THE POUCH COMMISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5668, 16 August 1905, Page 6

THE POUCH COMMISSION.

WELUNGTON SITTING Concluded, comm insioxkr Drxxrus KVI DivXCK. DUXKDIX IXSPKCTOR CRITICISED. No [XFM'J \S('K or VALUE TO cgx>taru*:s. Tlf fN.lp-.- cf/umMing t.l !1. \V. AM., ;t/rd ■). V\ . ;’(v■/ pi * . 11 , n d ; V.VI 1 i ngl .>n -MU,," 0 !.. 'Ir'OM I 1 .■»•-'>> ( ■Jino Building y*-*-n\y. snMxs'rrc top .Mr ::i '-Ukd in.|Hvi(,r !Cl l on. ilnl, In- },:«.* n-civni a fcl(-r;,!,l Nub-! M-,| f: ■rl i; r Black, uf A I if■ k lit IM i , r ill", Inn r> the i n.'-pci'! or In In iih <‘on; rul-siOM )iis opinion of M; I ■‘■i u.-. :\ polk" offi'-or. h. .p- n, r E!iUm h" km-w Black n-s u -m-- :,,B in VG 11 1 n-ton M.m., yumi.g.,, U-o in Auckland and Dargaville. I!,, ii.-ui ;dv/ .y- |uuk< d nni.ti him as vi.ry !;:;.uluv<.d:;i l >-; l «.mN.hh mail. who rmvcr sh-rked :uiy work that was pot upon h;m. Air Black went, to Cliri-.o ruiiru! a-; su k-i n.-j m If > r four or live In<* ■i f f i nfior wihm s wmit djru-. They t .-M on vry -veil. 1 l;id always found him a r';vril, hurieM. and iiard-working duxid>ix sri’Kitvistox. Ser?-i u,i!!. William Lyon.- sra,t ed that he had been in Veil u.o'nii for five ye, hav ilia whi-tl', k*en stationed in id! eej;' re-, in »he colony, hum his CXfM ruTire ,11 Dnm-dm it would probably Pave I,e ( .ii b-cM ,-r if irregular visit.s by |{h> si• j'’.ce all i had ht-mi the rule. ft would not be [iis ,:!)!♦• in Weldngtmi for the, m-n to gm toy'Hmr (in night duly jmd t r< > round rohhitiLr places, as was done m Dimed ’n. in Dumdin. nlt, iioit a! i iho -.rrf'tunts talked about the di/iiculi ios of supervising tlm men working tin.' he,(t;s. iihev <!id not draw the attention of (ho authorities to the fact, and things went on until the scandals occu rrod. To Commissioner Dinnio: Probably the petty larcenies would not have gone on had there been proper supervision in Du nod: n. THE APPOIXTM.EXT OF MOSES. Sir Willi; .m J. Steward, _M-H.il., was called, Mr Bishop informing him that it had come to the knowledge of tlie Commission that ho hacfil%m one or more occasions recommended Moses for admission to the force. Witness stated tliat about two years ago Moses caune to him in Waimate, and inquired as to joining the police. Ho showed witness proofs that lie had been serving in Sou til Africa in one of the contingents, and his papers wore quite satisfactory. Physically, lie looked a very good recruit. Witness know that Moses’ parents lived in his electorate. Jlo did not know them, but had never heard anything against thorn, lie gave Moses a form to -fill up, and forwarded bio application in the usual way, as ho had hundreds of others in the thirty years ho had been an M.H.R. Moses also produced evidence from a clergyman (the Rev Mr Brady) as to character. Some months later witness again applied for consideration of the man’s application. He submitted be had every podble reason for sending him forward under kite circumstances. Ho had written to the department regarding a number of other candidates. Francis McFarland, who also recommended the man Moses, stated tliat he did so on account of knowing him in the artillery force. Ho know nothing Against Moses, and from his appearance ho thought him a very suitable candidate for the force.

MI? T. K. TAVT.Cm PROVIDES AN INTERLUDE.

At this stage, Air T. E. Taylor, M.H.R... ro«o, and said lie wished to know whether the Commission had power to listen to a matter ho wished to bring forward. Air Bishop read tho reforenoo of the Commission for Air Taylor’s infornuttion Air Taylor: I believe, after hearing the reference, that the matter I wish to refer to—dealing as it does entirely with tho Commissioner himself and his administration —is not in tho scope of tho inquiry. I only carno hero because I thought it would have saved a lot of trouble. However, I will now deal with it on the floor of the House. Air Bishop said he had received several letters from Air Taylor and others, and ho had in each instance inquired into them with tho view of stopping anv abuses, and had in some cases been su-roossful. A SERGEANT'S GRIEVANCE. Sergeant Thomas Griffiths, stationed at ALanners street, stated that ho had done night duty in Dunedin. Ho had reported to Inspector O'Brien that tho beats there were unworkable through being too long. No change was made. /Vs to whether, with proper supervision, the thefts could have taken place, witness dolled any sergeant to control dishonest men. Thieving could, in his opinion, go on in Wellington If tho men were dishonest. There was no discipline at all in Dunedin. Everything was at sixes and sevens. The inspector had himself to blame for that. Witness went on to allege that certain constables had conspired against him because he was straight and strict. "I believe,” ho said, “that my affair caused tho Dunedin scandals, because through their conspiracy against mo they combined. And these are the men that are now in gaol, whilst I see another of them in Court.” (Witness indicated an ox-constable who was sitting in Court). “ Ho is hero to give evidence against mo.” Commissioner Dinnio; You have a grievance against Inspector O’Brien? — Oh, I have, sir. Witness wanted tho regulations amended, so that in case of complaint, against a member of tho force, such individual might have the same privilege ns the inspector of choosing either the Commissioner or two Jus-| bices to hear tho evidence. There would, he contended, never be discipline in the New Zealand force until this privilege was granted. His own case was sufficient. He had been redact'd in rank, and on his oath ho swore he was never guilty of tho charges which led to his reduction. Witness thought there ought to bo an Apnea! Board for tho police. Both the Railway and Telegraph Departments had one. He asked to bo allowed to mention the treatment bo had received in Dunedin, which, ho said, struck at tho root of all discipline. The Commissioners ruled that witness

h .vin" been ruim’atfd tin- matter was cloud. L ( u , t .kb- Juris; May 1 j peak ? .Mi- Hi Nr Xu. You h;.d a i ull and !,/■■■■ -,1 v ,” u 'AN i',ui u* :ee why you : liould s(u•,i k lu-ru. Juri rcqii"-t. Mr Bebop inHi,it Jnriv- n.'V.-i- .-iiid ii," nil I,l,:n! on i In: nniit r:,rv. Hiai tin- liM“...i„ „„ tVJ , v I>1" inr i In’- fii-.i’.-- . in dm jK/Ilcn lor, <■ at Unn.aliii. ('OM MISSIONI ■II HI,\XI ICS TIXM KXT. v- ;i p(Vimnii-uoijcr ol (,„■ Si r.- Zcal.iial, tiicu «avc nvi,i, !!,, M :,| ill'- sy-!,'i:i Ini-n Will 111., ||,„ r.iinini--inn-',- rnmai-i-il ”■ V, ,t,, n iliirinL' liif i , ,"li'ini"nial'.v .1,1, i„V i!h> it'-.'--, lie vi'il'-'i ~. rni.U Hi'- variinr- tIKH-ii-t-I,a. In (,!>.;■ i n a km..vi'.'.i ... v/oihin- ol i l,“ I'niw. 'i'HiI, , , ,„ ,■. in I. \Viu,"i,''s work 1.. 1,,,,, i.f'i’iiiii ■' HU f ' v ‘"i'-v kij'v Vwlniniti'i'i:- • An |« rnsnlr of inn ,'in'l k'.'nrvin'.v:, -a- 1 fi i nt!inrrs _m ~ i • r', t v.'ii iu’-s was certainly not satNfu..] "v-i! J, ||)H a--t fin of ii p<-rvi-ion. fn,.1.-.lf IV I," llil'l I"" 1 » ■Vi 11, 1 . llill'-rcnt inM"-" -I. Up -„1, "I' .1,1, •- H,.U I." , 1... .- ~,, M -rlain ■ I tl’ " "I'- "in r<„- .lii-' Tlhw l>" P" 1 'U 1 | , ill til" lIU'IIII' mi" til" |):,'„,"liii iiia.itor cronii.a. ii". .■'"■''l «•>*- tl."i" im-1 ...v"His;i- , j fl 'j,. 'i'},,. rccmnnu-ndal sons luq n.u, linwv.w. !■" now liamVil in to 11, .:mcii. -iviHi oil" or two a<lilii,i'"’i" -ii;<‘« it Ini'l «•<-. ti . i.; tli" ri’ciimnwncliiHu. form of !"H"i- to Hi" ’■ fin!-t "i-, im follows; TIr.COM M r.NNATION H . Til" iron. Ill" MiiiMf'.' of ,„, l .la.iim for .'".■lain <;li"im."“ 1,1 IP.- o'-'m n i-n’ inn of Uu* police l-or-o. • ’ , i, T f niirJAcr ah-olnlelv le-'-ussa ry .n lb, nl .„vah- fur Hie proper fuim-v----■-PiMn ; -iul control of the force, the protect ion 'of pronert y. and ehVet .vc por-f.-.r-manre of police work itmiprallv. ‘••’Niee niv ruuinlntment as 1 olice Comii"' -i n m ev." f have embraced nil Un:t () f vi-itimr nearly the whoh- of the nnliee -Ual ions'"in Hie colony, devoting Hjiecial attention to the lour centres, and obtaining a thorough knowledge ot 'ho -iv-'em of supervising (he men. anu cvmuiting the genera! work apiicrtainmg to tin l deportment, and. as a result. Mind <>!•’( o'v'n"- to the great increase ot the pnjMiliit ioiT ami <-niifsfr}iienl iiicronso of cenernl fiolicc work a betfep ot ‘UinerviMo’ii aud method of poifoiining the gen oral work is now indispensable with the view to the enieiency ot the force. . ~ The ■Roval on the poll re force was* held in 18M. and suhscqnent provision was made for what was then considered necessary for the prouei and (‘Tu-tency of tlio toiye. but; since then, although the populat'd! lies largely increased, and the police work according!v. no change has been effected with (ho view to cope with the additional work accruing to the offs cos of those in cha?-go, and responsible for tho supervision and control ot the men in the various police districts, henco in citien their whole time is engaged in clerical and Court work, and the supervision of those under their control is much neglected. Tho approximate increase in the population of tho four centres, and additions to the strength of the force since March 1899, are ns follows-. Population. Police. A imkland and suburbs ... 5.319 2"> Wellington and suburbs 10.65 S 10 rhristchurch and suburbs 7,372 15 Dunedin and suburbs ... 9,446 7 35,825 57 The statistical returns for the year ended March 31st last, as compared with March. 1899. shows an increase of all offences dealt with by police of t-201 and all other police work lias grown to nnch an extent (hat the inspector and sub-in-spector in charge of city districts havo little time to devote to the supervision of tho men being fully engaged in the executive of the department. It is obvious that olltcers in charge of city -districts should be in a position to make occasional nocturnal surprise visits to their subordinates as well ne daily visits, as too much reliance cannot bo placed in sergeants, some of whom shirk their duties and permit the men to take advantage of their neglect, and with this view, assistance must be rendered to those in charge to enable them to ho relieved from part of their clerical and Hourt and nay more attention to tho supervision of their men. I consider the duties which have at present to be performed by sub-inspectors more onerous, exacting, and of more importance than those accruing to inspectors in charge of outer districts, and it is of tho utmost importance to secure the services of tho best qualified officers for city work, as at present some of the euxbinspectors are not equal to tho police work and supervision required in tho four centres, and are not. giving satisfaction in the performance of their respective duties.

I also consider it was an error of judgment to equalise the salaries of district inspectors in charge of outer districts with those in charge of large centres, as there is no comparison as regards the responsibilities and police work appertaining to the two positions. With the view, therefore to provide for tho necessary supervision of tho force and proper execution of the increased general work, I strongly recommend the following changes which I am satisfied will meet all present police requirements, and will ensure the efficient performance of all police work, the additional cost being inconsiderable. (1) That in future the four centres instead of being supervised bv a district inspector and sub-inspector, as at present, should be supervised by a district superintendent, an inspector, and station sergeant, as follows: (2) That four district inspectors be selected for promotion to the rank of district superintendent with a salary of £inn per annum, rising by annual increments of .210 to £tso. Their duties to consist of the general supervision of their districts, the charge of all outer stations and police work connected therewith, tn deal with ail defaulters. correspondence and accounts forwarded to and emanating from headquarters, and to pay occasional daily and nocturnal visits to the sergeants and men stationed in cities, os well as visiting outer stations.

(3) That four inspectors be selected to take charge of the four cities and suburbs. and be responsible to their superintendents for all police work arising therein, ns well ns the supervision of the men. to conduct proseeufious when necessary in special cases, and to pay varied nocturnal surprise visits ne w-eli as visits during the day to their subordinates; all night visits to be recorded.

(I) That the pay of all inspectors appointed hereafter be .£3OO per annum rising by annual increments of £lO to £350, in lieu of £3OO to £IOO as hereofore.

(5) That the rank of sub-inspector, which has proved unsatisfactory, be abolished, and that of station sergeant substituted. (6) That a specially selected station sergeant 'be aiqiointed to each of the four centres to assist the inspectors in tlie general work of the department, to conduct nil ordinary prosecutions so as to relieve the inspectors and enable them to pay more attention than hitherto to tho supervision of the sergeants and men under their charge.

(7) That the station sergeant appointed to this duty receive an extra allowance of Is 6d per day in addition to ids pay. (Si That each of the lour centres be augmented bv ouo sergeant and six constables for ordinary relief duty to provide for the necessary reduction in the size of tho boats, tho protection of pro-

pf-rtv ;;iid ’nr nrop'*r supervision oi Mio 'I i " I"‘" " :-,U|."rvXi<.n X linr-aH?--I,i'-„rv, ~l t 1,.. 1,"."s are i.lticll 1..', la;;;,', al.'l il is 1,1 a.l I '"-I I!y Hill""'.1," s"i la- ai pref-nO to |,.;v I 1,.- 1,. s'lrpri-" vi .iifi to |i,, ~,, , r ,.i.i v. 1. areas v. ill, t: ", 1,, vKtts..."i,i 1,,, tm.'i',. , ~ i 7, ■ . ...... ,-r ii,,, s"re-aiit- , | Iran -■, ;,' ' v ; t tl," -I ..t ion .',"l " Va" ; rV, 1 ,|,-itio-i ol liistfi-t "larks I," ll.at, Ol ,--re..,1,t illstca'l "I "0115U.1,:,. a, at |,I" !o imptov- rli"ir ftanw. i'i. 'l ! 1,. V !,a-." '.'.’lT I,'ll VI.TB "a 11, nan so (•lii.'.loy",! art of 1 ;oi; end have important. ,'' i 1 Ml" .""‘I bv ,iil,l'.-- to portoi in. ]l i- „| M . liay slioaM i,"M Hiat ''-I .i',. ! l'',’iV.Hoi>“r.'k” til,’ll lla-'y ft.u’d in iiHfiioio in the .obst-iu.-c ii,, ’ili,-' .i u-i-i.lv 1)171 ruf-t inn (diissbe btrn-cd in »•. <• i f -A tour cent res. It I b\ Mm station mm genii t. ir li com j j ii 1 <;rv at i '-iidi: ncc un ril mcniIwrs i.nvt- on r i.W'dvt* months’ service, ijif. '•biftt bein''’ >o instruct vrmng mciuk,x'ii. edne-' t ionn I Knowledge and genera! police work. Ml; That a of drill at least once a mom!! be introduced in the cities v. i i I • the \icw I;> impiove the- ap|iea ran cc of the Timn. some ot whom are se-mc-Aome mr* n .;e ncii t migiit possibly be made wiHi The Defence Department to I•; 11 i (1(\ a dull instructor for tliis purjjOse. . p»i That the following police stations be ine! mil -i ill the Am-klmid instead of t lie Xapier di-t l i.-t, as t t:ey are muni n>ore and much more easily -suocT vi-e I from Auckland. and mail communi-Mthm m more direct viz, Kali Kali. OmiMki, Omaio. Kotorua. J’e \V;:■ •■; i Tn Puke. Wlmkatane. Th :t t )u- Xelsop poliec district iuclu'ling Hie Pori, Collingwood, Uiehmmui. and Spring’ (trove bo attached to \\eii;;igion instead of tho Westland police di-M id . a !he means of communication wish Wellington arc much hotter, ami the -uinMvi -ion of Xoison could be i.ajre ea.-ilv arlminislcml from that centre than horn Mreyrnouth, I have nlreadv applied for five sergeants and f wcnty'constableri for ordinary police duMes, and if this scheme is approver! ami the augmentation sought authorised, the additional annual expendit.ure will be as follows, viz.:— Increase. Jj Four inspectors to be superintendent-'— One in-'pccl or now receiving ,‘Jtbig increase to <£-110 ... 10 Two ii • b ’et ors. cadi receiving .£375, increase to X'loo ... 50 One inspeelor now receiving c£3so. increase lo .£4OO ... 50 Foui' sub-inspectors to be inspectors— One sub-inspector now receiving .£270, increase lo ,£3UO ... 30 Three sub-inspeotors. each receiving .£2OO, increase to .£3OO 120 Four station sergeants at 9s 6d per day. plus Is 6cl allowance g ••• 803 Fourteen constables at 7s per day HBB Total <£2851 Witness said, despite letters of recommendation from M.H.H.’s and others, he- always selected tho most suitable men for tho force, and the Minister for Justice had told him to dr so, and supported him. The inspector should bo made responsible for reports on candidates, and under him, the sergeant of tho district where the inquiry was to bo made. The lives of candidates from tho time they left home should be inquired into. As regarded the admission to tho force of ex-constatlc Moses, inquiry was made as to his character in the artillery. During tho time ho was in South Africa and in tho permanent militia hero his character was good. Moses 1 papers were sent both to Christchurch and Waimate for inquiry. Tho constable at the latter place reported that Moses was very highly spoken of as honest, sober,-and straightforward. As a result of all this, his name was put on tho list in February, 1903 (before witness came here), and remained on tho list until March Ist. 1904, on which date he was selected and sent on to tho drill. ground. In the meantime Sir William Steward wrote recommending tho man. Witness did not think ho himself would have placed Moses’ name on the list on the strength of tho papers in question. Mr Bishop: At that time, was it understood that troopers who had served in South Africa should havo preference?

AVitness said he believed it was. These troopers had not given satisfaction: they were not up to tho average. Aloscs’ appointment was not got by influence. Witness, on receiving nows of the Dunedin thefts, went down to investigate. Ho first interviewed the police officers and men. After their conviction ho interviewed the prisoners. Acted on the statements so far as he felt safe to do so. A number of men—twelve or fifteen—had left the service since, as a result of the inquiry, but there might possibly still bo some in tho service who might harp been, in some alight way, connected with tho-to larcenies.

Regarding snpcrvisiqn, witness considered tho inspectors wore responsible. Inspector O’Brien (Dunedin), when his attention was called to the fact that his sergeants could not do their work properly, because of the long boats, did not take the proper course. He should have examined the beats and have applied to witness for more men. Witness was satisfied these larcenies were going on for a number of years. For the lack of supervision in Dunedin the blame could only rest upon the'inspector and sub-inspector. Witness next touched upon the question of religion that had been raised. Inspector Cullen (Auckland) had, he said, been accused of recommending a Roman Catholic for appointment. He (Air Dinnio) handed in a list of Air Cullen's recommendations since 189 D, which would, ho said, show the case to be quite the reverse to what was alleged. _ Afr Bishop (after reading tho list): Yes; that certainly puts a different complexion upon it. AVitness then submitted lists of officers taken over from tho Provincial Government, and of those appointed bv tho State Government, also a list of tho whole force, showing the religion and rank of each, and giving tho separate districts. Ho proceeded to review die various suggestions made during tho course of the inquiry, dealing with tho question of probation (which ho did not favour), district clerks, etc. Coining to the friction in Auckland between tho inspector and sub-inspector, witness said tile latter seemed to have imagined things, and worked himself up to such a pitcii that he could not control himself. He knew witness was investigating the matter, and that ho would be transferred. He was very unwise to bring tho matter before the Commission, and witness could not imagine why he had done so, unless it was that he wanted to “show up” tho inspector. At a later stage, Air Bishop asked how tho Commissioner intended to deal with tho matter. He hoped lie would lose no time in separating Inspector Cullen and Sub-Inspctcor Black. Commissioner Dinnio: I am told they are now good friends again. Air Bishop: Then t his Commission has justified its existence. AA itness, in reply to Air Bishop, said ho would bo very glad if members of Parliament would refrain from urging the appointment of men to the force.

| Of courf-x*. they had a ;>*rfcct right to i ivc-ommend them, but i- was pressure ; t.b.’i’ wes not dedruble. Witness had 1 iruenVn-nc" from M.H.R.A on many ; oeeisious. and in; would b«* glad it it j could bo s' oppod. | Asked bv .Mr Fovnlon what his opin- ; inn wa- w'. b r.-mird lo cu.uioving men i arfcrrUw' t 0 ib,.; r ickgn'n. v.utnr-s.

said It-dm.-viT pdd any au.muon to that. Ho ’.v.iiib-'I the bc-t men irrospi. ci ivc oi creed. .Mr Poynt on read from the return handed in by figures showing tliat when tho force was taken over from the Provincial Governments there wore cightct n Protestants and six ilcmaii CaThotic-.. Xow that ther<s was a majority of Catholics, hut probably as time went on the PioTcsianus would prcdnminaL*'' again. Ho aDo said that tin; statement; made to tho efb-ct that Inspector ('ull'-n. ol Auckland, bad u<w-d Ids influence to gel. a Homan CaihMic ajipointed were incorrect. Tho return handed in by Mr Dinnio showed tliat out of twenty of his recommendations, only lour were Roman Catholics. He had recommended three for promotion a.s sergeants, rind all were Protestants. Tile -Commissioners examined Commissioner Dinnio on other matters of detail, tho proceedings closing at o p.m.. thus terminating tho sitting.