THE POLICE FORCE.

NZ Truth, Issue 264, 16 July 1910, Page 4

THE POLICE FORCE.

HAS WRIGHT GOT A PULL? More About the Manhire Matter. Is a Chief Inspector Necessary? It is with piin that "Truth" onca-again rises to ask when it is the intention ol the Government to give fuller effect to the recommendations of the Koyal Commissioner who iiwjjUired and reported on the administration of the Mew Zealand police force. Naturally, we must reiterate the fact that one result of that Koyal Commission was that the services; of tire Police Commissioner were dispensed with, Now,, however, that Dinnie has got bach into the Government *irvice, greater discontent has manifested itself m the police force, and questions are being pertinently asked whether the Government ratemi to take any action with regard to SobInspector Wright, who came m for as •much censure as Dinnie from Royal Commissioner Bishop. In the past, "Truth" was particularly accurate m the information concerning police matters that ii gave to the public, and just as accurately now <loes it declare that there an "agitators" m the force who are aiming to destroy the good work initiated bj Mr F. Waadegrave as Commissioner an< Mr C. E. Matthews the chief clerk. li certain police circles, an old remnant o the Dinnie regime remains, and this remnant, naturally pleased at Dirarie's returi to the Government service, are exulting ly crowing that Sub-Inspector W'rigol has suflicient influence ajt his command tt prevent Mr Bishop's recommendatioi with regard to himself being put mtc effect. In other words, it is declared thai Wright will not be shifted. This state nient "Truth" voluntarily brings undei Ministerial notice, because sufficient is known to justify the assertion that attempts have been made to counteract tin splendid administration being exercised apresent by Mr Waldegrave. Part o "Truth V justification for this remarl is a recently published suspicious tettei lin the "Dominion," sfgned Justice Part of that letter runs : — "According to rumor, some of the po lice officers who were so bitter againsi Mr Dinnie' s administration are still dis contested, and -Mr Dinnie is being- spoKej of as Mr Titnbridge was after he left th< New Zealand police force (the right mai m the right place)- is it. not the dut] of the Government to import an indepen deot man from England ? This wouM d< away with feeling and favoritism, whicl will otherwise exist." I The assertion that, some of the polia are discontented is not v a correct state ment of the position. None that wer< bitter against. Dinnie' s adrninistoctio] have any cause for complaint.' On tht other hand though there are a nonrbe: who battled m fee Dinnie interest, ant i whose discontent was created by Din i nie's thorough discomfiture. As a matte of real earnest fact, Mr WaMegrave na: turned out to be a most, efficient ati&nrri istrator, and under his rule the ordinary constable can always count on getting i i hearing, which was problematical m th< 1 days of Dinnie. Capital, also, has been made out of thi fact that under Mr Waldegrave's Uom missionership, one of the gravest scandal lof the police force has come to light Needless to remark, this scandal is tin Manhire matter of Christcnurch, but wh; Mr Waldegrave is to be blamed m tte circumstances "Truth" fails to see. Un i of 'the most- remarkable aspects of tha case is that "Truth" was the first to ex pose it, ami as one politician got t work soon after "Truth" drew public al tention to the matter, it looks as i "Truth" scored' again, and, contrary t the experience of past years, action . "ma taken with commendable promptitude. Now that mention has been made c this Christchurch police scandal, ''Truth' purposes to offer further comment on Mi scandal. That Davey, M.P., should at tempt to influence a police inspector as .b did, and thart a police inspector should al low himself to be influenced m the man ncr that he was, is the crowning proo of the assertion that political and othe influences have permeated the force. '1* grey-washing of Davey is scandalous. Jf'o him there seems to be nothing but foi gdveness. While he sougnt by an ad mdseri cordiam appeal to get cut of a tight coi ncr, he incidentally shiffted all the bhvrn on to Inspector Gillies. '"Truth" is holding n© brief for GilUies He apparently hasn't got any politipa pals, and is being left to get out of tin trouble the best way he can. He is m > tight corner, and all tttat can be pleadei for him is 35 years of service. Bu "Truth" can and has tj-uoted agams Gillies his own evidence at tne Koya Commission. He knew what was mean by political influence, and political innu ence as it affected him meant the mutiia ting of departmental records and thi mysterious disappearance of a TxaSi bond Worse, too, is the fact that a sijjbjordinati officer who refused to fake the cirargi book was punished by being sent out oi sr-reet duty. If, m these errewms^ances Gillies is not asked to resign, '"Crutn Will be greatly astonished. As far Gilties years of service, he seems to bej, 3S i Christchurch correspondent puts it, th< exemplification of the philosophical utter ance that "to avoid criticism, say noth ing, do nothing, be nothing." He ros< from the rank of sergeant to inspector and he seems himsielf to be a choic* sample of tttat awfull influence fcoin whicl the police force is aever free. GiMtes i! an enthusiastic Oramtgeman and a promt nent Freemason, qualifications wind count for a great deal m this wowser ridden community. . That Police Commis sioner Wsildegrave's admimstratiiOßL shouk be criticised because ,of Gillies' foolish ness is most unjust, but the fact thai prompt inquiries were made into the al legations is the best pioof that Ala: Wai degrave wishes the force to be free t'ron any outside inituenee Whatever. There is another little police matte) concerning which there lias been a grcai deal of police speculation, and tSrat i: the appointment of a Chief inspector. A Chief Inspector was not recommended bj Mr H. W. Bishop, is.AL' It ' was 1/he 'intention of the Government to appoint a Chief Inspector t o assist Mr Waldegrave. Seeing, however, that Mr Waldegrave has been so successful as Conimissicmer, "Truth" doubts whether there is any real reason at all why aa inspector o! the sort should be appointed. .Economy m the public service is now all the rage (< and here, at any rate, is the means of saving the country at leartfc £500 per annum. Needless to remark, "Truth" has kept a keen eye on police matters since the Commission, and m? no iastance can this paper find any case of promotion which was not honestly earned. With the exception of a few "agitators,!" who were to the fore battling on Drnnie's behalf when the inquiry was m progress, there are no malcontents m the force, and after the years that "Truth" spent m helping to bring about the Royal Commission, it is very gratifying to find such a pleasant state of affairs. In concluding our remarks on police matters, we must again refer to the position of Sub-Inspector Wright. In the old days he was, rightly or wrongly, the cause of much dissatisfaction m the police force, now, we are told, he has influence enough to over-ride the recommendations of the Koyal Commission. The fact that be practically holds his old position ; tha-t no attempt has been made to fcsend him to some district m his capacity as Sub-inspector, lends color to the suggestion that he cannot be shifted. " Truth" is much afraid that unless the Government take action, Sub-Inspector Wright will be a source of more discontent m tne police force ol New Zealand.