H.—l6b

A. This constable attempted to travel by rail on a defaced old police pass when on leave. This involved an act of rank dishonesty. He was by no means a first offender, lie admitted the offence, was fined 10s. and strictly cautioned, and warned that, unless he pays more attention to duty than hitherto, his services will be dispensed with. B. This man has been dealt with on the following charges : (1) Absent from beat; (2) failing to report himself; (3) making false report; (4) failing to work his beat; (5) gross neglect of duty on beat-work; (6) being off his beat and talking with prostitute; (7) absence from beat; (8) disobedience of orders. He was fined various small amounts for each offence, and is still in the Force. He was 'transferred to a district where the supervision and discipline were not likely to come in conflict with his little peculiarities, and as a consequence his sheet has been clean since his transfer, much to the relief, probably, of all concerned. It is a direct encouragement to similar peculiar treatment. C. A constable used insulting language to his Inspector of a most disgusting character : he was fined 10s. and transferred. D. This constable was charged with (1) neglect of duty on four occasions in disobeying instructions; (2) disobedience of orders, and making a false entry in diary-of-duty book; (3) disobedience of orders, and insubordination in not attending a certain place, and using abusive and insulting language to a sergeant; (4) disobedience to an order of the Sub-Inspector to attend at the Inspector's office. He was fined £1 on the four charges, and ordered to be transferred. This last order was never carried out, and the man is still in the district in which the offences were committed, although not now in charge of a district. He is not doing beat duty. This is the same man as is dealt with previously as C, under the head of " Drunkenness." E. This constable was dealt with for the following offences : (1) Insolence to a sergeant whilst on duty : fined 10s. (2) Disobeying a sergeant's orders : fined ss. (3) Disobedience of orders by refusing to attend at the Sub-Inspector's office when instructed by the station sergeant: fined ss. This same man is dealt with as E, under the head of " Drunkenness." Punishment of an offender for a serious offence by transferring him to another district would as a rule appear almost grotesque where such does not result in loss of status or emolument. It merely shifts the responsibility; irritates and annoys the Inspectors, who protest loudly at having defaulters foisted on them, oftentimes, as stated, without being supplied with particulars of previous misconduct; causes local discontent; and puts the country to a large amount of unnecessary and unwarrantable expense. If it is thought desirable to retain a certain class of offenders in the Force, they should be kept in the same district to work out their own redemption, but under conditions that would make their cases an example to their comrades and a warning to themselves. I consider this transfer system to be an admission of weakness, and mischievous in its results. During the three years from the Ist July, 1906, to the 30th June, 1909, the following return shows the number of transfers and their aggregate cost:— 1906-7 .. .. .. .. m 189 transfers, cost £2,379 19s. 3d. 1907-8 .. .. .. .. .. 235 „ „ £2,814 2s. 6d. 1908-9 .. .. .. .. .. 217 „ „ £2,865 os. 4d. As regards morality I am inclined to think that there is little to cavil at, and that the Force is generally composed of men who recognise the obligation that is on them to so conduct themselves as to reflect credit on all connected with them. It would be strange-indeed if, amongst a large number of young men, one did not find instances of a certain degree of license. I have found very few indeed. So few indeed were they that it is quite unnecessary to refer to them in any detail.

XXIX