streets?—No, I never had a complaint of that sort brought to me. 129. Do you think that if the constables had gone on assaulting people in a wholesale manner it would have been reported to you?—l am quite satisfied that it would. They would have come straight to the office. That is my opinion. 130. Do you know young Bannehr, a brickmaker?—l believe that I have seen him, but I could not pick him out. I know his father. 131. They never at any time called upon you to make a report as to the constable's treatment of young Bannehr?—No, they did not. 132. It was never brought under your notice in any way ? —lt was brought under my notice. Mr. Bannehr was in the street one day, and in the course of conversation said that his son had got mixed up—so I understood—with one of the constables. As nearly as I can recollect, those were his words. I said, " How do you mean—' mixed up '?" He said, " I did not want to say anything about it." I asked, " Why?" He replied, "I thought you had heard about it." I said, " That was a very foolish thing for you to do. If anything was done why did you not report ?" 133. You say that you have been twenty-six years in the Force ?—Yes. 134. You said just now —I want it again—that Burrell and Durbridge were fair average policemen —fair samples of the Force?— Yes; Ido say that, as far as I have seen them. 135. They were under you for three years and eight months ?—I was at Nelson for that time. They were under me for some time less than that. 136. Kelly was the mounted constable when you took over the station, was he not?—He was. 137. Afterwards Aldridge came ?—Yes. 138. Were you and Aldridge on good terms all the time you were there ? —Well, there was nothing to speak of, except that now and again he used to feel annoyed at being sent out to do the outskirts of the town. When there was no mounted duty to do I would send him out to the outskirts, as complants came about larrikinism, riding bicycles on the footpath, and so on. He said that he did not think this was a mounted man's duty. 139. He was under you, and you could send him where you liked ? —Yes, I considered so. He used to feel offended at this sometimes, and grumbled a bit, but he used to go and do it. I may say that he showed a lot of dissatisfaction from the time he came here. He was what I would term a dissatisfied man. He got me to change the hours for him, and when I did so he was dissatisfied with them, and I told him it was impossible to please him with regard to hours. 140. Do you know any of these young fellows, or all of them—Neve, Cox, Burns, and Simpson ?—I have seen them. 141. What character do they bear, generally?— They were amongst a class of young fellows who were a nuisance up the Toitoi Valley, as far as I could see of them. 142. Did you get any complaint about them ?—I cannot say about them in particular, but I got complaints as to numerous offences of larrikinism up the Toitoi Valley. 143. You do not know whether they were in the habit of annoying and assaulting old people and using obscene language?—l know they kept very late hours at night. I would not say that all of them did; but when out late taking a turn I have seen some of them. I have met them bellowing and roaring through the valley. 144. Was no complaint lodged by Mr. Wilson about these lads ? —Yes ; a complaint came to the station about larrikins breaking windows and throwing stones on his house. 145. You are sure it was that—not " tin-kettling " the Wilsons?—l heard that they threw a big stone through Mr. Wilson's window, and narrowly escaped killing one of his children. 146. Do you know John Stapp, a man of the name of Blincoe, and a man named Eeed?—The only Stapp I knew was in the post-office. 147. I should not say this one was in the post-office. Then, you do not know Blincoe, Stapp, or Eeed?—No. 148. Did you never have any complaint about either of them?— No. 149. Do you know the Postboy Hotel in Nelson?— Yes. 150. What was the general character of that house whilst you were there ?—Very good. 151. You never heard anything against it?— No.