COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9954, 25 April 1918, Page 3

COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE

PEOTESTAKTS TJjLEGE DlSOUl>iiivLY COiNUUCIT. •

£ei ions complaint's against members <u ti.ti police force wore . brought under tlio notice of the XXon. T. AI. Wilforcl QUmstcr for Justice), by a deputation from tuo I’j-otsstant. Political Tssnciaion. Tiio Ktv, lie ward -hUiott stated that he Und copies of police repor-s hied in Wollington during llie year. The so showed that during- a public Jiiectinsr held* in the Town llall on March ~Gth a certain constable had been guiltv of rowdy conduct. It was alleged also that another constable had participated in demonstrations against Air Massey. The conduce complained of in ‘•■he case of lac fijst mentioned constable was that he had "booed - ” and ‘‘(inuck-cjuackod'-* and generally taken part in the interrupt Uotis,

Koulyitie to Ibo Minister. Mr Elliott mud. ho was informed tha t the copies woro taken from the original report, but he had no means, of verifying them. The police superintendent in charge of the Wellington district had the constable before him on this charge, and ho was rcDfinja ndod. Kr Elliott considered ho nhrmld have been more serevcly dealt with. In an -Auckland ease, a magistrate had nmdo verv strong comment, buf the officer concerned. who had/taken Information to n certain company, instead of dealing with it in the ordinary way. was merely lined .-C2. and retained in his Mr Klliott against nn instruct Ton that had been given to the police that religions of persons charged with offeffnccs wore not to be. entered on the charge sheets. Mr WUfovd pointed out that there was a difference between charges and convictions. Tho prison records gave full paricularo and the rejician oi convicted persons wore made known.

Mr Elliott hel dvhat the return*: from v.Uicli the Cvovenancnt fetal/Uiician turnpiled his records did nor reveal the rc--Italon of prisoners. The Catholic Federation in JNrw Touth Wales had moved to have the t’cltaioii of inverted persons vdthheUl. iXo other region had asked for this. It prevented the supporters of tJig nations, svstom of education fi'oni dnoting nil important argument in favour of thoir cur<*.

Mr Wifortl rctrrcttrd that tho deputation had failed fo 'inform him in 11 dvinico of t'.io snhicc;. o.' their representatioas. Tliis prevented him giving a strniglitout reply. . lie would look up .the official records in regard to the complaint acainsijL’Lo constable. If the facts were ns slnleii he would bioiv wlmt to do and would not hesitate to do it. .Mr Elliott, Probably. had confused charge clients ivilJi records ot conyiction. Tie would look info that matter ami aha the Tik Ida ml affair til an I dined. Me would uphold Uiw and order at public meetings. But there verve limits to the endurance of casual audiences. If spec hot's made statements inviting a row they Miauld nof ha surprised when the row hnpnened. Mo would deal with all the matters fairly and prnmptlv, and without regai'd to any opinions.