RECENT DUNEDIN CASES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12545, 7 July 1905, Page 5

RECENT DUNEDIN CASES.

MATTER BEFORE PARLIAMENT

Tho Minister of Justice was asked in the House of Representatives on Wednesday on whose recommendation tho policemen recently convicted at Dunedin of receiving stolen goods were appointed to the police force. Tho Hon. J. McGowari stated that full particulars with regard to the exconstables referred to were as follows: Moses, Thomas—Recommended by Mr. Francis MeParland, J.P., Wellington. Moses applied to join the force on Bth January, 1903, when ho was a gunner in tho Permanent Militia, in which force ho had then served five months immediately after his return from South Africa, where he had served one year and twenty-seven days in the Sixth Contingent Mounted Rifles. His character was good during both above sers vices. Previous to his South African services, Moses hadbeeh employ»d iri agricultural pursuits in various of South Canterbury* where his Marents reside, and the local police, after inquiry, reported very favourablyslpn his character, in consequence of wMich his namo was placed on the list of approved candidates for selection on 9tK; February, 1903. Nothing was then known of two convictions recorded against him in 1890 and 1895, when he was 13 and 17 years of age, viz.: 20th December, 1890, at Timaru, theft from dwelling, sentenced to three months' probation) 12th March, 1895, at Oamaru, shopbreaking, bound over to come xip for judgment when called upon. Sir W. J. Steward, M.H.R., wrote twice—in Feb) ruary and October j 1903—concerning Moses, l-equesting his early appointment, and replies were sent to say his application would be considered with others as vacancies occurred. He was not selected until Ist March, 1904, when; after passing the probation class, ho was posted to Dunedin on Ist May, 1904. It will be observed that Mosed had nine years' good character when h* joined the police service, and five years' good character when the police inquiry was made respecting him at South Canterbury. It may be mentioned that Moses " was not the instigator of the thefts for which th© constables were convicted, or, as has been suggested, he demoraliser of the others concerned^ as they Avere engaged in. such larcenies somo timo before Moses entered the service, and induced him to join them. McDonald, James—Recommended hy Major Headland, commanding North Canterbury district, and Mr H. Aitken, Oamaru. His character previous to joining the police service was good. Osborne, O. H.—Recommended by A ? Saunders, J.P., Owaka. His character previous to joining the service was good. Sir W. J. Steward, speaking on the question, said, in recommending Moses for appointment to the police force, he had made inquiry into the man's character and heard nothing against him\ Ho knew his parents as respectable people. Moses handed him a certificato of character from a clergyman. He did not ask for the man's appointment, but recommended him for favourable" considex-ation. He had not known that nine or ten years previously Moses had got into trouble. He (the speaker) desired to say that in all the applications forwarded by him, during a period ofl thirty years, this was the only case ill which a man recommended by him had turned out badly.

Mr. Massey said the position in whicli Sir William Steward found himself iri regard to this case was one in whicli every member of Parliament might find himself. It was simply the outcome of th i present system, which ought'to be remedied by the stating up of a Public Service Board, as had been suggested by the junior member for Wellington. What was needed was ia board that would not be susceptible to political influence, though he did rot think they would get such a board so long as the present Government held office.

Mr. Seddon said wherever Public Ser4 vice Boards had been established they) hat] been a failure.

Mi. Massey: Nonsense. Mi*. Seddon considered that Public Service Boards were just as open to political influence as the Government, and moro so. Whilst in Australia ha was told by a Minister that he simply initialled an application "for favour-, able consideration," and the appoint* merit was made. He (the Premier) urn dertook to say ..that they never had such gross favouritism in the whole his-' tory of the railway service as they had during the term of the Railway Commissioners.