TEE POLICE FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 17

THE POLICE FORCE.

PUBLIC MEETING IN WELLINGTON. (From Ova Owk Cobhrsi'c.kd-ent.) WELLINGTON, September 19. Notwithstanding a very boisterous night, there was a large audience in the Theatre j Royal to hear Messrs Taylor and A. R. Atkinson's criticism of the Government in regard to the administration of the Police Force. Mr Pirani, M.H.R., was in the chair, and briefly sketched tho history of the Police Commission and the recent discussion in the House on their report. Mr A. R. Atkinson, nephew of the late Sir Harry Atkinson, was the first speaker, and met with an enthusiastic reception. He made a forcible and humorous speech. The charges that were before surmise, had, he said, now been proved, and the circulation of Mr Taylor's book would do more than anything to bring the Premier down. He referred to the Premier's pathos in speaking of Inspector Emerson and others. He almost saw tears in the Premier's eyes as he referred to poor Emerson, whom Commissioner Kenny had found guilty of "explosive bronchial catarrh." — (Laughter.) The Premier was so good a heavy Roman father that his excursions into the domain of domestic pathos should receive more attention than they generally did. — (Laughter.) He severely criticised the findings of the last commission in regard to Inspector Emerson. If the evidence of the Police Commission were only j properly used it would put an end to Tar- i inanyism, and turn out of office the present « occupants of the Ministerial benches, who disgraced the very namo of democracy. Sooner than have such a democracy he would rather J have an honest outspoken despotism. — (Applause.) _ ; Mr Taylor, who was also well received, said tho tactics of the Premier in regard to the discussion of the Police Commission report were unworthy of a thiee-card-triok man. It was, at all events, a disgrace to tre man who po3ed as the leader of the democracy. If the democracy was like the m»ui who ?l the piesent time was nominally its head, then he would say, God help the democracy. — (Applause.) He referred to the Premier's speech in the Hovuse, where his, bathos over Constable Christie's dead child, and the defence of Emmerson were the only answers to the revelations regarding the department contained in the Police Co.nmissionfcr'l3 evidence, lie referred at length to tho now celebrated Lawliss case, alleging that Mrs Lawlise, who i was a friend of the Seddon family, interviewed the Premier, and the power orMhe Government was used in getting a publican's license for a person who had been unfavourably repoited upon. He dealt with several mdi- j vidual cases of drunken and incapable con- ! stables, who had been allowsd to remain in i the force, and some of whom had bsen pro- j moted. As to political influence, there was no doubt it had been going on to the utter demoralisation of the Police Force. Inspector Fox had said that was so. Mr Norlhcroft had also said it, and during the past few days a j warfare had been waged belwoen Mr Lawry, j a pillar of the Liberal party, and puch a > pillar— (laughter),— and Mr Northcroft. Mr , Lawry, imitating tho Premier, had tried to ' shuffle out of it, but he failed, and Mr Northcroft had now given him the lie direct, and, added Mr Taylor, " I believe Mr Northcroft." He next dwelt at length on the case of a New Plymouth resident, who, he said, was an old ; friend of the Premier's, and in whose interest a favourable report had been obtained _ from the police, through political influence, in regard to playing a game of chance known as "• the bird on the wing." This was in accord- ; ance with the worst phases of the Tammany regime in New York. The Premier would no j doubt still endeavour to hold his political con- 1 trol over the police, and he would do so and i try to make Mr Tunbridge a puppet if pub- , lie opinion, did not prevent his doing bo. He ; believed, however, Mr Tunbridge would do ; his duty. There, were, thank goodness, still j a few men in the service hero and there who ; would do their duty and retain their self-re-spect or retire from their positions. — (Loud applause.) The Government, he held, were f not responsible for the legislation given to the j country. That came from oxilside, from public opinion, expressed in the newspapers and [ at public meetings. The Ministry simply ; watched the political barometer, and the elec- j tors should judge a Ministry not by its legislation, but by its administration.— (Applause.) ; If 80, what could they say of the administration of the Defence department for the last eio-ht years? Not only was the shadow of , Tammany revealed, but so surely as they ; failed to put their foot down on the methods , now revealed so surely would their boys and j girls bo deprived of the reward that should .; come to merit— (applause),— because some r crawling scoundrels of political supporters ; would have to be rewarded for services ren- . dsred.— (Renewed applause.) Why, in Wei- ' lington, as they all knew, there were scores of political women touts. They knew nothing of politics or Liberal principles: they were simply on the huufc for billets— (Laughter.) And man after man and woman after woman had been rewarded and quietly lifted into , positions that the Almighty never qualified j them for.— (Laughter and applause.) In conclusion, he eaid if the Premier refused to al- , low the representatives of the people m parliament to come to a vote in regard to the Police Commission report they would be justified in stopping him from getting further supplies of money. If ever stonewalling or ob- j struction was legitimate, it was certainly so . in such a case where the Premier had defied the power of the representative chamber.— (Loud applause.) . The Chairman intimated that this was only , the first step in their attempt to purify the administration. It was intended to take their next step, which would be a much larger ™f— viz., the purification of the civil service ot the , colony.— (Loud applause.) Although the Premier had said that he would not grant a commission for this purpose he (Mr Pirani) would guarantee that before 12 months were over they would bring out such facts of corruption in regard to the civil service that the Ministers would be forced either to resign or to give way to public opinion and appoint a Royal nommission. The following motion was then put and carried iinanimously, amidst enthusiastic applause and cheering :— " That this meeting deplores the r-^pid advance made under the pre- "

sent Administration towards a Tammany system of corruption as revealed in the evidence before the Police Commission; condemns the Government for its endeavour to evade tlit question and render the labour of tho commission futile by shirking a division on t; ? Bubject in the House of Representatives; and respectfully urges upon Parliament that t! = recommendation of the commission to free t!>e Police department^ from political control, a. l give the Commissioner of Police a free lir.":l in its management be given immediate eft'r : i to, as tho only means of restoring the efficieiic / of the force and checking the progress of c> - ruption." INSPECTOR. BROHAM'S RESIGNATION CHRISTCHURCH, September 19. A very large meeting of citizens was held to-night to consider the question of the resignation of Inspector Broham. Tho Mayor presided, and many prominent citizens were present. The f ollowing resolutions were passed : " (1) That this meeting expresses its high appreciation of the manner in which Inspector Broham has carried out the duties of his office, and expresses its continued confidence in him as inspector of police. (2)* This meeting con* eiders that the retirement of Inspector Broham would be a serious lobs to the public service, and trusts that the colony will con-tinue-to have the hfinefit of his great experience "and valuable services." Copies of tho resolutions were ordered to be sent to the Minister for Defence and the Commissioner of Police.