The Dominion. THUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1909. THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 655, 4 November 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. THUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1909. THE POLICE FORCE.

; The report-of the Royal Commission appointed : to inquire into the condition of the; police force of the colony, which was laid .beforo Parliament yestorday, is a very long: and a very important document, and we ,do- not propose to. deal with it in.detail on the present occasion. Thero are, -however, some: outstanding features which call for early' comment. It must be pleasing to the public; to learn that on; the whole we have' , an.efficient police force,: ; .the._,general ,concjuct of' the inorabors of which, in the opinion 'of the vßoyai Commissioneri is good; and that tho force is free from any evidence of bribery, corruption, or opprbssieJn; These arc satisfactory .features of the', report of. Me. Bishop, and matters for general congratulation. But when we getaway irom thpso and one or. two minor matters,' the findings r of the • Commiasionor disoldso :a condition of things that calls for immediate: attention, The chief weaknesses'to whjch attention is directed are of an administrative nature.. The inquiries inado .before admitting men into the force requiroto bb ;fuller; transfers arc too' fro- , quent; a. certain amount of political influence,', has: been ; used in regard ■to thej enrolment of members; discontent prevails, in respect.of. promotions in' ,the ;f6r6j9"j'-->thfe 'headquarters . staff. should b«- :replaced ; by "Civil. Servants;, the relations '■> between ' the . • Commießioner of : and. l at, ; least ''..-two , , of hie .sonior inspedtcirs are, and have beep' for' some tinje, strained. These arp;amongst',' tho weaknesses pointed out arid, the sug-' gestions mado for improvement. There' are a number ; of others: doaling'with the ' questions of promotionsi arid holiday - .leave, etc., designed: to meet grievances'; .brought under.tho:notice v of the Commisiion bymembers.;b'f the fo'r'co.'find,which',.J if. given; offect to, • would no- doubt bring;' about a better: feeling .in the force and: possibly load to an improvement, jn the class of men applying for'enfol'mcrit.' ''.'■ , What, :however, must strike any-un ? biased; reader .pf'.; the.; Royal -Qommis-: sioner's'findings, is tho impressioh coth veyedthat a: thorough cleaning up is re/ quired : in connection with the Police De-i partmont. -iMany of the very .''.serious; ?harge3V.relatihg -to individuals \- in the force have,beenrproved; and the public has'had.'ovidenpo of other offences through the .reports of Court proceedings/; These COS3S, unfortunately, have.reflected on thej wholp force,' and; some inj ustice' may liavo been done.it■ in'this i-espect: ±Sut it■ must' be quite evident that while injusticd may, have been; done;~to the force generally , , there must ha\e been neglect at headquarters to have permitted such a condition of things, as, for instanoo, the admission of a criminal into the police force. Thoso ■ who peruso the various cases dealt with cannot fail to arrive at the conclusion ,that not only are the regulations unsatisfactory, but the system gonorally requires material amendment. Who then is to carry out such of the many changes suggested in the report as may bo approved, and others-which will no doubt present themselves a 3' the result of the inquiry? Thiro can be no doubt that when Commissioner Tundridge left tho force ho had succeeded in bringing it to a very high slate of efficiency. His successor, Commissioner Dinkie, claims to ha,ve increased its efficiency, but, in tho face of the report presented to Parliament yeeterday, we cannot sco how this claim is to bo supported. Mr. Bishop, though he does - not say •it in so many words, loaves little room for doubt that ii» his opinion this improvement has not taken place. We cannot agree with the oxtreme remarks of Mil. T. E. Tayloe regarding Comhissiohep. Dinnie's services, but in view of all the circumstances, it seems clear that tho first step in the direction of improving tho administration of the Police Department is a change at headquarters. Tho Prime Ministeh announced yesterday that tho Government has proposals to make on the subject. Thoy will be awaited with keen interest and it is to bo hoped that they will not-bo kept back until the closing hours of the session. Any proposals relating to changes in tho administration of this Department should be most carefully weighed by members before they receive the sanction of Parliament. It is of vital importance to tho wholo community that our police force should not only bo efficient, but that it should be placed boyond reach of ,any possibility of improper influences, political or otherwise.