POLICE COMMISSION.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1514, 18 July 1905, Page 3

POLICE COMMISSION.

Before the Commission on Saturd:iy, Inspector O'llrien said his duties werejsuch tlmt he could not give I lie personal supervision required. Tlint also applied to tlio sub-inspec-tor. A station sergeant should be appointed to relieve the sub-inspector of certain duties, such as the principal part ot tile Court work, and also clerical work. Witness would like to be. relieved of certain oflice and clerical work. As regards the si/.e of the beats, he recognised that, they were too large, but it was no use reducing them unless there was an additional sergeant. He had always discouraged stereotyped visits by sergeants. In reply to a question as to whether all connected with the thefts were now out of the force, ho said that, beyond the statements of the convicted men, he believed they were, but if these statements were to be believed there were still dishonest men left. Chief Detective Herbert gave evidence in which-he said that he thought what induced Moses to make his statement was that lie was smarting under a wrong through the public belief that he was the cause or the downfall of other men. They were satisfied now that Moses was not the leader. It was highly improbable that thieving was going on by tht police in other parts, as stated by MDonuld. M'Donald never, at any of the interviews with him, hinted that thieving was going on in other places. He had reason to disbelieve the statement made by M'Donukh Constable Hunt, who had been over nine years in Oamaru, said there was not the slightest suspicion that thieving was going on, as suggested by M Donald.

Constable O'Conuell complained oi his being removed from being acting detective and transferred to Dunediu. His daughter having got married, he was "shouting" for his comrades in Christchurch, when a sub-inspector came in and told him that he had been drinking. He said he had, as his daughter had just been married. He brought live witnesses to prove that there was no sign of drink on hi in. He had been in Christchurch for six years, and only heard of two cases of theft. One constable was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and M'Donald had been mixed up in the other 'case, which was a theft from a fruit shop: it never came before the Court. The Commissioners intimated that they would go over the beats on Holiday.