POLICE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 587, 16 August 1909, Page 2

POLICE COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE AT I'ALMERSTON NORTH, ;•."•■ my TolcEi-aph.-t'ross'Association.! "..",., pnhncrstoiV North, August AL : . w "•, The Police Commission sat hero to-day...-i.,-,.. Sergeant Stagpoolo said tho chief cau5e.01..,,,. .. complaint amongst tho men was tho pay,,.;; 'which was too small. He advocated the, vrot men being subjected'to a.course of atMctii,,.,■,,.• training, including boxing..'.: Ho had no know*, ■ ledge of any political interference, tlioughhe had heard a. groat deal of = t«lk,on the matter. = Ho complained that ho had., been 22 or 23 years a sergeant, and heJd respoiisiblo positions, yet. junior men bad been promoted over him. He was very "sore over In answer to Mr. Dinuio, ho said tboptobatioaers' class was useless. Men wlio.canio to him from it wero ignorant, though,, they , thought they, know a lot. ..,;■■• '■ Sergeant Bowden, of Feilding, said lie,.was ... dissatisfied because ■Sub-liispedpr Black .was . promoted over his head. Tho district clerks • wero the cause of a lot of dissatisfaction, and dictated impertinently to their seniors. Constables Russell, and. M'LeOd, _ favo evidence on general lines as to pay. ■' ' Constable Crozier (now retired) complained that ho had not been paid lodging allow- • pnee. ■ . ■ Tho Commissioner pointed out that witness bad not called attention to tho stoppage of allowance. • ~...,,■ Albert Graham, farmer, of Apiti, said ho -.. bad npplied for admission to the force, and- .. 'notwithstanding a number of references ho was told his application could not be entertained, . '■ : '■ • '''•■■ ; • ' Mr. Diitnio said.lie took no notice of references,' but made his own inquiries. _ ■'•' The Commissioner said the comivisr-ion ; could not bo used to irhitowiish jicoiut'. Sub-Inspector O , Donovan advocated hijjher Fay, and .thought fourth standard odncation snilicient, though,, in the matter of promotion, Commissioner Diniiio should liav* tho advice of .tho inspectors. 'In fact, then should be a board of four inspectors to deal with promotions, to sergeants. No man should be promoted, to be sergeant after In ■ ' had reached <15.-. : The commission the? adjourued. ~ ■■• ■ .''>'' .:■