THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 10

THE POLICE FORCE.

: Sir,—-With reference ".'to the"Police; Commission, and after reading ' to-day's 'sitting at'Dunedin, it: seems extraordinary to the writer that Mr. Dinnio should. take the stand he 'does. with regard to Mr. Arnold,' M;P., making a statbaent before giving evid'enoe at ; the. Commission; Surely, it is Ifco, his interest and t» the.whole of tlio Dominion to have the truth brought put, certainly ho will hover give the public confidenceif he: trios. to protect scape-goats. As an exsergeant of. the Natal.Mounted Police; I may: mention tlioro, was some similar,, discontent -in that fires some few years ago, aud there was a Cqmmission appointed to make an investigation and give recommendations; Tho Commission consisted in the first instanco of fivo members of Parliament and tho Chief. Commissioner as" sooretary. At its first sitting police troopers were called to give evidence, but they one and all said no, not with, the Chief Commiisioncr present, so tho Commissioner was removed, and a -. private individual appointed, whioh then gwe general sat-: isfaction; .After the conclusion.ofthb.wholo - of the sittings,.tho Commission published, in a Special Ga?»tto, a very comprehensive report of their findings and recommendations for tho future. 'There was no cross-examin-ing except by the Commission^themselves, and their ultimate vordict was accepted with great faith hy.that colony.' - . ■'■■'';'■'"],

; Furthermore, with "'reference to promo* ■■.'■ tioiis/ thoir system is this: No, mau;oan bo appointed to. the rank of \sergeant without iboing recommended .'to; the Commissionerof Police by "tho. officers-.under whom ho;haa served. Menaro not recommended except in very special cases under five years' servico. Ihcn;;oyory November.' there, ; is an.Officers' Conference, with the Chief Commissioner pro-, siding. It is then the men to bo promoted . aro decided upon, length of service, conduct, and ability .being .taken, into consideration,. Certainly no man who has appeared before any officer for; drunkenness or 1 any other crime would stand much' chance* of- promo* tion. As to tho clerical work, it ib the cub<' torn that only .troopers of over three years' service shall bo given .that; but after 'a circular has been sent to' the 'whole of the force inviting applications,-and then ; after two or three years in. tho office it is almost essential that they, return to ordinary, ■ 'duty before they can receive promotion. ■'-"- ' ■ In conclusion,, I may-"mention Major*" General'* Sir, John- Dartnell, ;K.C.8.,. who foiuldod'this corps 37' years, ago, and gave it : ..; the standing it has,'! personally told Major- . General Baden-Ppwell,v who'had- command; ■ of; the' South' African'Coristabularyl' that if ho ran a'i police corps on any other lmos thafc it would ,be'a failure..'Only .'two'years ago - tho South African Constabulary V. borrowed tho Chief. 'Commissioner of-, the\. ; Natal Mounted Police to reorganise it, and to put it on a- proper, footing,/thereby endorsing General Dartnell's counsel. .His adrico was.:, ; All promotions, from' thei ranks,'.length; of • Bervice,'charaotor, and ability being 1 the-chjef guides thereto.—l' am, etc., ■>,- , ■ -. ]'.'':: ■;.■■.'•;.-.'. ■ '.'.:■■: '':; ■';■' ■','/;' : '-. ; T; W. .SMTItt ■ ■'••-,' i Ormondville, July 13. ■•/>'..;■; y : :