THE POLIOS COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11316, 7 September 1898, Page 2

THE POLIOS COMMISSION'S REPORT.

A BRIEF PRKOIS. I PER PBE33 ASSOCIATION.]

WLLLiKdTON, September 6.— The Police Commissioners' report, with th 9 evidence, makes a bulky docunieut of nearly 1300 pages. The OommiWdflefJ^ recommend that the control of the police should be , taken from the hands of the Minister, ] excepting as to expenditure, and that tbe I Police Commissioner should have comI plete authority. Alterations are advised i in the boniudaries of tbe different police ■ district^, and the appoictment of subinspectors is -sriggested. As to retirement^, the Commissioners, for the sake of efficiency, consider it desirable tha* sergeant aud constables should compulsorily retire at 60 years of age, and inspectors at 65, unless specially requested to r«tain offioe. The Oommissioneis leave ie to Inspector Tunbridge* to name tho.pro?euc constables and sergeants' who should be retired. Concerning the inspeptQrs, they find it their duty to make speckl ■ recommendations. " The inquiries We made 'at Napier," they »ay, " have eatisfled us that Inspector Emerson is no longer fitted to hold his office. With age he has lost his energy and activity of mind and body, which are necessary for the proper discharge of his duty. His conduct of late has been in many respects unfitting his position, and he has lost the necessary control o£ the men serving under him, and his services ought to be dispensed with. As an . inspector he has done good service in, time of war and peace. We, taking all the circumstances into consideration, recommend that he be called upon to resign, and he be granted such retiring allowance aa may be considered proper." Inspector Hickson (Auckland), top, tbe Commissioners think, should be called on 1 to • resign .on the usual retiring f allowat|ce." Mention, is made' o£vhis 'valuable .services in the past, 1 but his atfe^is referred to aa having caused him tO'tose the energy and "capacity necessary, for, the charge of a' district like Auckland. Inspector Brohatfl, they go on to say, does not appear to have that interest in the details of hk duties which is desirable,, and they recorflmend that bis attention be cal'ed to the nece.«s>ity for more personal energy in the super visiomof the man under h's charge in town or country. Regarding the system' of enrolment, it is recom> mended that the present connection be.tween the' Permanent Artillery and 'the police force should cease ; no. candidate under twenty or over thirty years of age should be enrolled ; promotion should be on.- the ground of personal fltnesß combined with efficient police service, and not r on the| ground -of seniority.. Sergeants and constables &hould be supplied with uniforms free, and' the use of bicycles encouraged where possible. The Commissioners suggest alterations m the rates' ;of pay, and recommend the establishment of a retiring allowance - a pension system baaed upon a reduction of 5 per cent, from all police department sa'aries and various other specified sources o; revenue. A present payment of £30,000 is suggested as sufficient to establish the pioposed pension system. If the pension scheme cannot bo allowed, a rtjciring allowance similar to that now granted . to prison warders is suggested. The general conduct of the force, taken as a whole, his bpen good. It is doubtful if any other body of men ' numbering so many would bear the searching . investigation the force has undergone without las many or more instances of noglect of duty or lapses 1 from good conduct coming to Jight than bave during the enquiry. The records of the Department, however,, show that there are a few men . in the force who) have brought -discredit on it .The"men bave beeii. repeatedly punished' f or;yarious.' breache>of fhe regulations, and^tis to be^regrettedthat- they .have r been j allowed iitp j remain iin the oforce." On the ! question of fihe efficiency of i be! force, the Commissioners refer to. thei difficulty * ,in ■ enforcing -1 :the~i > licensing law, and recommend an amendment 'of the Jaw to prohibit, the '.supply of liquor "daring closed houralb a guest or 'boarder, Except -with meals, and making all persons found in a hotel during prohibited hpurs without a reasonable excuse, ex.cepting'boarderfy hona fide travellers, and hotelkeepers, their family aud employees,, ijiable to a> penalty. ' ■No facta have ,0.00*6 to thje knowledge of the Commissioners suflvjient,'<ia'their opinion, to justify the 'condemnation of the police department in conneetien with its action in regard to the liquor laws. Individual constables havejoni occasions neglected their duty, L but ija- all cases brought under the Gom'mission'ers' notice punishment in some/ form; follows.. The' Commirtsionersare of opinion that the, law relating to gaming £tqufrea amenduieut.. -; - -I -„ -j~';--