THE POLICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 4

THE POLICE.

ROYAL COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY " INVERCARGILL SITTINGS ENDED. ; L B ¥ TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, Bth July. Mr. H. W. Bishop finished taking evij elence in the police enquiry here to-day, and adjourned the commission until next morning in order to give Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., an opportunity, if he desired, of coming from Christchurch to I cross-examine Constable Connell on the allegations made by ( that officer when giving evidence on Wednesday. Mr. Laurenson, however, telegraphed to Mr. 13ishop that he will givo evidence before the commission in Christchurch. The commission will, therefore, sit in the morning and immediately adjourn to Dunedin. Mr. Bishop will leave for Dnnedin by the afternoon express, and spend Saturday in investigating police lecords there. He will hear evidence on Monday, and he exgects to be greatly assisted in his enquiries by the evidence to be given by Mr. J. F. Arnold, iM.P. Mr. Hanan, M.P. for Invercargill, was specially invited to give evidence here, but intimated that he had no suggestions to offer that would assist the work of the commission. James Reynolds Stuck, retired farmer, gave evidence of alleged failure on the part of Inspector Mitchell properly to investigate a charge made by him (witness) in regard to what he believed to be a breach of the M/irriage Act. The allegation was that, ngainst his will, his daughter had been married by Dean Burke in the Catholic 1 Church before 8 o'clock in the morning. He alleged also that the police were "all tarred with the same brush — the Catholic brush" — and had sought to shield Dean Burke. Inspector Mitchell said that a full j enquiry had been made, and that he could Vot lake proceedings' on the evidence available. Statements had " been

made by the ( contracting parties and 'witnesses of the marriage that the cpr'emony had been legular. The Comniissioncv of Police also had enquired into the matter by direction of tho then Minister for Justice (Hon. J. M'Gowan), and had given no instructions. He (Inspector* Mitchell) -had advised Stuck to see a, solicitor, and he had seen the late Crown Prosecutor, who had advised that the evidence was not sufficient to sustain a charge. Mr. Bishop pointed out that the matter w,as barred in any case by the Statute of Limitations, and that the commission could only concern itself with alleged neglect of duty on the part of the inspector. The matter would remain open until the examination of Detective M'llveney, who was here at the time, and made" enquiries at Inspector Mitchell's instruction. Evidence was also given by four sergeants'of the Southland police district. The effect of this evidence was general satisfaction with the methods of promotion, but a feeling that it would be advantageous to increase the rate of pay in order to induce a better class of applicants to come forward for enrolment. This afternoon Mr. Bishop paraded the members of the force at the police station for inspection, and afterwards made a thorough inspection of the station premises. He expressed himself as being very pleased with everything he saw, and "was favouvably impressed with the bearing and appearance of the men on parade.