POLITICAL NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12794, 12 June 1909, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE POLICE FORCE.

(From Our Parliamentary Special. — By

felcgianh).

WELLINGTON, June 11.

The condition oi the police force formed the subject of some comment by Mr Herdman in the House to-day. He was speaking on his Public Service Bill, and in the course of his remarks said that the police force was in a very unsatisfactory state. It was entirely due, he believed, to the fact that no proper supervision was exercised by the head of the Department in making appointments. He did not in any way blame the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Dr. Findlay), who was keen and-anxi-ous in the discharge of his duties, and who he believed was animated by high, motives and a desire to promote a better condition of things in the Department. Mr Hanan — "Therefore he should be in this House."

Mr Herdman — "I don't want to express an opinion about that." He was, he added, inclined to the opinion that the head of the Department was responsible for the state of things that existed, which amounted almost to a scandal. The Force was in a condition of chaos, due almost entirely to the fact that -olitical influence was exerted in the making of appointments. That sort of thing ought not to be allowed to continue.