POLICE COMMISSION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10895, 21 April 1898, Page 3

POLICE COMMISSION.

POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN THE FOKCE. (BY TKLEdItAFH.) Christchurch, Wednesday. At the Police Commission this morning Messra Joyce, Tanner, and Smith were present) In obßdlenoe to nnmmomea. Mr Joyce said he believed that before he entered the Homo he had made more recommendations than since. He considered the Commissioner shonld be reiponsible to Parliament, and enggeated that there should be a system for cadets joining at 17, who eonld start tbelr datles at clerical work. Before the abolition of the provinces the force waa snporlor to what It had been blbco. The effiolenoy of the service had degenerated in conaeqneiice of the militarism introduced tbrongh recruiting fiom the Armed Constabulary end Permonent Militia, He did not think the pay snfßoient ; It ahonld not be lesa than 8». Marriage shonld be encouraged, 68 married men wete more reliable. The Cbrletohnroh fores wai not saffiolently strong. The men shonld have dej6t training, and under* atand first aid to the wounded. There ahonld be periodical tranaferi— oonarablae eveiy five years and officers every seven yews The force was oat up Into too many olbhob. He deolined to i»y whether It wai advisable or not that the men should have the franchise. Complaints to members of the Honse of Representatives were not oonfined to the police foroe. The police were a fine body of men, prepared to do thelc duty, bat under the Iraperfeot licencing laws and bad organisation had not mnch chance. He believed Colonel Hnmn wan very deelrons of osrrylng onto the llqnor laws, Bnd no remark of tbe Colonel's had led Mr Joyce to think there was anthority above him restricting hit operations. A a to the licensing laws, he would punish oil who were found In hoasoa after hours; he wonld " rnn them all In." Mr George Barton said he saw a policeman reeling about in the street. He wae talking nonsense and threatened to rnn witness la, lie wai one of the committee appointed to ccc If tho police were doing their duty. The result waa the lodging of a petition sgslnst the inmoval of the lloensa of Coker'a hotel. He had arrived at the oonc'uelon that with regard to hotels and brothels the police were very lax, ond that tho conduct of some of the men was bad. Inspector Tnnbrljge said be w»a relnotnnb to the, bat this was a reflection on the whole force on hearsay evidence. The Chairman said these matters Bbould be deposed to by the witneißei who reported them. If a witness wae prepared to make these statements (be Commlißloi wai not, Mr W. W. Tanner said personally he dH not know mash of any political lnfln« enoe being naed in connection with the foroe. People wishing to join the foroe had welted on him. Later. The Police Commission sat to-day, when evldonoe waa given aa to breaches of the licensing laws and polUloal Influence by Messra T. E Taylor, P, W. laitt. W. W. Tanner, G. W. BowroD, G. J. Smith, and John Joyce. Inspectors Brohanr and Cullen were oxamlnod at length as to tbe administration of police affairs. The Commission then adjourned till to* morrow.