THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE.

ANOTHER WARM BOUT. MR. ARNOLD, M.P., AND MB. DINNIE. A GRAVE ALLEGATION MADE. (By Telegraph-Press Association.), Dunodln, July Iβ.' Before the Police Commission this morning Dotoctrvo Ward eaid that detective* were much'-disturbed by the announcement by tho late' Minister for Justico that, avenues to the higher offices 'Wore closed to the dotoctivo foroo. He was well awaro that Dr. Findlay had reversed his'predecessor's action, but witness's point was that tho political world miglit to turned upside, down to.morrow, and they might get anothor Mr. M'Gowan, in office, and tho men wanted Mr. > Bishop, if ho was satisfied by the ovidonce, , . to submit to tho Government a rocoiomendsvtion that would mako things permanent. Ho complained that stoerago boat fare wae only; allowed him when travelling, and that he had paid tho difference put of his own pocket. . Station-Sorgoant King statod in evidence ■ that ho was labouring under a sense of injustice. Ho complained that, when appointed station sorgcant, ho had to leave a good fetation and lose 3s. Cd. per wock. He also compLiinod that a man junior to him had . been aplwiiitod a sub-inepcctor. Witness went ou to that false loports had been circulated in connection.■with thol'apakaio murder" casu, theso being indirectly attributod to.him. The work of a etatson sergeant was the most irritating and unpleasant in tho service, and he would liko to I know why ho had been passed over whoa promotions were made. Ho had complained to tlio Minister for Justice and tho Com- I ■ missionor had : said that two men, recom- i mended, , for promotion, wore considered t «t superior in qualifications to witness. Hβ { v ~ ,, iliought that constables were underpaid. J In reply to questione, Inspector O'Brion stated that ho had recommended Statio&i Sergeant King for a sub-inspectorship. Constable Dark, South Dunodin, in giving I ovidonop, quoted instances of tho promotion of men over their seniors to one- ' man stations. Thoro was a widespread feel-, ing that promotion could not be got in the ' Dunodin district, and that tho sooner policemen got out of that district tho better, Mr. J. F. Arnold, M.P., then came' for- i ward for cross-examination by Commissioner ■ Dinuio. The Commissioner said that it surprised ;him that Mr. Arnold had made his i allegations without ascertaining) whether ' there was any foundation for them. It wag practically a stab in tho back, both as regards himself and tho Department. Mr. Arnold dared not make those statements oqtside tho House, otherwise' ho might have had to i ' appear before anothor Court. ,Mr. Arnold replied that ho hod made them since Mr. Dinnio had said that ho was afraid ttiat there was an ulterior object behind them. In tho courßo of evidence, Mr. Arnold said that, during Mr. Tunbridge's timo of office. | 65 men were dismissed from the force, an4i nine resigned. During Mr. Dinnie's term, i 1 140 men had been diemissod, and 22 men had I rosignod, Tho force had been going from bad i to worse, and tho discontent had become more intense, Tho question of tie, , finger-pnnt expert, getting six months' leave 'on full pay to go Home • wna < t raised. ,and Mr. ' Arnold said that, . in spite of what tho file might eay, he j would ask Mr. Dinnio/when tho laitor wae / giving evidence, if he would eay on oaib,| that originally, six months' leave of ab- i ' sonoe on full pay was not granted. I Mr, Dinnio offered to produce the file to show that bo recommended/ one month'e leave on full'pay, and tho rcet of the leaTo, without pay, ,but Mr. Arnold euggesfced that tho filo had been altered. If Mr ; Dinnio isworo on oath that the file was original, ho .would then decide whopeword he would accept—Mr. Dinnic's or that of other baopkMwliom ho need not,at present name v He 1 wonld take the M'Gowtin'e nord on oath, and be thought that, it would' bo necessary for "MrV M'Govran to come' forward, for oitier.Mr. M'Gowan or Mr, Dinnio would have to defend himself very seriously. Hβ did not accept tho file as the original file after Mr. Dimuo'e statement tiiat tho files might be '/faked." In tho course , of further examination, Mr. Arnold stated that ho complained obont cot. tain discrimination between ' Mr. Dinnio I friends and others in tie foroo. , ' , Mr. Dinnie said that his eon was entitled to 36 days' leave, and got only.a month, ■ whilst another constable got roll Jeave. Jar*, Arnold replied that, in that ow», Mr. Dia-, nio was discriminating against his inesda. Mr. Dinnio: I might have ,had an, o>, iect. , , . , Mr. Arnold: I preetaao yon had en <*- iect. . „ Mr. Dinnie: It wae for each. *• jameea tt little bit of bait to pull at . Air, Arnold: Oh. nonecneot Mr. Dinnie: I knew what I, to <kta&, and I know.it wonld be made pnbJio. Mr. Arnold: You laid » tarn for puhSal men to fall into? That b what it pees. •) , Mr. Dinnio: Yes, for men who ere eoefe ing information of thia kind, and for metf who aro interfering with the Department Commissioner Dinnie was then ewora, «u gave evidenoo relating to the quoauon of inquiry into constables 1 ' characters befor* joining tiho foroo, after which tho cnmim*i Bion adjourned till to-morrow.