MEDICAL TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 131, 6 June 1938, Page 11

MEDICAL TEST

HEAD OF POLICE

TALK OF RETIREMENT

A TOPIC OF SYDNEY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, May 27.

The possibility that the Commissioner of the New South Wales police, Mr. W. J. MacKay, may retire through ill health has made him the most-discuss-ed man of the week here. There are rumours which are emphatically denied by the Cabinet Ministers, and which Mr. MacKay refuses to discuss.

Newspapers have taken sides for and against the Commissioner and when Parliament meets, Labour members intend to ask for a full discussion on the matter.

Mr. MacKay applied to the Police Medical Board for an examination, but it was ten days before the news was made public. Since then he has been before five specialists and the report on his physical fitness has not yet been divulged.

There would be nothing unusual in Mr. MacKay's application, but f6r the, fact that he has embarrassed the" Government on a number of occasions. He has been in ill health for over . 12 months and underwent an operation for hernia six. months ago. His recovery was slow and although he resumed duty he was not restored to full health. He was submitted to great worry and anxiety as a result of the starting price betting commissions and attacks by some members of Parliament and a section of the Press. Recently his mother and brother died. RELATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT. Those trials, however, are not believed by many to have caused Mr. MacKay to seek retirement. It. is even said by his friends that this application to the Medical - Board was inspired from Ministerial quarters. Certainly he lost a staunch , supporter in the former. Chief Secretary, Mr. F. Chaffey, who lost his portfolio when the new. Cabinet was formed. Mr. Chaffejf is one who has hinted at intrigue to remove the Commissioner. Mr. MacKay has had a brilliant career in the force. A strong personality, he has outstanding Organising ability, which has raised the police to a high standard of efficiency. However, he has caused the Government discomfiture On several occasions by forceful methods in dealing with controversial matters. Three years ago he caused a sensation by instructing police to allow hotelkeepers 20 minutes' grace after the legal closing hour of 6 p.m. :to clear their hotels. Ho. pointed out that it was unreasonable to expect licensees to clear their bars when, customers had not finished drinks purchased before 6 p.m. While this announcement met with general approval, the minority temperance section of the community raised a loud outcry which echoed in the halls of Parliament House. The concession to hotelkeepers is still recognised. Another affair for which Mr. MacKay was responsible and which did not meet with full Government approval was the prosecution, of the then Commissioner of Transport, Mr. S. A. Maddocks. 18 months ago, on a charge of indecent assault on a male person. Certain Ministers opposed putting Maddocks before the Court, but Mr. MacKay was adamant, j •• STARTING PRICE BETTING. The latest move by. Mr. MacKay In declaring four hotels to be common gaming houses in a campaign against starting price betting was made on his own initiative and without consulting the Chief Secretary, Mr. Gollan, who is the Ministerial Head of the Police Department, or the Premier, Mr. Stevens. It is this attitude of aloofness. in the execution of his duties which has caused friction between Mr. MacKay and the Government According to one rumour, matters were brought to a-head when Mr. MacKay was informed that the Government contemplated appointing a com T mission of three "to administer -the Police - Force, of - which Mr. MacKay was not to. be the chief... ..Such a suggestion would be sufficient to rnake Mr. MacKay put his position to a trial of strength between the Government and himself. , If he retires unfit. he will draw a pension of £1000 a year, but will certainly carry on the, fight from outside. If the medical report is favourable he is expected to be given special, leave to recuperate , before resuming his office, but will.submit a long.report to the Government to clear the atmosphere. If he retires, the. Government will probably appoint' a man outside the Police Force as Commissioner.