DINNIE, THE "DEMON."

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 7

DINNIE, THE "DEMON."

EX-COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN NEW ROLE.

"SPECIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATOR."

Circularises "Costs" to Catch their Custom.

Wh,eh, by the force of extremely extraordinary, not to say awkward, circumstances, Mr.. Walter Dinnie, Commissioner of Police m. New Zealand, deemed it the best course to adopt, vi£, to resign a job >for which lie was entirely unfitted, many people wondered what the gentleman would do for a crust. It is true that he resigned his .billet, and it is not very difficult to surmise what would have happened to him had he not resigned. You see, when Royal Commissioner H. W. Bishop had finished his herculean labors of. traversing the Dominion ,and taking evidence here, there und everywhere, proving the parlous condition into which -the police force had drifted, and how effete, •; WAS DINNIE'S ADMINISTRATION, ■Dinnie as a Commissioner, or head of the Police, Force could not be imagined, and to avert dismissal, which was warranted 'by the Royal Commissioner's findingSj Dinnie, with a very bad grace ! "threw m his marble." Then the "Prusbyteerians" of Wellington took a hand. They argued that the Royal Commissioner was a very one-eyed individual, that he commenced his duties determined that he would "out" Dinnie, and that, generally, that imported person had not got what is commonly called "the s Square Deal;" If "Truth" might be pardoned for expressing," at so late a stage, an opinion on the matter, if would like to observe that if every man got as square a deal, as did Dinnie, New Zealand would be a very happy and contented land. That the "Prusbyteefian" onslaught on the Royal Commissioner had some eftect seems to be borne out by the fact that after Dinnie was NO LONGER BOSS BOBBY, the Ward Government, which was then m power, and. when all seemed nice and quiet, "pitchforked" the discredited-] Police Commissioner Into a cosy job of j President of a Native Land Board m the* North. A year or two quietly rolled by when it was announced that Mr. Dmnie, by reason of the fact that he had reached the ago limit, was no longer of service to the State and that he had been superannuated. There was NO KICK COMING this time. Tho Public Service regulations provide for that sort of thing, and .without a murmur, Mr. Dinnie retired, unwept, unsung and unhpnored except by a small pension. Apparently, however, Mr. Dinnie Is not of the

vices to "Costs" m Auckland, perhaps to the whole of New Zealand In the, capacity of a "Special Confidential Investigator.", To come to the point, Mr. Dinnie offers himself as a private detective, and "Truth" wishes to observe that "Costs" m Auckland, or several of him, are of the opinion that Mr. Dinnie might prove just the very sort of man badly wanted m a city where the dashing- co-re, is not altogether unknown, even m a state of "trouserlessness." ' In circularising "Costs," Mr. Dinnie gives the information, "that having retired • on. pension after completing 41 years m the Government Service, I have deoided to undertake (through the medium of the Legal Profession), Special, Private and , Confidential Investigations arising m any part of the Dominion; also to' interview, interrogate and secure evidence of witnesses m connection with civil actions or prosecutions." He goes on to say that his long association (30 years) with the LONDON JOHN HOP "TRADE" while attached to'the Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard, and his lengthy. Government service will satisfy conclusively as to his qualifications, responsibility and reliability. Ho winds up' that the roault of any investigations entrusted to his care will be furnished "m such a modern, secret and concise fashion as will ensure your continuous support." The- circular bears the signature, W. Dinnie, "exCommissioner of Police and late Chief Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department, New Scotland Yard, London." It will be noted thut Auckland's latest private 'tec, does not mention tho fact that he retired from the New Zealand Police Forco m circumstances which "Truth" has mentioned, nor is the fact that as a President of a Native Land Board he is eminently qualified to take on . THE DIRTY LITTLE JOBS thut lawyers, especially those who make a lot of money m the Divorce Courts, so often require to be attended to. Still, when all Is said and done, "Truth", cannot say that Mr. Dinnie is not eminently qualified for the role he is now entering into. The private 'tec. business Is not an altogether "nice" business, but with Wnlter Dinnie, cx-Commlssloner of Police of New Zealand, entering the ranks It is lfkely to be given some tone. And when "Truth" says tho business is not a "nice" one, it Is using the words of Mr. Justice Edwards, when his Honor had something to say about private "demons'* In summing up m favor of tho respondent In the now famous Paterson v. Paterson dlvorco case. The Auckland lawyers have^ been circularised to a man. Several have informed "Truth" that In tracking tho guilty respondent and tho gay co-re., Mr. Walter Dinnie will be worth his weight In gold, because ho is ho re* spcctable, so clean, and so ex per fenced. The now private 'tec, or rather, "Special and Confidential Investigator" has HUNG OUT HIS SHINGLE at Curran-strcot, Ponsonby, Auckland, and tho hours during which he might bo consulted, together with his telephone number, nro given on his business card. Judging by tho everIncreaalng number of divorce suits, "Truth" predicts that the ex-Commls-sloner of Police and the cx-Presldent of a Land Board, Is going to have a very busy time of It. Porhaps, It might bo added that, at last, Mr. Waller Dlnnlo boa found his proper level.

driver to come with me aa a witness. My husband slammed the door In my faco and that's how tfio, window got broken. pr. Sidney Arthur Stride said ho attended Mrs. Dowd m April? and stitched up a wound, .on her head which may have been caused by striking a gate. ... Lawyer Holmdon: Have you ever smelt liquor upon nor? —l havo seen her sovcral times, but only once smelt liquor upon her and thta was tho night she went to tho hospital. Lawyer CohUl: It may havo been given her as a stimulant.?— Yes. Raymond Dowd, a. 'h\d 'of 12 years, said ho often saw Dowd punching, kicking, swearing at' and brutally treating bis mother. ' Tho little chap said his father ono night enmo home arid threw him 1 and Kls mother down and then knelt on them and punched thc^n. .Lawyer Cahill: H&* ,he often bit you?—Yc«. . What ol»o ha» he done, to you?— BnOKK MY ARM. He' hit n\e with a broom handle. Who huii always looked after you? —^lumma. i^r. .Tracy Inglis. who had aetwl as tHo. family doctor for liomo ye«r«, «aid he .attended Mr*. Dow.d about four yovs ago for a broken Jujv and also