H.—9.

and therefore he cannot be removed, but the department is saddled with a man who is not only useless but absolutely hurtful to the -Force, since his comrades are not slow to discover that mediocrity or incapacity does not prevent a man holding a good appointment. The plain clothes constable, on the other hand, belongs to the preventive force, and is employed as a detective only so long as he is found capable ; and he knows that should he allow any of his younger or more able comrades to outstrip him he will have to revert to his old position of beat constable : in other words, the spur is always applied —he must be equal to his work or lose the position to which he has attained. Arrangements have been made by which a system of examination for the New Zealand Police will be instituted and held for the first time in January, 1890, at the head-quarters of each police district. The examination will be divided into two parts—junior and senior ; a gass in the former will render a man eligible for promotion to first-class constable, in the latter to the rank of sergeant. This system has been instituted with the twofold object of preventing inferior men from reaching important positions, whether by force of seniority or interest, and of raising the general efficiency of the men to read up the theory of police work and the criminal statute law of the colony as the only possible method of attaining to a responsible position. I attach returns showing proportion of police to population and cost of police per inhabitant of each of the Australian Colonies, as also schedule of stations built during the year. I have much pleasure in reporting that the general conduct of the Police Force has been good. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Commissioner.

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