THE POLICE FORCE. ANOTHER ROYAL COMMISSION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE. ANOTHER ROYAL COMMISSION.

MR. H. W. BISHOP, S.M., APPOINTED. The Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr. Findlay), interviewed this morning 'by a Post reporter with regard to charges recently made against the administration of the Police Department by tho j present commissioner (Mr. Dinnie), said , that so far the charges were couched in t such vague and general terms as to make investigation practically impossible. Ho i niinsell had made enquiry/ in every case I where definite allegations had reached him, and so far none of those allegations} had, upon enquiry, been sustained, tie recognised, however, that the administration of the Police Department should not only be properly and lmpar- , tially carried on, but should be, as far as possible, above any public suspicion ot negligence or impropriety. In justice both to himself and to the commissioner denmte details in connection with those allegations made in the recent debate in the^House should be furnished, and full enquiry mads by a competent and fully empowered tribunal. "It is to be assumed," said the Minister, "that members of Parliament recognised their responsibility in making ' such charges jjs those referred to, and that, if asked, they wall afford the Minister the fullest assistance in making an | investigation." I In view of all these circumstances, t/abmet this morning resolved to recomi mend to the Governor that Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Ch.riatcb.urch, be appointed a Royal Commission to enquire into j the charges that have been made, and to i make such further investigations in .connection with the Police Force as may be deemed proper and expedient. i "'lt is obvious," continued the Minister, "that from Mr. Bishop's long experience as a magistrate, and especially as a Police Magistrate, and his souncK judgment, ho has all the qualifications necessary to deal with the enquiry with, which he will be entrusted. It 'is due to Commissioner Dinnie to say that he | ha 3 earnestly asked mo to have the fullest enquiry made by an independent tribunal into the allegations .brought against his administration. As regards the duty of the Minister tor Justice in connection with the Police' Force, and my administration of <he department, I Avill take the earliest appropriate opportunity of speaking Ironi the public plat-V form.' 1 '