POLICE COMMISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3438, 20 May 1898, Page 4

POLICE COMMISSION.

CHARGES AGAINST AN OTAKI CONSTABLE. THE ACCUSER’S RECORD. The Police Commission met again yesterday at the Parliamentary Buildings. Constables Hammond (Mount Cook) and Cameron (Central) attended as delegates on behalf of the local foree, and made certain recommendations with regard to pan-* sions, the auippjy of uniform?, and the accumulation of annual leave. Con* stable Cameron also advSead the appointment of police siwgeons. With regard to a personal grievance, Hammend pointed out that he Joined in May, 1895, without having been previously told that the rate of pay had been reduced to AUO per month, He still received this amount, out of which he had to give 9s 2d for insurance and find a uniform. He would ask to be placed on the same tooting as men who had joined prior to him, owing to the fact that no notification of a lesser rate had been conveyed to him. In answer to Colonel Hume, the witness said he had never put his grievance before the Inspector or Commissioner. Did not think it Would have been much good to see the latter, as he (the witness) had no influence behind him such as at the time was necessary. Sergeant-Major Mason, giving evidence with regard to a complaint made in Christchurch by Mrs Thompson as to a constable’s misbehaviour, said he had a general recollection of the case, and thought the constable had been completely exonerated. Who the constable was he could not say, nor did he know where to find any documentary evidence of the occurrence. Inird-olass Sergeant Donovan tendered a number of suggestions, in which he pointed out the expediency and justice of making allowances to the widows and families of constables who died in the execution of their duty. Political influence had been general for some years and had been in a great measure availed Of because of the harsh and overbearing attitude, adopted by some Inspectors. Favouritism by Inspectors Was rampant, and to counterbalance the injustice resulting therefrom men had taken advantage of outside help. The abolition of educational tests in the force had been a retrograde step that prejudicially affected the force. Previously many constables hailed these examinations

with pleasure as a method by which they might honourably advance themselves by the exhibition of superior intelligence and capacity. Continuing his evidence in the afternoon. Sergeant O’Denovau suggested the formation of a bicycle patrol corps. Alterations should be made in the night duty system, which, as uow arranged, led to exhaustion. Ho knew that political influence was rife from his own personal knowledge. One reason for discontent was that

promotion was painfully slow, the resuit being that men Were kept an inordinately long time in the one rank. An idea of the manner in which some constables discharged their duty as clerks of Court could be gained by questioning any Stipendiary Magistrate. The formation of suburban stations in the vicinity of large cities would be the means of providing a sphere of usefulness for men who had grown too old for street duty. Had passed examinations while in the force, and still considered it would have been desirable. Colonel Hume: Were you asked at an examination to answer how much lace a naval sub-lieutenant wore on his sleeve ? —No, that question was not put to me. Do you think that questions of that kind would be of any use ?—No ; but in such a case it was the fault of the examiner, whose appointment was in the hands of the Commissioner.

Then, Sergeant, did you ever have apy complaint to make while I he’d office? No j I did not. In reply to Commissioner Tunbridge, the witness said he thought the exigencies of the service—which required men to be on duty at all sorts of hours—were too severe for men who had become in any way advanced in age. To further questions by the Commissioners the Sergeant said his knowledge of law—having passed as a solicitor—had been of the greatest value to him, especially while in the country.

Mr MoNab attended after luncheon for the purpose of putting questions to Colonel Hume with regard to the Jeffries case—that of a constable formerly of Pioton,

the circumstances of whose removal has been prominently before the public both in Parliament and the press. Colonel Hume said he had made up his mind on May 21th, 1896, to transfer the man, but was not at the Otaki races on that day. Had seen a file of papers referring to the preparation of the electoral roll in the Sounds, which included a letter from Mr Mills, but he did, not look at it as a complaint. Thought it was a mistake to have sent the constable to Pieton, but left him there for six years. He was then sent to Takaka, but at the request of a mutual friend he was sent to Port Nelson. There was no political influence in the matter of Jeffries’ removal.

Francis Eumsay, a woodsplitter, living at Otaki, stated that he had prosecuted a man named Hancock, at Otaki, for larceny, the defendant being fined and ordered to make a refund. Finding that the money had not been paid, he went to Constable O’Korke and asked whose business it was to see about the matter. Eventually the constable hunted Hancock up, and obtained the fine, but not the value of the stolen goods. This, it was explained, was because by an error on the part of the Justices the amount had not been entered in the Court books. O’Korke also said he would have fixed the matter up if witness had not been in such a hurry in writing to the Inspector. One of the Justices, Mr Small, had offered to pay the amount (15s) out of his own pocket, but now refused, owing to the fact that the other Justice had since gone away. The pith of his accusation against O'Eoike was that the constable had not remedied the Justices’ error.

The witness also brought forward a lumber of other charges to the effect that D’Eorke had been guilty of dishonesty and corruption in his capacity of agent for the ?nblio Trustee, had allowed children of endor years to purchase liquor in puhliclouses. had played cards in hotels fre[uently and had generally behaved in au mproper manner. The witness gave a deailed account of many instances in which he constable had exceeded his duty, nd of occasions on which he had shown axity.

In reply to O’Korke, Eumsay em-

phasised the truthfulness of his story by declaring that the Testament on which he had been sworn demanded respect; also that he trusted when his term of life expired to go to heaven, where he hoped to meet his questioner. Moreover, he went to church regularly and deposited 6d in the collection plate. Have you ever been convicted ?—What me! Well, if it comes to that lam the only man in the British Empire upon whom the Government has expended ,£3 Is to get fined five bob. That is the amount it cost to try and make one of the hardest working men in the district a criminal.

The constable at this stage produced a record of the occasions on which Rumsay had been before the Court, and on commencing to read it was interrupted by the request rh it he should include the “ dismissals with the convictions.” This was accordingly done, the list showing that the witness had been found guilty and punished by fines and imprisonment for drunkenness, disorderly conduct, maliciously injuring property, assaulting the police, contempt of Court,' disturbing a public meeting, using obscene and insulting language, besides having being tried and acquitted in the Supreme Court for rescuing a prisoner and attempted murder. Colonel Pitt: Is that list correct? — All this arose from differences on local politics with J’s.P. —men whose character is not as good as my own. Constable O’Eorke : Are you a married man?—Certainly, and my wife was in the hospital when I got three months in gaol. Were you married to her ? —She was a woman whose husband had deserted her. We lived together for 17 years, till death parted us. Have you taken a house for anyone else P —That was for a young lady to whom t was paying my addresses. She was cook at a hotel, but took bad with la grippe and I gave her all my wages, besides borrowing a fiver to try and get to Klondike. After answering some further questions with regard to his previous career, and also giving Mr Tunbridge the names of certain persons whom he had seen O’Eorke playing cards with in hotels, Eumsay’s evidence was closed, the Commissioner stating that ho would hold a departmental inquiry into the matter. At 5.15 the Commission adjturned till this morning, when O’Eorke will be heard.