THE POLICE FORCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6285, 16 September 1898, Page 4

THE POLICE FORCE.

•* DEBATE ON THE CQMMISSBOIS. FRS r ; RESORT. "' i'- „ P'kom Our CbaitesroNDENitJ WELLINGTON, Sept, K. In the course of his speech on the* Polic© 1 ' Commissioners? report, Mr o ? Regaro took the opportunity of defending Irishmen! from* the covert cbarge<which he; alleged bad! been made against them by Mr Taylor in the "Shadow of Tammany." He pointed' out that fully a third of the members of the House were of Irish birth or. blood, the boII of honour being headed by the Speaker. An altercation took .place between " Mr Millar and Mr.. Taylor. The member for Dunedin repeated a statement made last night by Mr Morrison with reference to am lnterview between Mr Taylor aud Inspector Pardy outside the " Otago Daily Times "" Office. Mr Taylor, again gave the statement an unqualified denial. Mr Millar stated that he wpS obliged: to. accept the contradiction in the House, but nevertheless he believed his informant, and would -willingly repeat the matter outside and bring witnesses. Mr Taylor: You'll have to buy them first. Mr Taylor repeatedly interjected remarks during Mr Millar's speech, ,and finally was requested by the Speaker to cease interruption. r Mr -.Taylor again had occasion to defend himself during the speech made by Mr R M Kenzie, who charged him with entering into a conspiracy with a constable in Napier for the purpose of procuring his evidence, lo this charge Mr Taylor also gave an unqualified denial. Mr _TKen_ie stated, en pus-ant;, tnat in his opinion the whole or ihe evidence should be burned by the common hangman. Consia'erable latitude has been allowed to members during the debate, and Mr M'Kenzie took advantage of the fact to give a history of Mr T. Wake, who, he stated was the real originator of the Police Commission. Statements to the effect that the debate would be discontinued at 5.30 p.m. having been made, Mr Guinness characterised the discussion as abortive. Several members interjected queries ias to the authority of the statement that no opportunity would be given of putting the motion and amendment. Mr Guinness defended his own speech on the ground that as other members had taken the opportunity for making platform speeches, he saw no rer.son why he should not take p, hand as well.

Most of the members who spoke this afternoon did so to explain and justify alleged political interference on their part. Deteimined. to defend the. national character from even the imputation of incapacity or. impropriety, the member for Ashley tonight referred in glowing terms to distinguished Irishmen, and, after rousing the interest of the House by his eloquence, was pulled up by a smiling request from the Speaker that he should get back to the Commission. Mr Meredith accepted the rebuke, asking permission, however, to refer to one other Irishman, recognised as one of the most able statesmen and the most distinguished Speaker irt. the Australasian colonies, and added, "I refer to yourself, Sir." This adroitly-introduced compliment was greeted with a round of applause from the House, and an indulgent acknowledgment by the Speaker, who, however, again called the. member back to his sheep. Mr Taylor's speech on the amendment was more vigorous than that on Mr Thompson's motion. The necessity for defending himself, ahd the opportunity for replying to previous speakers, had roused his enthusiasm, and he spoke with considerable force. He stated that throughout the Commission he bad no desire to. get at individual members of the Force. ; From the start to the finish he was after the men who had spoiled ~ the Force, and dragged it down. Members of the House who knew of corruption had been conspicuous by their absence, and the whole unpleasant task was allowed to fall on the shoulders of one man. He had entered into one compact, and one only, with respect to the evidence. v " In order to get the truth out of the men in Dunedin concerning the alleged practice of visiting Speight's Brewery; he had agreed. to let them limit the evidence to any period they liked. Constable Christie's offence, which Ministers stated was the only case proved by Mr Taylor, and which had been employed by members as a ground for alternately abusing and ridiculing him, he explained was brought up in order to show that the constable had put himself in the power of siv grog-sellers, and, therefore, had become unable to carry out his duties • properly. The question of religion had been introduced by Colonel Pitt, not by him, but on investigation it was found that w r hile Catholics comprised only 14 per cent of the total population, they supplied 42 per cent of the Force. In concluding, the member for Christchurch declared his intention of keeping at the question of Civil Service and public service reform until the men possessed full and proper freedom. The leader of the Opposition made a temperate speech, devoted chiefly to explanation and defence of his own practice \Vhen Defence Minister. He said that he was proud of the unpopularity of that oilministrafcion. It was the easiest thing in tho world for a Minister to make himself popular. He paid a tribute to the administration of Mr Bryce, who had resisted all political pressure. They hnd to recognise that great pressure was brought to bear on.members of the House, and through them on the Minister. "With regard to the ineffective administration of the licensing laws, . he largely blamed the prohibitionists, who would not unite with the moderates to enforce the law. The Premier ridiculed the idea of Mr Taylor finding his tpsk unpleasant. He had taken to it like a duck to the water, until he found that he could not prove his charges. Then he was anxious to leave it, and made an opportunity in Christchurch to do sd. He had thought the Commissioners weak in giving Mr Taylor such latitude, but now he considered that their action was wise, as preventing him from stating that he had not received proper treatment. He declared that Mr Taylor had blasted many reputations. He could have got the same result in .the Force through Commissioner Tunbridge without the great expense now incurred., The Government felt that it must give effect to the recommendations of the report, but the financial consequences would need serious consideration. Subsequently interest in the discussion was at a very low ebb, at one time, just before 10 p.m., only twelve members being in the House. Mr Graham, who was speaking at the time, commented on the small amount of interest displayed by members in the subject. Their speeches, he said, were evidently to their constituents. The Speaker's attention was called to the state of the House twice within twelve minutes. Shortly before the supper adjournment Mr O'Meara moved the adjournment of the debate, and the discussion on this proposal was kept steadily proceeding till after midnight. The members who spoke were frequently called to order for importing matter foreign to the motion into their remarks. The motion for adjournment was looked upon as an indication that the Government desired to indefinitely postpone the debate, though the mover had pointed out that he proposed his motion in order that the debate on the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill should be concluded. Mr Taylor, in the. course of his remarks, described the proposal as a, shuffle of a most contemptible kind, and threatened that if the adjournment should be carried, members would stick up the police estimates until the debate was brought on. The Minister of Public Works contended that the country was sick of talk which proved to be without foundation, and was anxious for the House to get to serious business. The casting vote of the Speaker carried the motion for adjournment.

Mr Pirani then attempted to have the resumption of the debate fixed for 2.30 on Friday, but a majority of three decided against him. The debate thereupon was adjourned, ana t_e House rose.