COMMISSIONER BISHOP AT CHRISTCHURCH.

NZ Truth, Issue 214, 31 July 1909, Page 5

COMMISSIONER BISHOP AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Wellington Cub Constables- Censured,

GEORGE LAURENSON, M.P., AND EX-DETECT IVE CONNELL

More About Unfair Promotions.

COP. FITZGERALD FLARES UP— WHY THAT CIRCULAR WAS ISSUED— A CONSTABLE'S GENUINE GRIEVANCE.

Mr H\ \V. Bishop, S.KL, the Commissioner appointed to inquire into the administration of the Police Force, after having concluded the talcing of evidence at Uunedin, went to Oamaru, where the , point was raised whether or not the district should be under the control of U'hristchurch or ' Dunedin. No objection .•was raised by Dinnie, and Mr Bishop said that as there was no official objection to .the change, and as local Reeling seemed to be m its favor, it would be sufficient for him to make 3 recommendation m his report without going further into the matter. Sergeant Griffiths said the carrying of No-license had not lightened his labors, and though there were few arrests his men were fully engaged. The amount of crime decreased considerably, but slygrog selling required the attention of constables. He gave two instances of his men drinking, and these men/ had been .transferred after inquiry by the inspector. Inspector Gillies gave evidence as to the detection of sly grog-selling m the district. -He had held an inquiry into the reported case of drunkenness referred to" iii previous evidence, and had found the evidence insufficient, but a, transfer was recommended apart from this Charge. He would like Mr Bishop to go through the files m connection with the matters referred to, as they would convince him. Mr Bishop, who announced that he was.. GOING TO RE AD ALL THE POLICE PILES m New Zealand, and who further declared that there was no hope of finishing •the enquiry by August 3, wanted to too w of Inspector Gillies if he knew of any weak spots m connection with the administration m Oamaru that wanted strengthening. Inspector Gillies said that the matter .was under consideration at the present *ime". ' Mr Bishop : I know the direction you mean. I will not go into "that, hut you that after a time you hope to make i>rtain improvements'? Inspector Gillies : Yes. From Oamaru the Commissioner pro- * needed to Timaru, where v Dr.' Teervam .-a* gave evidence of a grievance he had a- *^ igainsf Sergeant Mullaney. The grievance .was that about five years ago, one dark nigjit, lie was driving 12 miles from his home, near Peel Forest, with lights burning brightly, when he was crashed into by a vehicle containing two men. The matter .was reported to Mullaney, ' who .. •was, then a constable, and. who. got all " the particulars and promised to investigate. But Mullaney did nothing, and told him (the doctor) that he was a most unreasonable man. He could then see that he intended to let the matter slip. The case eventually came on,, but, of course, failed upon the mere hearsay evidence that the constable subsequently obtained. The person prosecuted was tiie late Mr Bull, who expressed .regret for the^ occurrence to him (Dr. Teevan:). The correspondence that had passed he-* fween Dr. Teevan and Commissioner Dm— nic was read. In one' letter Commissioner Dinnie expressed) regret at the action of Constable Mullaney m not proceeding promptly m the case, and advised the doctor that he had censured Mullaney lor his action. "And yet," said- Dr. Teevan, "three months later Mullaney was promoted to the position of Sergeant." Questioned by Commissioner Dinnie, witness said that Commissioner Dinnie and Mr Flatnian had connived to shield Mullaney. He could not produce any evidence m support of his contention r, a . nevertheless, it was his opinion. Mr Bishop said that the matter would he further investigated at Christchurch, where Mullaney would be given an opportunity of replying: to the charges. Constable Gillespie, who is m charge of the station at Tenraka, prior to givine; evidence, handed m some papers concerning a charge of alleged perjury against a constable formerly stationed m the South, but now m North Canterbury. This matter Mr Bishop declared would be dealt with m Christchurch. Gillespie condemned the present system of promotion. He stated that he had entered the Force m 1876, and though he had served m both, the North Island and. the South Island, and had achieved a creditable record, he had been passed over m the matter of promotion, after attainine the rank of first-class constable. He had been m charge of stations, and had filled every position incideniial thereto, such as Clerk of the Court, 'Registrar, Deputy Returning Officer, Inspector of Licensed Houses, etc., etc., yet men with nothing like his record had BEEN PROMOTED OVER ciS HEAD. He alleged that political influence had been used to have him removed from Ternuka. The charges brought by Ellis Mills against Sub-Inspector Green for refusing to permit a prosecution against boys for destroying a haystack, on the ground that two of them were the sone of prominent Post Office officials, were denied by Green, who explained that Mills wanted to obtain damages, and did not want to prosecute the boys, and, therefore, the police^ could not assist him. A further charge by Mills against Green for failing to prosecute boys for stealing his exhibits from a show was also denied, Sub-Inspector Green complained that though he was senior Sub-Inspector, l>wyer had been promoted over his head to the position of . Inspector-: Why this was so he was at a loss to understand. So far as he was aware he had a clean record, and Inspector • Gillies had recommended him for promotion. Sub-Inspec-tor Green suggested that much irritation would be avoided m the Force if a; Board were established through which men could appeal to the Minister when dissatisfied with their treatment at the hands of the Commissioner •Sergeant Warring said that POLITICAL INFLUENCE WAS MORE RAMP AWT now than before the Pofice had the franchise. He did not think that chief detectives should be allowed to compete against uniform men for promotion, but should only be promoted m thoir own ranks. Gaoler Weathered advocated higher pay for constables, a fairer system of promotion to the rank of sergeant, and that house allowance to constables should be the same as for detectives and sergeants. He ridiculed the suggestion of a con-, stable m Dunedin who thought that constables and sergeants should travel firsts class. This concluded the evidence, but before rising Mr Bishop recalled Constable Gil- • lpspio m regard to the case of alleged perjury, wlicn the constable said that the charge arose out of a statement by .the

constable m question that he had jjerson- . ally delivered a summons, which- had, as a matter of fact, been delivered by someone else. Mr, Bishop : What is your object m bringing the matter up ? Constable Gillespie said THE MAN HAD COMMITTED PERJURY, and should have' been dealt with according to law. He should have been the subject of a prosecution. Mr Bishop, said he would go into the case at Christchurch.