MR MEIKLE AND THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 222, 16 September 1909, Page 6

MR MEIKLE AND THE POLICE COMMISSION.

NOT ENTITLED TO BE HEARD

The first person who desired to give evidence before the; Police Commission in Wellington on' Monday was Mr J. J. Meikle. He was, however, .denied the opportunity of airing; his grievance, as the Commissioner (Mr H. VV. Bishop) did not consider "it was one which he should go into. Mr 'Meikle complained .that a constable who, twenty-two years ago, had instigated Lambert to inform, against the speaker was still in the police force. ;' : Mr Bishop: I am not here to mquire into the conduct of any particular member of the force. Is not your statement tantamount to saying that the man committed perjury?

• Mr Meikle: That is so. Mr Bishop: Then the man should be prosecuted. . Mr Meikle: It is a very serious mat^ ter for the man to be in the police service still. . ■ . Mr Bis-hop: If there is any allegation against the man he should be prosecuted, and dealt with according to his desserts—if the perjury is true. I cannot entertain any charge of perjury i against him here: Mr Meikle: I had him before the previous Commission. Mr Bishop: Then his evidence there is on oath. I, sitting _as a Commission, am not in a position to try a charge of perjury against him. Mr Meikle: I.do not want.you to. I ask you to hear the evidence, and see whether he is a fit man to remain in the service. Mr Bishop: That is a matter of administration which comes within the purview of the Commissioner of Police. I have nothing to do with any particular act of misconduct on the part of any particular constable. Mr Meikle said he had communicated with the AttorneyrGeneral on the matter of giving evidence, and had been referred to the secretary ot the Commission. The promise had been made that the thing would receive attention. "What remedy have I," lie asked, "if you wilLnot hear me?"

Mr, Bishop said lie was not responsible for any statement that had been made by Dr. Findlay, or anybody else. He knew nothing of the matter except a letter which had been sent to him by a member, of the committee interested in the case. A reply had been sent that the particular matter the speaker was addressed upon did not come within the order of reference of the Commission:

Mr ; Meikle: They wrote statijig that the thing would receive attention. Mr Bishop: During the currency of a Commission of this sort I am answerable to no one, and no Minister can dictate to me as to the methods of inquiry. Dr. Findlay had not written to him making any suggestions as to what should be done. He had considered the question personally, and thought it quite outside the order of reference to go into the question of conduct or an allegation of perjury against any particular man.

Mr Meikle: I do not ask that. I simply say that, on account of his conduct, he is not fit to be in the force, it is a serious matter.

Mr Bishop: Any alleagtion of perjury against a constable is a serious matter, and the allegation must be dealt with in the proper way, and in the proper place. This is neither the time nor the place to inquire into any, allegation of perjury. Mr Meilde: What am I to do?

Mr Bishop: You are asking me to express an opinion on a' matter of •which I know nothing. Mr Meikle was convinced soon after that he would not be heard; and withdrew from the Commission. — N.Z. Times.