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" Police Department (Commissioner's Office), Wellington, 10th January, 1903: "' Memorandum for Inspector Gillies. " Re attached application from Thomas Moses for enrolment in Police. " Please submit a confidential report, from anj' of the constables in your district who may know the candidate as to his private character ; also verify his height and chest-measurement, bare. " Should the candidate not be known to any of the men, then let discreet inquiry be made, and the result submitted. "J. B. Tunbridge, "Commissioner of Police. , " Referred to Sergeant Warring for report.—R. J. Gillies, Inspector. 12/1/03." "Constable Christie, — The candidate lives near Stevenson's place, Otaio. Please measure carefully, and also report as to character. — W. Warring, Sergeant. 12/1/03." " Sergeant Warring,—This candidate is in the Artillery Depot, Wellington, at present. — A. Christie, Constable. 21/1/03." " The Inspector,—Please see what Constable Christie says. The candidate is in the Artillery Depot, Wellington.—W. Warring, Sergeant. 21/1/03." " Sergeant Warring,—Please report what is known of the candidate as regards private character, &c. —R. J. Gillies, Inspector. 23/1/03." "Constable Christie, —For careful attention, please.—W. Warring, Sergeant. 24/1/03." " Sergeant Warring,—Report herewith.—A. Christie, Constable. 29/1/03." ■' The Inspector,—Please see Constable Christie's report at back of file.—W. Warring, Sergeant. 30/1/03." " Police Office, Waimate, 29th January, 1903. Report of Constable Christie, So. Jf.63, relative to Thomas Moses, a Candidate for the New Zealand Police Force. " I beg to report from inquiries I have made in and about Otaio and St. Andrew's, where this candidate resided prior to leaving for South Africa in the Sixth Contingent. He is very highly spoken of as a very sober, honest, hardworking, respectable young man. " A. Christie, " Sergeant Warring, Tinuiru." " Constable No. 463. "Forwarded to the Inspector.—W. Warring, Sergeant. 30/1/03." " Submitted to the Commissioner.—R. J. Gillies, Inspector. 2/2/03." On the 9th October, 1903, Sir William Jukes Steward again wrote, — "Sir, — "House of Representatives, 9th October, 1903. " In your letter (No. 206) of 27th February last, re the application of Thomas Moses for an early appointment in the Police Force, you informed me that there were not likely to be any appointments to the Training Depot for some months, but that when the next selection was made Mr. Moses's claims would be considered with others. " I understand that two squads have been formed since date of your letter—viz., one about four months ago, and another in the first week of this month. As Moses was not included in either of these, it occurs to me that his application may have been overlooked. I therefore send you this reminder. " Yours, &c, "Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Justice." "Wμ. J. Steward. The reply was, — " Sir,— " 13th October, 1903. " In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, re candidate Mr. Thomas Moses, I have the honour to inform you that two squads have been formed since February last, and this candidate's application was considered with others when the selections were made, and will again be considered when further applicants are called on, but I cannot at present say when he will be selected. " I have, &c, " Jas. McGowan, " Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Kt., M.H.R., Wellington." " Minister of Justice. On the 19th February, 1904, the Minister of Justice wrote further, — " Sir,— • " 19th February, 1904. " I have the honour to inform you that candidate Mr. Thomas Moses, whom you recommended for employment in the New Zealand Police service, has now been selected for examination preparatory to his appointment. " I have, &c, " Jas. McGowan, "Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Kt., M.H.R., Waimate." "Minister of Justice. Moses was medically examined on the 9th February, appointed on probation on the Ist March, sworn in on the 27th April, and appointed constable on the Ist May, 1904. The failure of the Police Department to ascertain that prior to his enrolment Moses had been convicted of offences was due to perfunctory inquiries made by Constable Christie. His report was apparently considered sufficient by the Department, and no further investigations were made. The system of inquiries as to the characters of candidates for enrolment should be more complete than at present. We understand that inquiries are now more exhaustive than when Moses applied for enrolment. Dates are now required in testimonials covering practically the life of the candidate from the time of his leaving school. Even with such precautions there is no responsibility on the persons giving certificates, and no obligation on them to disclose anything known by them detrimental to the applicant. He might also have been convicted under a name other than his own in a district where he had lived for a short time only.

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