THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9367, 18 February 1898, Page 2

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

(Per United Pre-,s Association.) Wi-LLiNGrox, February 17. The Police Commission this morning • was occupied with the review of police reports since 1877 by Colonel Hume. When he took charge he found the force over-officered, and it told against the admmistiation, as the men complained that they could make no advance. A superannuation scheme suggested by him did not meet with the approval of the force, but constables were compelled to insure their lives for £200. As to complaints upon licensing matters, the Colonel said that while the law remained as at present no organisation could give satisfaction. The Police Commission was occupied this morning by the cross-examination of Colonel Hume by Mr Taylor, M.H.R. Special cases of transfers made by order of the Minister were biought out, and verified by the lecordsof the Department, all of which went to show that the Minister had been either personally interested or had caused changes and promotions at the instance of members of the House. The case of Acting-Detective Main was fully dealt with, and it was shown that Mr J. A. Millar had urged his promotion to the detective branch. Mr Taylor said this case was the cause of much dissatisfaction in the southern force. L\tkk. Colonel Hume was under examination by Mr Taylor the whole day. He said that aftei Mr Seddon came into office he (Hume) made no appointments at all. He thought it would be better if the new men received instruction before being turned on the street. Witness was asked by Mr Taylor— ls it not a fact that interference on behalf of men's promotions and transfers has been made by public men, politicians and tradesmen ? Witness: Undoubtedly. You yourself and Mr Isitt recommended a transfer. Mr Taylor: Where' Witness : lam not going to say. Mr Taylor : A drunken constable, who frequently resorted to " bly grog" shops, and who has since been dismissed for drunkenness ? Witness : He had not been dismissed up to the time I left. Somo confusion here occurred as to the identity of the constable in question. Mr Taylor and the witness appeared to be refeuing to different persons. Witness, continuing, said he had recommended each year since 1891 that a change should be made to reorganise the detective force, but no change was made until Inspector Tuubridge was appointed. Answering further questions by Mr Taylor with regard to removals, Colonel Hume said : "It is perfectly impossible for any Minister to resist the pressure brought to bear iv connection with transfers. That is why I say it should be left entirely to the Commissioner." Mr Taylor : Don't you think that the men, recognising that the Commissioner has no power, tends to injure discipline '/ Witness : Undoubtedly ; if there is any disorganisation this is where it comes in, and only there as far as I can see. The appointment of Constable Mayne, formerly of Napier, to the position of acting-detective or plain clothes constable, occupied some time, and Colonel Hume stated that Mr Miller, M.H.R., was the member who advanced Mayne's cause. Witness remembered the case where Inspector Moore was retired on compassionate allowance of £700, aud shortly afterwards re-appointed as Sergt.-Major without the refund of his allowance. The Chairman ; I should like to know the circumstances of Inspector Moore's re-appointment. Witness : I merely know I was told to take on Sergeant Moore aud sent him to Gisborue. (Moore is now dead): Witness promised to look up similar cases relating to Constable Black. Mr Taylor : Do you remember the case of acting-Detective Cox ? Witness : He was the other watchman vvith Nixon on the big buildings at the time of the scare. Witness afteiwards put him in the Permanent Artillery, for whicn he was a Jinch short in height. In November, 1895, Cox was appointed to plain clotheß duty. Broberg and Gox were detailed xipon the Satherly case at Blenheim. Mr Taylor: That was an important case, involving murder ; did you consider it right that two biich inexperienced men should take such work ? Witness: Broberg is a good man, but the matter was entirely in Inspector Pender's hands. Cox had been successfully sued and fined £6 for a wrongful exercise of duty, but he was a junior, and had to obey orders. Broberg's appointment also came through the Permanent Artillery. Iv the afternoon, papers referring to Constable Black's case, were produced aud read. The constable was injured iv in May, 1890, by a fall from a horse whilst he was ou duty in the Bakaia district, and as he was likely to belaid by for an indefinite period, the constable asked m June to be retired from the service on compassionate allowance on the 25th Juno. Captain Russell was than the Dofence Minibter and granted the request. Black was not re-instated, so far as witness knew. Mr Taylor : Have their been many cases of constables making a wrongful charge for forage ? Witness: Not many: there have been a fow.