The Police Commission.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8833, 13 July 1905, Page 4

The Police Commission.

D.unedin, July 12. After lunch the Police Commission heard the evidence of Sub-Inspector Green, who detailed his duties, nn'rl stated that bo knew nothing about the charges against Hoses and M'Donald till after they'" were arrested. Re was never called on'to see that the sergeants did their dutv properly but he had known them to be admonished by the inspector, and instructed to double back on constables on the beat. Witness thought the station should be in charge of a sergeant at nights, who would be senior to those on duty, and responsible for them. Asked by Commissioner Dinnie if a little more supervision would have prevented the robberies, witness could not say, but volunteered the opinion that if the men were dishonest they could not be made honest. Sergeant W. H. Higgins said he never had any suspicion that the robberies were going on. _ As to supervision, it was his duty to visit the men on their beats, and ne started on his rounds shortlv after 10 at night. There were eight beats, and it was impossible to find a constable unless he (the sergeant), could pick him up at the starting point, In six hours lie had to visit, 10 to 12 men three times. The beats here were too large, hence the difficulty in finding the men. He had done nothing to try to remedy this. Some of the beats were over six miles in extent, and others over four. He had repeatedlv doubled back on the men. Thev had had a verv indifferent lot of men here for the past five years. For one good man sent here there were five bad ones. If men made bloomers elsewhere they were diunped down here. It was a regular Siberia, and known ns such. As for being censured for not visiting properly, he utterly denied that it had ever happened to him. The Commission adjourned till i 0.30 tomorrow.