POLICE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 8

POLICE COMMISSION.

INVERCARGIU SITTINC CONCLUDED. ME. LAURENSON DECLINES AN INVITAIIOX (By Tolcßrauh.-rrcsa Association.) Inveroarglll, July 8 Mr. H. W. Bishop finished taking evidence in tho Police Inquiry hero to-day, and adjourned tho commission until nc\t monij ing in order to give Mi 0 Liurcnson, M.P., an opportunity if ho desired, of coming from Ohristehurcli to cross-examine ' Constable Council on tho allegations raado liy that' officer when giving evulcnoo on Wednesday. Sir. Laurcnson, howovci, telegraphed to Mr. Bishop that ho will give evidence before tho commission in Chnttchnrch. Tho commission will thereforo sit in tho morning, and immediately adjourn to Dunedin Mr. Bishop will leavo for Dunedin by tho aftornoon express, and spend Saturday m investigating poiico records there , Ho will /hear evidenco on Monday, and he I expects to he greatly assisted in his in- ' quines by the evidence to be given by Mr. J. I<\ Arnold, M.P. Mr. Haiian, MP. for Invercargill, was specially invited to give ovidenco here, but intimated that he had no suggestions to offer tnat would assist tho work of tho commission Tnis afternoon Mi. Bishop paraded tho mombers of the -force at t.ho poiico station for inspection, and afterwards made a thorough inspection of the station premises. Ha expressed himself'as being very pleased with everything bo saw, and was favourably impressed with tho bearing and appearance of, tho men on parade During the com so of proceedirgs hero, Inspector Mitchell expressed the opinion that the competition between men doing office duty and those on uniform dutv was unfair Ho suggested that the clencil staff should bo provided with a grade of its own, distinct from the other branches of the force. I I Sergeant M'Kenzio deposed that the pay of tho,police was too low and promotion too slow. , A FARMER'S EVIDENCE. POLICE AND THE MARRIAGE ACT. James Rojnolds Stuck, retired farmer, giving evidence of alleged failure on the part of Inspector Mitchell properly to investieato a charge made by him (witness) in regard to what he believed to bo a breach of tho Marriage Act. The allegation was that, against his will, 'his daughter had boon married by Dean Burko in the Catholic Church before 8 in'the,morning. Ho alleged also that the police were "all tarred with , the 1 same brush —the CathoLc brush "—and had sought to shield Dean Burke Inspector Mitchell said that a full inqnirj had been made, and that he could not take proceedings on the evidence available Statements had been made by tho contracting parties and witnesses of the marnago that tho ceremony had been regular The Commissioner of Police also had inquired into tho matter by direction of the then Minister for Justice (Hon. J. M'Gowan), and had given no instructions He (Inspector Mitchell) had advised Stuck to see a solicitor, and he had seen the lato Crown Prosecutor, who had advised that tho evidence wa3 not sufficient to sustain a charge ' Mr. Bishop pointed out that the matter barred in any c«£q by tho Statuto of Limitations, and that the commission could only concern itself wjth alleged neglect of duty on tho part of the inspector Tho matter would remain opep until the examination of Dotectivo M'llveney, who was hero at the timo, and made inquiries at Inspector Mitclioli's instruction. Evidenco was also given by four sergeints in tho Southland police district. The effect of this evidenco was general satisfaction with tho methods' of promotion, but a feeling that it would bo advantageous to increase tho rate of pay in order to induce a better class of applicants to come forward for enrolment.