THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 559, 14 July 1909, Page 7

THE POLICE FORCE.

A PASSAGE-AT-ARHS, INSPECTOR AND COMMISSIONER. EVIDENCE AT THE COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.—Prcas Association.) Dunodln, Julyl3; The Police Commission resumed its sittings , to-day, when, tho first witness was Wm., Walker, ox-constable from Javercargifl. Witness stated that lie was in; the ■ force from 1878 till 1893. From what he had heard, political and private influence wag groatly on tho increase, aud was particularly made uso of in Auckland and .Wellington. Ho did not know of proof of this in any oaso, ' , but lib know that tho men thought that, .. unless tlicy had a political "pull" on tho Commissioner, they would bo passed over for promotion. Witness suggested that the • office of Polico Commissioner should bo h> v ' moved from the control of tho Minister for Justice, and placed under tho control of a strong man independent of political influence. Ho knew of two men, either cf whom would •> fill tho office to tho satisfaction of the publio and with the confidonco of the men in the force. Theso mon wero Mr. J. W. Poynton (Publio Trustee) and Police Inspector Mitchell, of Invercargill. Hβ would also suggest that Commissioner Tunbridgo be recalled if possible. Ho had not a word to say against the present Commissioner. Tho polico wero not sufficiently paid, especially the married men. Witness also urged greater concessions to tho force, and criticises tho methods and men employed to detect sly grog-selling. In tho selection of candidates for tho force, moro rcliaiico should ba placed on the Ircport ' ' of tho officer in charge of tho district which' tho candidate came from. Witness's opinion! wero baßod on observations all over New Zealand. Political and private influence had been exercised as long as he could, remember, but he thought that the discontent wae miicli more serious now than formerly. Witness remembered a case where* a candidate was sent by a Cabinet Minister to tho Commissioner for admission to % tho forco some years •X;.o. Tho Commissioner refused, and, a few days afterwards, back came tho candidate. with an order from tho Minister to tako him on, and he was put on. That was in. Commissioner Tunbridiio's time. In reply to Commissioner Dinnie, witnesi said thai, ho did not know of any case whoro political influence had taken effect since tho . present Commissioner took office, ' Frederick Mallard, ox-inspector of polico, expressed the opinion that when a man joined the plain clothes branch lie should roraain in it. There were political "pulls" in all polico forces, and ho himself had ■been retired owing to such a "pull." Another witness, recently released from gaol, complained (hat two detectives, though not having an iota of tangiblo evidence to connect him with certain robberies at Shearer's Hotel and tho Crown Hotel, wont to his mother's houso (in his absence), and > to his place of employment, where they questioned him, and finally took him into custody. Finally ho had an interview with Inspector O'Brien, who did not seem disposed to entertain his complaint. Witness threatened .to lay a complaint before somo superior) official, and Inspector O'Brionthen told him to put tho complaint in writing. Witness had not done so. After examination by Mr. Bishop, witness promised to hand his Wor- i ship tho names of three or four pcoplo who / had seen liis arrest, with, a ,viow to thoir boing called as witnesses. Sorgt. Higgins^stationed at Lawrence, , ex- j pressed the opinion that constables should I . receivo higher wages. Ho did not think that there was much in the cry of political influence. Ho oould not see why a chief detective should not bo promoted ,tg tho rank of sub-inepector. • • v»' " Inspector O'Brien Caned! ' '' . Inspector O'Brien,' after expressing the opinion that every member of tno force had confidence in tho prosont Minister for Justice, said that there wm a general'impression, amounting to a feeling of unrest, amongst members of tho force. Th'o feeling was that, from tho extreme north to tho oxtremo southj tho Commissioner had stationed in each contro some niomber of the sorvico'known as a "useful man," That man's chief function was to convey to tho commissioner, through* somo channel or nn-i other, names of members of tho force who spoko in praise or dispraise of him. Witness know nothing of such appointments, himself, and ho would not say that tboro was a word of truth in this allegation, but it was only fair to tho Commissioner that ho should have tho opportunity to deny it on oath. If there should bo anything in that opinion be was afraid that some constables stationed in his district had not been speaking very favourably of the Commissioner for. somo reason or other. There had been liltlo or no promotion amongst constables in this district for somo years, Ho Had recommended constables for promotion, but they had not boon promoted. \ Mr. Bishop: I shall got their names from' you. Inspector O'Brien said that ho thought it\ ' desirablo that tho Commissioner should tako < more notice, and givo moro offect to the rccommendntions of district inspectors. Ho : l.ad made recommendations which, to his)' , surprise, had not been acted upon. Witness contended that transfers in an inspector's.- , own district should only bo inado if the in- • specter recommended them, and, in ran king < appointments 'of constables, to No-Licenso districts, inspectors should havo absolute < choice. In ' tho matter of recruiting, inspectors should bo allowed to enrol a good mim in their district when thoy Eaw one, without thero being any necessity for the recruit to go to Wellington to presont himself for enrolment. Ho thought it highly necessary to offer more, inducements to a better class of - young niim to join the* servicp. Tho pay of a constiblo Joining the service wns too ln\v. Constables should commence at not less than Bs. a day, and, instead oL increments of fid. n day every four, years, tho increments bhould romo about every thrco years. A house allowance of 7a. a ■week was far too little for constables who had to reside in tho city. It should bo at least )os. a week. A constable should also havo added to the free list of unifnim which l'o was now receiving, one pair of boots per annum. Ho thought that fbould have a proportionate advance in pay, and their houso allowanco increased to 14s. per week. Ho further thought that a chief detective should bo eligible, to attain tho rank of inspector, 110 did not think that would ' ontail anv iicieaso in pay. A chiof detective ahuuld receive tho samo house nllowanco as a sub-inspector, and it would bo cruel to say that, because a man chose to join the dotective branch, he .should nover liso higher thnn chjef detective. A man ' was solccicd for detective work, because ho showed moro tact, intelligence, and ability than an ordinary constable, so why should ho bo debarred from attaining tho highest rank in tlio seirice? "Deplorable" Members of the Force. A number of defaulters from other dis* liicts in tho Dominion had been sent to tho, Otngo,district in the last Jour or five years. This Had occasioned witness gicat surpriso, f.o much so Hint ho had begun to look upon, the Duncdin district as a common dumping ground for defaulters. OnN tho otW hand, ho bad his own defaulters, but his defaulters, in about nino cases out of ton, won' left with him. Ho had had constables sent him not long ago whoso, dcfaultorshcot gnvo witness much concern. It was anything but croditablo to those men, and tho thought aioso: "Why was such a ni.u not discharged fiom the service in tho district whence he camof" As to tho present modo of recruiting constables, ho was not in agreement with it. Ho had had constables sent to him from tlt< de-pot whom ho could not have coiwien tiously recommended to a master chimncj swoi'p. Thcso men's physiouo and degree o'l , intelligence were deplorable. ' They possessed neither one nor tho other. Another matter that had given dissatisfaction pus the apportioning of owards for special oor/ viclions, such as sly_ grog-eelling. J* / oi>e caso tho person convicted was a RoJboMoaa ' sly grog-solier, and had given a »**♦ dim] of trouble for over a year. • Ho Uan a re»lwt

/W,, . „ , ;<i v constable in the district, who had worked v' \ a j y and '"S* l * for months to bring the jw otfender to justice. Finally ho succeeded, ji« nao. a penalty of £50 and posts was imposed. If Wβ recommended that four-fifths of the £5 , , roward should go to the constable, etationed '5-,, in the town, 03 the" other constable merely s'j executed'the searoh warrant, which did not ?:„, occupy 20 minutes, but the roward was aph portioned in" this way:—£2 103. to the con\s stable'who did major part of the work and M £1 10s. to the constable who did practically •J nothing. i >■ Inspeotor Challenges Mr. Dinnlo. 1 Tn cross-examination by Commissioner Dinnie, Inspector O'Brien said that ho was not aware that he had a littlo grievance. Tho Commissioner: What was the recommendation of tho previous Commission as regards yourself? Mr. Bishop: We have that on record. Inspector O'Brien: 'Whatever recommendation was made by tho previous Commission was brought about, I think, by tho ovidenco which Mr. Dinnio gavo in Wellington at the last moment before the curtain dropped on that inquiry. 1 Mr. Dinnie: Do you think that the Commission you refer to would not take into consideration the evidence which it obtained >; here? "'" "' " .' ' I f Witness: I don't think any evidence was obtained hero to justify tho Commission in J making a recommendation to my dotriment. [ ' Mr. Dinnio: I should be sorry that any ' Commission did not false into consideration all the evidence placed beforo us. Such a Commission would bo a farce. Witness: I should be sorry thet any Commissioner of Police should think it proper to make a charge behind an inspector's back that ho dared not mako to his face. jYou refrained from giving evidence m Dunedin while I had tho opportunity of esking questions, and calling evidonco to dispose of any allegations you might make, but you went to Wellington, when neither Sub-Inspector Green nor myself was present. According to the newspaper reports you made a swooping statement which ■neither Sub-Inspector Green nor myself was given an opportunity to contradict. Why didn't',you give evidence in Donedin so that tho sub-inspector and myself could reply? The Commissioner: I hadn't the oppor- ' "tnnity, and was not asked. \ . ' "Do Vod Think It was Fair?" * Witness: Do .you think it fair that you rtehould mako a sweeping charge behind tho , back of your officers, and that they should iave no opportunity to reply? > '' The Commissioner: I was bound to give my. general evidence at headquarters when fj was asked to do so. Witness,: You could have given what evidence you chose m Dunedin. Tho Commissioner said that it had been arranged by 'tho Commission referred to that ' 'his evidence should be given in Wellington. Mr. Bishop said that if tho Commission had been aware that ' ,the Commissioner would make statements reflecting on officers, statements would havo been hoard in the districts,whore ' tho officers were. Poseibly it was a mistake that Inspector \ O'Brien 'did not hear the evidence referred I'to, and "was'not given an opportunity to • reply! He would take caro that_ nothing of '•the kind occurred on this occasion. i In reply to Inspector O'Brfen, Mr. Bishop I eaid that Commicsioner Dinnie could have * given evidence in Dunedin, but the Commission thought that he should close the pro- ■ ' ceedingß by giving his evidence in Wolhng- ', ton. Of course'the Commission did not an- - tkripato what that evidence would bo. • Inspector O'Brien: He did not-tender evidence in Dunedin, and 'I'am satisfied that ' there'is no other Commissioner of Police'in the British Dominions who would have dono what he did then". '• , - Mr. Dinnio: That is a matter of opinion. Witness:: Yes. and I put it forward ~ boldly. Alleged Splos and Other Matters. In reply to further questions by Commissioner DiMue",VSHtness said that he would not mention the name of any officer, who told him of the rumour that tho Commissioner had, in each centre, a \nan who was a sort of spy. In consequence of tho failnro to promote in this district thoro was a tendency on the part of the men to apply for transfers to neighbouring districts. Discussion then took place regarding men who had been recommended 'by Inspector ' O'Brien for promotion, but who had not been promoted. Reference was made to the case of a man who was promoted by the Minister ' for Justice contrary ■■to. Mr. Tunbridgc's ~"-- wishes and in spite of Mr. Dinnie's protest. ' The question of the promotion of district I cktrirs after ten years of service also cropped up, and Mr. Bishop remarked: |"Wo snail touch on that aspect very seriously during the Commission." < In further oross-examination, Inspector O'Brien said that he had recommended three men for promotion last year, one over 50 i years of ago, another with 11 years' Borviob, and a third with 10 or 12 years' ser''vico. ' . ' Tho Commissioner: Barring district clerks, is not the service of the men- promoted about 14 years?/ " Witness replied that ho thought that somo bad been promoted with lees servico—men .whose appointments were not special appointments. 'Witness ivert on to rcter to the ca.se v- of Sergeant Muggndge, who had been promoted. ' Mr. Bishop said that Sorgeant Muggridgo > had been promoted over 200 others after seven years' service. , ' . Commissioner Dinnie stated that Sergeant Muggndge had held a responsible position— , that of departmental storekeeper. 1 Inspector O'Brien replied tnat constables acting as clerks of Court in towns of importance had greater responsibilities generally than Sergeant Muggridge had had. Witness added that ho did not know tho man referred to, but ho contended ho had no right to be promoted before others equally as good and with longor service. ' After further diccussion Mr. Bishop said ho would ask Inspector O'Brien somo questions at another time, and the Commission adjourned.