IV

H.—l6b

between the Commissioner and myself, by those who will have to consider this report. And the conduct of the Commission by myself must be judged by what is disclosed in the official report of the evidence —as to whether the object, and intention, and effort throughout has been to ascertain the true position of affairs with a view to improvement, Of merely to cast blame. The Commissioner has given a somewhat long and detailed account of his police experience in various places outside New Zealand. That he has a long and honourable police record no one can possibly doubt. Whether a long actual police experience necessarily qualifies a man for successful administration of a Force such as ours is a matter of opinion. A man must be judged by the result of his work. Where I have found it necessary to differ considerably from the Commissioner's views on certain matters, and to criticize adversely certain phases of his administration, I have done so with regret, for I fully recognise that in everything he has done he has acted honestly, with the best intention, and with due regard to what he believed, however mistakenly, to be the best interests of the Force. The Commissioner has thought proper to refer to the charges made by Messrs. T. E. Taylor and Arnold in the House of Representatives, and has referred to them as either grotesquely exaggerated or absolutely baseless. I have made no reference to statements made by either gentleman in Parliament. I have nothing to do with them. Mr. Taylor has given no evidence before this Commission. Mr. Arnold, however, did so at some length in Dunedin, and certainly the description of the Commissioner of the quality of his matter would not refer to the bulk of the charges made in that evidence. The Commissioner makes the astounding statement that there is no general dissatisfaction in the Force. Why, the evidence is full of instances in which men have come forward and expressed the gravest dissatisfaction, and it would certainly be unfair to term these men what the Commissioner thinks proper to call " agitators." On page 496 of his evidence the Commissioner deals with a matter of administration to which I have taken serious exception on the score of efficiency and discipline—the habit that has lately grown up under him of giving the option to constables and sergeants to go or not, as they please, to certain stations. His statement does not represent the true facts. There are numerous instances on the files where the Commissioner has telegraphed or written to Inspectors as follows : " Ask Constable Aifhe is willing to go to 1 " A reply has often come back, " 'Constable A says that it would not suit him to go to ," or " Constable Ais not willing [or declines] to go to ." Or, " Ask Constable Aif he has any objection to go to - -? " and the Inspector replies, perhaps, " Constable A is willing to go to - "; or, " Constable A agrees to go to ." And the same with the sergeants. I have elsewnere expressed my opinion of this system of administration as being essentially weak, and not conducive to discipline. I agree with the Commissioner that a clerical training is a very important one, but it is not correct for him to say that it is a necessary qualification for those holding the higher ranks in the service. He surely does not mean that all the Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors have been District Clerks. Such is not the case. I totally disagree with the Commissioner in his contention that it is necessary for the District Clerks to secure early promotion. There is absolutely no ground for such a statement. The effect of his action, as I have pointed out elsewhere, has been most mischievous. It is not necessary for me to say much about his references to the Headquarters Staff. I have dealt fully with the question elsewhere. Not one of the reasons he gives in favour of the present position has any foundation in fact. What he means by a " certain amount of legal knowledge of police matters " being requisite I have no idea, nor probably has he himself. I cordially agree with him when he says that " to place the right men in the right place is the secret of successful administration." But we should probably