THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10059, 10 June 1898, Page 2

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

I - AUCKLAND, June 8. At tlie Polioe Commission to-day Mr Lawry, M.H.8., gave evidence inconneeI tion with the appointment of Constable Nixon. He denied that he used political influence in this appointment, and also denied I that Nixon was secretary of hie Election Committee. He denied that he brought influence to bear on the Department in reinstating Constables Carlyon and Kussell. ' He said that the police force in this colony was the best in the world. Colonel Home generally corroborated Mr La wry'b evidence. AUCKLAND, June 9, At the Police Commission to-day charges against the efficiency of the police force in the Auckland district, signed by Mr leitt, were handed in by the Rev. Williams. Mr leitt complain* that the polioe force is im* j

paired to the detriment to publio interest by the exercise of outside influence of a political nature, that the laws relating to the sale o{ liquor in the King Country and other native districts have been administered with special laxity, and that the gaming laws are not strictly enforced. It was agreed to take the charges on Monday. Inspector Hickson gave evidence to-day as to the force under his command. He did not think the present force adequate. He had received no complaints as to any member of the force other than a general complaint against the force, lodged by Mr ' Mitchell, journalist, whioh he (witness) was inquiring into. Two constables had been dismissed the service for interference during the J»ear ending March, aud one since March. They were young men who ,-had nob been long in the force. With t\vo lor three exceptions he thought the morality of the force in the Auokland district was ■ good. He thought the pay of the constables should be increased. The districts were too large. Auckland, for instanoe, was far too <i large for proper supervision and control at v j his hand. He had not visited some of his 1 * stations once a year—in faot some not once ' Jin two years. The franohise did not i place the police at a disadvantage, as ia attending publio meetings they were on duty j and they, were, he believed, entitled to the franchise equally with auy other civil servants. The licensing laws were well carried out—in fact, better, he thought, ia Auckland than in any other centre in the colony. There had beon no direot complaints with regard to the carrying out of this duty by the police. * , Every effort had been made to sup- v ' pre'es sly grog selling in the King Country/ - There were four suspected "tote" shops in Auckland, and in the case of three o! the ' four convictions had been obtained. The present laws were not sufficiently strong to cope with the evil thoroughly. There was a good deal of street betting, and the polioe were almost powerless to cope with it, while .gambling generally seemed to be on the increase, more particularly among young people. The amount of prostitution in " Auckland had been greatly exaggerated. As . far as his knowledge went, he could not point to an established ibrothel in Auck- . land. There had been a good deal said of larrikinism in Auckland, but this was exaggerated. No one had ever interfered with him in the carrying out of the liquor laws, nor had %ere Imen any attempt by the liquor party or the pro- '' hibitionists to bribe him in the party interests. On the other hand he had been frequently instructed to carry out the liquor '■- laws by the department. The fact of ft . man showing activity in carrying out the , '• liquor laws did not prejudice his position. In Auckland there were twenty-three ?ro» . testants and twenty Roman Catholics in the t >' force. , Replying to questions by Cslonel Hume, witness said he had not used political or A religious influence to obtain his promotion from the position of second to that of first class inspector two years since. He had been first appointed first class inspector in 1872, and had been subsequently reduced to.' second class inspector, but no reason had been assigned or intimation forwarded to him. '