THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7826, 19 June 1909, Page 3

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

STATEMENT BY DR. FINDLAY

. \ WELLINGTON, June 19. The Minister of Justice —when interviewed by a Post reporter in regard to the charges recently made against the administration of the Police -Department by Commissioner Dinnie— 6aid that, so far, the charges were couched in such vague and general i&rms as to make investigation practically impossible. He himself had made enquiry in every case where definite allegations had reached him, and SO jar none of the allegations had, lipon enquiry, been sustained. He recognised that the administration of the Police Department should not only be'properly and impartially carried on, but should be, as far as possible, above any public suspicion of negligence, or impropriety, or injustice, on the part of himself of the Commissioner. Definite details in connection with, the allegations made in the recent debate in the House should be furnished, and a full enquiry made by a. competent and fully empowered tribunal. ;.;'!lt is to be .assumed," said the ! Sjfinister, "that . members of Parlia- ' ajeiit recognised their responsibility in making such charges as those referred to., and that, if asked, they wall afford the Minister the fullest assistance in making' an investigation. In view of all these circumstnces, the Cabinet this morning resolved to recommend the Gdvernor that Mr-Bishop, S.M., of i Ghristchurch, should .be appointed a Royal Commissioner to enquire into tfte charges that had been made, and make such further enquiries and investigations in connection with the Police Force as may be deemed proper or expedient. It is obvious," continued the Minister, "that from Mr Bishop's long experience as a Magistrate, especially as a. Police Magistrate, and his sound /judgment, he has all the qualifications necessary to deal with the enquiry with which he is to be entrusted. It is due to-Mr Dinnie to say that he has earnestly asked me to have the fullest enquiry, made by an independent tribunal into the allegations brought ogainst his administration. As regards the' "duty of the Minister of Justice in connection with the Police Force, and my administration of the Department, I • .will take the earliest appropriate opportunity of speaking from the public platform." _^