POLICE COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1520, 31 July 1905, Page 3

POLICE COMMISSION.

SENSATIONAL STATEMENT BY EX-GISBORNE OFFICER. (Per Pres 3 Association.) *. Auckland, laafi night. The Polios Commission resumed taking evidence yejterday. During the course of a cross-esaminatipp .of Constable Dart by Snb-Inspector Black in regard to witness’s suggestion that men thoroughly qualified as he was by solicitor’s examination to relieve Bub-inepeotora in court work, Sub-Inspec-tor Black asked whether or Dot witness considered him (Black) incompetent. Witness said no, he did not. Sub-Inspectop Black then rnado a sensational statement as regards tho relations of himself and. Inspector Cujlen, saying that tho latter had reported him to bo incompetent. When he (Black) applied for a transfer inspector Cullen’s report was attached. The whole thiog, he believed, was done out of persona! antipathy towards him. Ho asked for a full inquiry, jybich the Commissioners intimated they would probably give. He applied for a transfer frpja Auckland, as bis Jito was simply a curse to bim, and ho could net do his duty with the chance of receiving civility. Tho President expressed the opinion that such a cleavage had a bearing on the question of supervision and should bo inquired into, It was unfortunate the mat ter arose i» that way, as neither inspector nor sub-inspector referred to it in their evidence.

Commissioner Dinnio said the matter bad been under consideration, and certain changes were contemplated. Evidence was also given by Constables Loo, O'Grady and Cotter regarding statements made by ex-Constable McDonald about them, and against O’Grady by Miss McDonald at Oarnaru. All tho statements witnesses said wore deliberate lies, merely made to involve them also. Cons.tablo O’Grady suggested that Me Dooaid’s family were trying to drag bis own down with them. He was McDonald’s brothor-in-law.

SUB-INSPECTOR BLACK’S EVIDENCE.

Patrick Black, sub-inspector, stated that he joined tbo force in 1878. After serving for somo years upon tbe streets in Dunedin ho was promoted to tho rank of sergeant, and, after serving as such in various parts of the colony, he was ultimately appointed a sub inspector. Ho was transferred to Auckland to act in that capacity two years ago. Mr Poynton : Do you think that the supervision hero is good, as compared with that in Southern cit'es ? Mr Black : Yes, if not bettor. After Mr Black bad detailed how his time was occupied from 9 in the morning until close upon midnight every night attending to correspondeno and the work tho greater part of the time, Mr Bishop remarked: “So you are turning into a clerk more than a sub-inspector ? " Mr Rlaol? Jen,

Continuing, witnoss said that upon ono occasion thoro was a suspicion thrown upon one of the local constables of having broken into n boot shop and stolon some articles. In this iustanco tho door of tho boot shop was found open. . When tho shopkeeper turned over his stock in tho morning ho discovered that a pair of slippors was missing. The shopkeeper i reported to witness that ho suspectod tho constable. When the shopkeeper was I asked to talco out a search warrant, how- I ever, ho would not, so that the matter was I left to witness and tho sorgeant, who j took tho responsibility of executing a I search warrant ihomsalvcs. They found I nothing. I Mr Bishop : As tho rosulfc of your experience, do you believe in the system of sub-inspectors—l mean as regards establishing better efficiency ? Mr Black : Yes.

Mr Bishop : Well, you are the first sub inspector I ovor heard say it.

HOW CHRISTCHURCH MEN GOT BEER.

Tho eub-inspoctor, in roply to a question by Mr Bishop, rolatod, the way in which ho observed McDonald —ono of the constables convicted in Dunedin—and another constable get somo boor in Christchuioh. This incident, said Mr Black, led to tbo transfer of both men —MoDonold to Dunedin and tho other man elsowhoro The sub-inspector said that, in oonsequencc o'

an anonymous le'ter which was received, he and the inspector of the police then stationed at Christchurch decided to'watch I certain hotel. Accordingly thoy did so. at was a dark night, and while they wore aecroted in separate places thoy saw two constables approach the hotel, wait there until evet-yooo was gone, and then reach up to the window and bring down some bottles of beer. The inon passod him. As they did so ho etopped out, stopped them and took the beer away. “After that,” said the sub iuepeotor, “ I had net much confidence in him (MoDonala), fora man who is mean enough to take beer as a gratuity is not much.” * The sub-inspector concluded his evidence by saying that he thought it would be batter if men were transferred more frequently, say,‘onco every five years, as ho was convinced that once a man became too well known in a place ha could not carry out his duties without fear or favor. “■lt’s a queer man,” said Mr Blaak, “ who does not make a few friends."

INSPECTOR CULLEN'S EVIDENCE John Callan, inspector of polio?, stationed in Auckland, said that he joined the force 29 years ago. After being transferred about from pillar to post as a sergeant, ho was appointed to the rank of sub-inspector at Wanganui, where he remained for some time. On being promoted to the rank of inspector he was appointed to take charge of the Auckland district. That was seven years ago. The Chairman : How many men have you under you ? Witness: Fifty-two altogether, v In response to further questions which were put by the Commissioners,the inspector said that ho kuew nothing about the Dunedin police scandal beyond what ho had read in the papors. Ho knew noth ing personally about the appointment of McDonald and Moses, who wero sonionced in connection with the recent scandals. Altogether, ho had charge of 61 police stations, aod detailed his duties, which, he said, consisted mostly of office and inspection work. Generally it took him about 13 hours a day to get through. The Chairman : What is the latest hour then that you seo tbo members of the police force ? The Inspector : Sometimes up to midnight,

How about the oub-inepeotor ? Could ho assist you more than he does ? —He could see more of the suburban stations then he does, and ho could attend attend to all tho correspondence which refers to purely local matters.

, Well, now, give us an outline of the duties of the sub-inspector.—He has to take charge oi 13 stations, attend te Court work, correspondence, and reports from the various stations.

Continuing, Sub inspector Black said that with roforonoo to the supervision of tho sergeants, ho did ns much as ho could. Not until within tho last two or throo weeks had ho visited tho beats botwoon midnight nr.d 4 or 6 in tho morning. Through going round in this way ho had not on thoso occasions bcon ablo to go t:> bod at all. This prootioally meant that I ho had to go without sloop for 48 hours. It I was too much for any muu to do, and if it I /went on in regard to a private individual, I tho Arbitration Act would soon bo oallcd I in. Ho eonsidorod that tho staff of sor- I geants hero should bo incronsod by two — I ono to assist him and another for night I duty. Tho presonb inducements for men I to join tho foroo wene not vory great. If j they placed a man on probation for twolvo | months, with tho risk of being thrown out I at any moment, it would prove an obstuolo I to getting good recruits. I I AN AUCKLAND CONSTABLE SUSPECTED.