THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 27

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

the Report. (Feom Otjb Own Coebespondent.) WELLINGTON, September 5. To-morrow afternoon will probably be oc« cupieel with the discussion of the Police Commission report, which the Premier has promised to lay on the table. The report will not, 1 "understand, be by any means a sensational | document, and is not likely to go nearly as far as Mr Taylor and his friends would like in many respects. The recommendations of the commission will probably be on the lines of Mr Tunbridge's report on the police force. This latter report was doubtless brought down early in the session in order that the Government might be in a position to state that reforms had not been forced upon them by the Royal Commission, but that they were simply acting upon the advice of their responsible officer, in accordance with whose suggestions they have already provided on the Estimates for 50 additional constables. As regards the past, the report of the commissioners will declare that political interference with the force has certainly been proved, and that such interference had tended to undermine proper discipline ; but the commissioners will, I understand, also state that influence has been brought to bear by politicians of both political parties, and that Ministers and their supporters are not algne to blame. The report will al-50, it is understood, state that certain officials have proved themselves too old to give efficient service. As regards the future, the commission will, I believe, recommend that the force be removed entirely from the region of political influence and interference; that Mr Tunbridge be given a free hand in the matter of appointments, dismissals, removals, promotions, etc. ; thai the force be considerably increased ; that bcttPi* provision bo made foi training the men; that a pension scheme ol some sort be inaugurated ; that inspectors who are too advanced in life or" o,re, for other icasons, incapable of rendering efficient sarvice be retired ; that sub-inspectors be appoinu-d to assist the inspectors; and that the licensing laws be altered in order to help the police in securing convictions in cases of Sunday and after-hours trading and sly grog-selling.. Mr Taylor is so satisfied that the report will not go far enough that, I am told, he ha 3 already made up his mind to move an amendment to the motion that the report lie on the table. He is said to have material ready for a great speech on this question, and as others are sure to have something tQ say, the after* noon will probably prove all too short ior the debate.