END OF A "SCANDAL."

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15163, 6 October 1913, Page 6

END OF A "SCANDAL."

"No recommendations " was the report of tlie M to Z Petitions Committee of the House on the petition of Ex-Constable Smyth, of Greyniouth, for reinstatement in the Police Force, and compensation for alleged injustice dona to him by his dismissal. Smyth was for a short time the hero of an Opposition "scandal." He had been a year in the Police Force when he was transferred from Auckland to Greymouth because ho would concern himself with the formation of a Police Association which the Commissioner and Minister had discountenanced in the interests of discipline, and which a leadingLabour agitator, Mr Rosser, was assisting to get formed. The police can join the Civil Service Association, but it is essential that they should be independent of oiitside Labour organisations, Smyth was _ not in Auckland when the Minister asked constables to state their grievances, and promised that they should not suffer in the Service for their' frankness, so that a statement made by Opposition papers that lie was a victim of mistaken confidence in this promise was lot true. Moreover he was not reduced in pay or status when 1 e was sent to _ Greymouth. Soon after his arrival he was ordered to watch timber on the wharf, and to report himself at 5 a.m. at the senior sergeant's residence. Smyth left his before 3-40 a.m., instead of waiting- until 5 a.m., and entered " 5 a.m. " in the watchhouse book as bis time of - leaving duty. There was a large ■ clock in the watchhe-use, and the Greymouth town clock can be heard plainly from the wharves. -Smyth' was dismissed for neglect of -duty, as other men had been for tire same offence before him, and' case, was made the basis of a ch^ge-of'"victim-isation " against, ■ the Government. How far > -Mr- Smyth de-. served the 'sympathy 'accorded him can be .jitd^ec^.from.the<re ? port of a, standing'committee, in-

eluding Messrs Clark, OrfAgiayi, Davey, Dickie, and among its members, wMch',"after * considering all the has > refused to agree that 'He ftras ' victimised. " The Opposition have been most unlucky in their' scandals. ' i :