POLICE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 6

POLICE COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE,AT TIMARU. ; A RATHER DRAMATIC WITNESS, ' : (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) •'•' Tlmarii, July 22. Tho Police Commission sat hero to-day. Commissioner Dinnjct-Inspector Gillies, and Sub-Inspector Grcon woro in attendance Dr. Toovoii mado a ohargo against Sergeant Mulanoy, of Cliristchuicli, ono timo constable at Goraldino,'• in connection with a collision, caso in which one Dull drove, on. a dark night fivo. years ago, into a trap driven by Dr. Tecvan. 'Hie doctor assorted that Mulaney shirked his duty. Ho prosecuted when forced to do so, and then tho case.failed owing to clear evidenco l>cing unobtainable _ so' loto.. Correspondence passed betwoon himself and Commissioner Dinnio, wherein,the latter expressed rogrot at tho constable's neglect, and advised that Mulaney -had been censured. Yet throe months later ho was promoted to bo sergeant. Witness was of. opinion that Commissioner Dimmo and their then M.P., Mr, Flatman, connived to shield Mulaney and obtain his promotion.

Mr. Bishop reminded witness that thocaso had been dismissed.

Witness asserted dramatically that such was the faot, though had the Union, Jack ,bcon flying on tho courthouse that day it would have dropped to half-mast. ,-■ Charges woro brought by' Ellis Mills against Sub-Inspector Green of refusing to permit a prosecution against boys for destroying a haystack, on tho-ground that two of : thorn woro sons of prominent post offico officials. ■-:,,■.

■This was doniod by Sub-Inspector Green, who explained that Mills.wanted to obtain damages and did not want to prosecute tho boys. Therefore the Police Court could not assist him.:,- '■■■'#'..'. .A further charge by,. Mills against SubInspector Green for failing to prosecute boys stealing'his exhibits from a mow. was denied, Sub-Inspector Green explaining that the only evidence was that of Mills and two boys, which' was' not sufficient to conduct a" successful prosecution. .Moreover, Mills had no right toleave exhibits of' vegetables, etc., at'the'show after dosing. ;, At tho sitting in the afternoon, ctidenco was given by Sub-Inspector Green, who complained that, though he was senior to SubInspector Dwycr. the latter had been promoted over, his head to the position of-in-spector. Why this was so he was - ;at a loss to understand.. So far as/he was aware, he had a clean record, and Inspector Gillies had recommended him for, promotion.. ;Hc suggested; that ,a lot of irritation/, could be avoided.in the force if, aboard were established/through which; the men could appeal to the Minister, when dissatisfied with treatment at the : hand of /the Commissioner. :Sergt. Warring", in evidence, said that political influerico was more 'rampant now than before.- Ho did not think that;chief:.detectiyes.. should be' allowed to compete against uniform'■',,meh for promotion,, but should only be. promoted in their. own ranks,: The,standard.:of education should be kept as high as possible, as ah educated: force was better than an ignorant : qhe.'. The physique of the. men/ now offering" waß: not equal to that of ..candidates 30. years ago.. ■■■'■:'}. '•. : 'Gaoler Weathered advocated higher pay for constables,' a fairer system of promotion to the rank of sergeant,/and[.that the house allowance to constables, be the same as for detectives, and: sergeants.'.' .■• 'He ridiculed/the. suggestion/of, constables * who thought that'.constables arid-; sergeants, should travel j'first-class;: and'characterised." .this, as a piece :of .impudence,'.- adding that he' felt ashamed of it.' He also.complained that he had been passed over in the matter of promotion. . - /.;/'. : /:' '.: :\ ■/ ■ v ;'• [ Constable Gillespie (Tcmuk'a) : voiced' a strong Complaint/concerning the way in which he had been passed over, and promotion given his juniors,' though ho had a creditable record extending over 20 years. He also detailed a complaint that political influence had been brought to bear by anox-M.L.C. to get him shifted from Temuka, "though it failed. He put in, papers in connection withva/case of alleged- perjury: against,:a constableVformerly of South Canterbury,; but how; of North Canterbury, and contended that there should I have been a prosecution in this/case. ■ . Mr. Bishop said that he -would deaj with this matter in Christchurch 1 . ~.>: . / , s -/The Commission went' on to Chfistohurcli to-night, -v. • > . .;;''•• "'. ; -. . • ■':.' , AT ON TTJESDAY./-; /Chrlstchurch, July 22.. Mr. H. W. Bishop, l who is L at present con-, ducting' the" Government inquiry, into police matters throughout ,'th.e Dominion, • arrived in town from Oamaru by the second; express to-night, accompanied .by the, Commissioner arid his staff, Messrs.; J. Gray, and W. Leslie. To-morrow afternoon,'by direction of the commission, a parade of as niany local arid district-police as. can/ebnyeniently be mustered will be. held~,ih the station. yard. The QjmmiksibherwilFalso inspect:tho : office records relating to, the Canterbury police before,any evidence .is.:called, v ,It was -the intention,. of . Mr. : ■'. Bishop to open'the sitting,of.the commission in,Christ,'church oil.Monday morning, but,' at the urgent.' request ' of'Mr; Dinnie, who finds it necessary to leave-for Wellington to, deal with an accumulation; o{. Departmental business; .and, solely to-.meet.:the,'-convenience of -.that gentleman, ,Mr. Bishop agreed to postpone: the opening until Tuesday morning.". / ,■■..■:■■: . TV,',,.-, • .'..- ~~' '/. .;,.'

SCHOOL COMMItTEE'S/FUNCTIONS ;.-:••-■.:■' . •;■—' ■'~".'»','.. ~.' ' ,■'-■'"■.':.' '-:-.■ STATEMENT.'

: Speaking'at Pahiatua on -Wednesday-night, ■the' Hon:" G.> Fowlds (Minister, for- Education) said that 1 ; somo school committee members* seeiried to''think that their sole function was to':see. to-the cleaning of ;the school buildings. This was, quite-a mistaken ideal The; Act of 1908 restricted the powers ■'"of" the' committees in 'regard ,to the appointment of teachers, .but' he-'thought -it should be recognised tlmt the ; education which were elected the 'committees, and. which were with their'inspectors in close touch the staff, were; as the superior bodies, \Ae best judges; of the qualifications of teachers.' He hoped that the committees would work;";, harmony with; the boards in 'this matter.. The committees, however,'had many other-' useful functions. It was their duty ■and iV.Vlege to attend to tne social, physical, ;■(■'>..*;. moral welfare of the children. The bo.Viny 'V ! social gatherings, the inculcation of h .£. -'■? lis in the minds of tjie' young, the dist,'oura ',' ient of vicious habits.. the. establishment :;. .ichool libraries, and/the organisation of l tinuation classes lyere all -. works '.which the •pmmit.tees 'might undertake to the great a'( vantage'of; the children and the, community as a whole.' Ho sincerely-hoped that the boards arid the committees 'would 'work amicably together for the. advancement of the cause they all had at heart.