THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 308, 30 June 1898, Page 3

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

(BY TKLECEAI'JI—I'iIfSS ASSOCIATION). Wellington", Tuesday. At the Police Commission this afternoon, Mr Wardell (Chairman of the Commission) asked Mr Tunbridge (the Commissioner of Police) whether, from his experience, lie had been able to form any opinion as to the relative value of colonial and municipal control of the police force. Mr funbridgc replied that his experience was that a police force under a local body was not advantageous, or he might say snch local bodies as existed here iu New Zealand. In England there was very little interference on the part of local bodies with the officers they appointed to administer the police forces under their control. Out here, from what he had seen of it, it appeared to be the recognised rule for eveu the highest in authority to be appealed to on the most trivial matters. He was of opinion that if local bodies had control of the police performing duty within their particular jurisdiction the police would be subjected to many more outside influences than had been lodged against the forces of the colony as a whole throughout the Commission. IFc had' now an elHcicnt police force, and it should be made as independent of outside influences as possible. He was also opposed to municipal control, on the grounds of expense, as a large number of heads with attendant staffs would be required. Colonel Hume, ex-Commissioner, expressed a similar opinion. Wellington, Last Night. Ihe Police Commission have finished all the business except the examination of the Premier and the Hon. Mr Thompson, Minuter of Justice. It is doubtful, however, whether the Ministers will be able to appear.