THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14579, 19 July 1909, Page 4

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

The feeling of doubt which was expressed by us a few' weeks ago concerning the wisdom of the appointment of a Royal Commission to make investigations concerning matters connected with the Police Force has not been removed or even modified by our observations of the proceedings before the Commission in Dunediu last. week. We do not suggest that there is not abundant cause for an inquiry with regard to the organisation and administration of the force. Indeed, the evidence that has been given has afforded sufficient proof of the desirability of an inquiry. There is, however, a great difference between an inquiry respecting the organisation of tlio force, respecting tlio steps that are taken to secure the efficiency of the force, and respecting the character of tho regulations that should be prescribed to ensure the observance of discipline in the . force and an inquiry concerning the causes of dissatisfaction in the force with the manner in which the official at the head of the service discharges his duties in so far as his performance of these is governed by the judgment he has formed of tiro respective qualifications of the men under him, A general inquiry with

regard to tho principles upon which a I'oJice Force should bo organised and administered, and with regard to tho extent to which theso principles are applied in our own case, may quite properly form the subject of publio investigation. And sinco it is of tho highest importance that the Police Force should be an efficient force, composed of men honestly actuated by a conscientious desire to do their duty without fear or favour, any suggestion that the luoralo of the force is suffering through the importation of foreign and undesirable influences, whether they be political, social, or religious, into the administration of the system may suitably be examined in public. It is, however, not at all so fitting that an inquiry with regard to the internal working of the force—with regaid, that is, to matters in connection with which tho determination of the responsible official at the head of the service is dependent upon his estimate of the competency of officers subordinate to him—should bo held with open doors and in circumstances that admit of even tho minutest details being published broadcast. Tho moro desirable course, it seems to us, is that an inquiry into complaints concerning the internal working of the force and affecting tho members of the service in their relation to tho service itself and to one another, rather than in their relation to the public, should bo of a departmental nature. It is difficult to believe that a public inquiry into matters of this kind will not bo more productive of ovil than of good. Mr 'Bishop, tho lioyal Commissioner, showed his appreciation of this when he refused a constable leave to cross-examino the inspector of his' district with reference to a statement the latter had made, and when ho justified his refusal by the sound argument that it would not be conducive to discipline to allow such a procedure, llio inquiry in Dunedin had, however, already been productive 01 verbal altercations between the official at tho head of the Department and subordinate' officers, and in ono instance the altercation had generated a good deal of heat. Tho report of theso incidents may have provided the unthinking with entertainment, hut we cannot but think that the spectacle of the publio washing of departmental soiled linen has made the judicious grieve, and that tho weight of populai opinion will be in favour of the proposition that the discussion of the personal grievances'of members of the service should ,hn.ve been reserved for departmental investigation.