THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 8

THE POLICE FORCE.

SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY. ; . COMMISSION SITS FORTHWITH. 1 Among the mat'ters which came before ; Cabinet yesterday was the question of the 1 scope of the Commission of Inquiry into , the state of the Police Department. After tho order of reference, had been agreed to''it was submitted to. the Acting-Governor, Sir, James Prendergast, who signified Iris op- :] proval. The Minister for Justice (Dr. Find- , lay) told a . Dominion reporter that Mr. Bishop, S.M., of Christchurch, ftho' has been appointed to- conduct the', inquiry, would be • relieved of' his' magisterial duties at once in that the proceedings might he commenced without delay. Following'is the text of,the order, of reference:— "Whereas allegations and'statements have been, lately made from time to. time respectmg the administration, efficiency, and control •of .the. Police Force of the Dominion: and whereas, in view of the public importance of the matter, both as regards tho publio and the members of the Police Force, it is expedient that full inquiry should be made into-the several matters hereinafter-* mentioned : now,; therefore, I, William Lee Baron , Plunket, the Governor of ■ the Dominion of New. Zealand, in pursuance and exercise-of 1 the powers conferred by the Coinmissions of : Inc[iurv Act, 1908, and - of every power and authority :' enabling me in .this behjuf, and by and-with the advice and consent^of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby . appoint you,' Helyar Wedderbum Bishop,;to.;be the commission forthe purpose of inquiring into the several, matters and things hereinafter mentioned, and. referred to, that is to say:— - "• . 1. The general organisation, control and enrolment of, the Police Force, of the . Dominion as it now exists in its soveral . branches, and the discipline and efficiency thereof and in what respect tho said Forco or any part thereof could be better . recruited, organised; controlled, or made •more efficient . *• , - 2. As to th,e efßciency, conduct, so- ■ .briety, and', morality of the members of" :- the said 'Force lorv any of 'tliem.-, • _ 3. As, to whether any political or other improper.' intorfcrenco exists, in: connec-! ■ tion with the 'said. Force; and, if so, to . what, extent, and whether such interfer- ■, . >en(;e.has any'infiuenco in the adtninistra-' , .„tion .of the .said Force.~ . ■i,• 4.,'As\to the methods of promotion.of' ..members of the said' Force, and the rea-. 6ons governing the' selection of members : ' 'of ;tho;Force;for' pt'dmoiioni '."And you arc hereby' directed to. inquire .into "the, said several matters aforesaid, at such placo or pla'6o3 in the Dominion as you think fit, Tjy all lawful ways and means, subject to the terms of these presents.'; ind for the purpose of such inquiry, you are hereby "empowered to. Summon, and ,have before you .and* examine 'on '.oath' or , as may bo allowed by law,'all "witnesses'*or other persons whom you may judgfe eapablo of affording you anjy information upon or in respeet of-the said several matters of inquiry hereinbefore mentioned, or any matter or thing arising thereout or connected there-, with. . And also, to have"before 7 ;you and examine any 'writings, recorfs, or documents whatsooTOr which""you sfell'deem nooessary'• for/ your• information ■in .there pre- ...• >■' 1 '• ". 1 . .Provided ,thit no. inquiry, shall bie held ' by you',into 'any :mattor, or thing which i hasjalrea'dy been' and deter- '' Tiiined; before any judicial''or' 'other law-''' ■ fully,-constituted tribunal, or; where any., ; : meDiber of the Poh'ce Foroe has boin dis".missed from the service, or whose serhave been dispensed'with in corise-. ! qii<mce of his "misconduct' or for any, other reason. | . iProrided also,that if-any.allegation or / statement is. made, before ,you- 1 -which re- • lates to or affects the personal conduct of an individual member,, or. members ' the/said Police Force, you shall not esntor , upoa any inquiry in respdet thereof until' tho; person, so affected nas had at least . twenty-fourhours', noticej. in writing of such-allegation or statement;-giving such'' ' particulars of time;. pTace, antl' circum- ; ' : stanoes thereof Us you- shall deeni ! suffi-' 1 ..cient, full, opportunity being afforded to'. ' any ' snch. person, to cross-examine: any I .witness giving evidence against him; and- ■ J .to: caß any evidence in> reply which he i , may think fit. V

"•Ajitl I (Jo also require you, not Ister thai the thirty-first day of .August,. one thousand Tun© liiindrcd iLiul nine, 'or as much sooner' as tho' same can qonvejiienily be dar.o (using all diligence) to report -to me ' under your band and seal' 3>onr proceedings herein,-'and' your* opinion touching the - several premises.' Aad I do further declare that' this'commisoontimie in full forco and virtuo and that, subject to these presents,' you, the said, commission, 'shall, ! and/may,' from' time to time proceed in the' subject-matters thereof as you shall judge expedient, and that your powers and functions hereunder, shall continue in.full force, notwithstanding that'the inquiry, hereby directed may' not be formally iWjoiiTOcd. And, lastly, it-is/deelared these presents ;are subject-to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Aot, 1908. "

THE COMMISSION OF 1898 i

'. \ V SCOPE AND COST. '•' :It interesting to recall that''the .Com,nussi6h of,inquiry, in ItHid 'comprised . three .commissioners—Mr. H. 'S; '• W.'ardell, -ft'*! (cmurmau;, the' late Colonel l'itt, and Mr!' J.. VV. ,I'oynUjn, /,S.jVl. 'I'he /matters which it. .was'required to iiiquire 'into were as follow:— \'•, ... | _ W '^' 10 Eeuer.al organisation^-distribu- '* . tioiij. contrpij and' enrolment' of • the i'oiice force of 'the colony'as it now'' exists in, its several briucues, and the discipline and edlicienoy thereof j' and in v . wUat respect thy t'orce, or 'any part, . cqui(l be netter-recruited, organised, con-' . ■ trolled; .or made more efficient. - ' ■' The pay, emoluments ,and 'rewards V :; of .the Force, including any' provision ' • for superannuation or;' retirement, "and! ' the allowance of compensation, 'and to make /suggestions as 'to all or auy of these matters, or to allowances to' be • made to.members in case of illness; oraccident,' whilo in the ■ l''orco, or by way of compassionate, allowance to, their wives or. families ;in case of death; 1 ,' (3), As to; .the general conduct, sobriety, or morality of the members of the Force, and the alleged failure of the ■ .Force to maintain' order ,and enforce the 'laws of the colony.' —Owing to tho fact tliat so many parts of the Dominion, .had to be visited,' and so .many witnesses heard, the commission was unable to submit its , repprt until within almost double : the" time originally appointed—rviz., nearly three months. Altogether, over 560 witnesses > appeared before the commission. Tho evidence wIM was tendered was afterwards printed,; the wholo occupying . no less than 1150 pages of; foolscap size. During th© session .of that year, a return,, showing in detail-the cost of..the commission, was ordered to be laid before the House.' It showed that the total cost was £4116, of which the chief ; items were: Printing evidence and report, £832; Mr. Wardell, salary, ete., £737; Colonel l'itt, salary, etc., £571; witnesses's expenses, £405;. reporters (excluding extra, assistance), £363; Mr. Poyiiton,. £337; the secretary, £217; ex-Com-misaoner . Hume, , £118, and Commissioner Tutibridge, £117.