EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6284, 15 September 1898, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hutchison continued his remarks on the report of the Policfe Commission, and proceeded to cite individual cases treated in the evidence. Mr Kelly said that it was amusing to watch the Minister of Defence, Mr Thompson, and the ex-Min»ster of Defence, Mr Seddon, attempting to hoodwink the public into the belief that there was no political interference with the Department. He thought that the report was colourless. He considered that it was the duty of the Minister to relieve himself of a position which the evidence given before tiie Commission showed that he was incompetent to fill. As an amendment to the original motkn he moved —" That immediate provision be made for the removal cvf the police from political control, for improving the present system of recruiting the Force, for the efficient training and insfcructicn of the Force, for the retirement of officers and men, whp by reason of age or otherwise are inefficient, or are of drunken or immoral habits, or are addicted' to gambling, fcr an amendment of the law "so to punish those who obtain liquor during prohibited hours, and for retiring-allowances and pensions to deserving members of the Force." Mr Scobie Mackenzie said gross impropriety had been committed in granting a Commission to inquire into the administration of a department of State. It was an unconstitutional act, and unpardonable weakness. The Hon W. Hall-Jones said that no previous Royal Commission had been so abused' as this one, but the Government had nothing to fear from it. He quoted from the evidence to show that political interference with the Department had taken place under Captain Russell's administration. He asserted that as the people of the colony became better acquainted with the report of the Commission they would see that there -was no foundation fcr the charges against the Force. Mr Montgomery said that the Minister of Defence had shown no individuality in his administration of the Police " Department. The demandJ for the reform of the Force had not been accepted, because it would have involved giving up the system of polit;cal patronage which was becoming the bane of the country. When the Force was reorganised as a result of the Commission, Mr Taylor would then get the credit which was due to him. Mr Dutbie said that the Government, instead of agreeing to an inquiry into the police administration, should have resigned, me corruption revealed in connection with tne Police Force was only an example of a similar state of affairs existing throughout the different Departments. It was not too late to overturn this state of affairs, but n it were not done scoundrels would be rampant and actively supported, ..•■•■■ Mr Morrison quoted l^mthVevidonc* ™ s&ow that durmg 'different Administrations political interference with the police had existed. . . _ Mr Wason expressed the opinion that the work of reform should have been-left to Commissioner Tunbridge. Mr Hogg said that complaints as to police administration had existed almost from time immemorial. Mr Massey said that the country had got full value.for every penny spent on the .Police Commission. Mr Flatman considered that the Police Force of none of the sister colonies would have come out of such an inauiry with such a clean sheet as the New Zealand Police Force presented. Mr Guinness moved the adjournment of the debate. . The motion was agreed to by 27 to 17, and the House rose at 12.15 a.m.