THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 571, 28 July 1909, Page 7

THE POLICE FORCE.

EYIDENCETIN CBRISTCHORCH. MR. LAURENSON, M.P., ANOn CONSTABLE. BROUGHT FACE TO FACE. t (By TolocrapU.—l'rosa Anaoclallonl Christchuroh, July 27. Tho Police Commission opened this morning. Tho commissioner (Mr. Bishop, S.M.), addressing Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., rcfeircd to cortain allegations mado at Invcrcnrgill by Constable- Conncll, and added that thc3o allegations concornod Mr. Laurenson as a member of Parliament, and it was only in his official position as member of Parliament that ho was. brought into tho inquiry. ConstableConneli was present for tho being cross-examined. Mr. Laurenson stated that Mr; DousaU (solicitor) appeared for, him. ;

Examined by Mr. Dougall, Constable Connoil stated that, some time boforo tho election of 1005, Mr.. Laurenson approached hira : regarding pilfering on tho wharf. Tho conversation took place in tho offico of the police ' station! at Lyttelton,•',. whoro Mr.' Lauronson had Eoneto use tho telephone. This was a good while after certain written complaints had been made against witness. After some preliminary conversation, Mr.' Laurenson asked: "How are you getting on with these rascals down on the.wharf ?" Wit-' ness replied that ho was getting on all right. Mr.: Laurenson then said: '-'I suppose you have heard about mo seeing Dinnie about you, but bear in mind, that when I saw/ Dinnio with reference to you, I toldhim tho character of tho men who wero making complaints. I' don't misrepresent you m auy way." ;.' ■". :',_'■'.■..''..

Tho Allegod Wharf Pillaging. Mr. Dougall: You said at Invercargill that ;.' ,Mr. : Laurenson told you that, before you got', amongst them, they. could furnish their •;. houses and get their boots and clothes from '■ tho- ships,' and that now a great many were leaving.-' ■•".' : ,\': . ; '•.:.':-. ■.''•■ ■• ■ :''>•''•■'■ Constablo Connell: I said, "On;the face ot • that, bow can you make complaints against'■,■'.,'•: a man who is trying to do his duty?". > -'_ .:•■; ■'-':; Mr. Dougall repeated, his question, om--', phasising tho accusation mado against, tho'v ■■":■ general body of-wharf labourers.. ■•';;'.,' Constable Conribll: I lived in Lyttolton for 1- : cloven years,, and was, amongst tho, workers.;, ' There aro GOO or 700 as .decent "men as in. ;•■' ■• any part of. tho Dominion. - I don't say that-; ' Mr. Laurenson- tried'to. establish .that: all :.. tlio workmen were thieves and pillagers.' Hei i said .that thero. were some rascals, amongst' j, ; ; them who tribd to furnish their houses■and ■/ find boots and shoes; for their:children. ".,''■

Mr. Bishop: Thero can bo no doubt, as to."; what tho constablo, said, when bo mado, this 'j reference. I appreciated the- seriousness ■of ,". it, and pulled him up. I pointed out to him Jthat lie had better, consider thoroughly■ tho 'i effect of what ho was saying, and that it was '•;,-, tantamount.'to accusing a member of. Par-,(; liament of approving of theft. 1 gave him]; ' a most explicit'opportunity to withdraw from;. tho position hb.-.topk' up, and wo can. enter- y tain no evidenco with regardto what bo then':.'-.'•. said r and''the -difference now.,>;,Wc .must •. jako tho official report. ' ~'7 ' .■•';'. ■/..;': : < '•■ i Lottors to tho Minister. , ./:■'':

Replying to Dinnie, Constable Connell stated,that hohad'seenMr. Laurenson's let-.-tors containing.; complaints'against 'him.':' , : The '.letters : wcre, read." : In ono, /Written.; .oily October I^,'' 1005, , Mr. .Laurenson : wrote, '--inter-" alia:- ''if;. half of; -what I ■'. bear- aboiit this constablo is true,.; thero should be an.immediate and exhaustive.inquiry into his conduct'.'! Tho Minister's r& ' ply reviewed the .complaintsj audi concluded 'that the allegations were and that he did not propbso' to take any further action in tho matter.-. In xeferonco to ;a previous complaint, ..the. Minister,:.(Hon. J. M'Gowanj.stated that.the circumstances had', justified'Constablo,Connell's action, and considered -.interference unnecessary. - tho complaints-in Mr. Laurenson's letter ot November, 1 1905y the Minister:stated that.inquiries had, shown that;thero were no resbectabjb persons who bad,the slightest cohiplamt ■ -against Constable Connell. :• '■;■■:■ • y! Witness, in the courso of a further reply to Mr. Dinnio; stated tbaVhe suggested that Mr. Lauronson.'had-tried in every, way./ho. know to get him out; of Lyttolton. Ho .not been removed: as ,tho'result of complaints made by Mr; Laurenson, however. ; i :., Mr. Bishop (to Constablo, Connell):.■; What could be fairer"to' you thanrtho replies of the 'Minister for. Justice?, -AYhat Mr. Dmnio ,vauts you'to admit—what is apparent on tho faceiof'it—is-that there is nothing in .tho correspondence to connect it with your-final removal from.Lyttelton. . s, . , . : : '.; ... Witness:: Tlio decision of, the commissioner., is to tho ■ contrary;.■'-.';' f'; , , . .'" , t -.'. • Mr. Bishop": "What was.the exact time bo-: tween tho complaints and, your,removal?■;•.,--: ■ :, Mr;.'.. Dinnio':, ;That' last ,letter .; from'; the / Minister, was sent early in January, and Connell was •■transferred, to- Christelmrcji :,in : March. Connell was promoted.after that.. ■ Mr.' Bishop (to Constable Connell):: You surely cannot say,'that tho mere fact of Mr. ;• Laurenson; forwarding''those complamts (which wero dealt with to your satisfaction), had'any..bearing j'whatover: on your mbso-;; quont position "in tho force? , ; ,, ~-.' -~,,:';,.' ,'Constable .Cpnnell: I would like to know. the motive. ; • : :,^j ,; v "•-,.:.< ■'.',-'.-:■'■■'''. '■'. Examined further by Mr, Dongall, witness, ■said'.'that Mr;"La'urensonji in" the, courso of ; the oon'versation.-prenously! .referred," to,; stated that ho (Cdnnoll): would.be far better., off at an out-station such as :Littlo River,.-' and mentioned a,particular/constable who was. hotter off at an outatation than.at Lyttelton;''. From this witness inferred tbatlMr.,; -Laurenson had got tho constable referred to,, promoted, but not that he, had been so promoted because: of prosecuting people. . - ;| .--,;■ "How Did MK Laurenson ProludlcaYouV?;., ' '..What connection is there;between that and ) your>uggestion that, Mr.' Laurenson wished you to^stop'investigating thefts?—'.'He said that I would' 1 bo'very much bettor out of it. Previous to this 'conversation ho tried to '■ 'got,, mo removed by .'going . to ■ the Minister: and to, Mr. Dinnie;"-:,' .'■'. ' ::, ; . ' M what you noiv. say is correct,, do you . think you we'ro justified, in stating what you did in Invercargill ?—"What . I said was true.', I; simply 'ropoated' what was; the. truth.V.l. never' concocted anything.' '.„ irl '.': ■ I You said 1 you ■ , woro' : o marked" man ?---"Cer'tainly, if a man liko Mr; Laurenson makes: complaints against a man in my capacity; it doesn't do you any good.. I know that per-, fectly well." ~,:'..,.( ;.-■■-''•-■'-. ■, „.i' ; T '. Continuing, witness stated that Mr. Lft«renson had had nothing to do with, his subse--. quent reduction in rank., .; ■~,■; Did Mr. Laurenson complain'about you prosecuting'theso; wharf labourers?—" What he said to mo was:T wish ;you would lot . me get .you>that out-statioh, ;■■■ .Tlioro "was ' never anyone hero in that capacity, arid that, T suppose', is the; reason why they don't like. :: Had you been prosecuting meni'— not these men that .he was complaining of." '-: From September; ' 1900, 'to tho; end of January, 1906, woro.thero not only four, men who could,', by any ; possibility,;be called ; wharf labourers charged witlv petty theft ?:-• ■ !'I don't, know." ,;;:';, ■':•:,;" 'y-,:'' )\ '•' ~;'. witness; said.-.that: the. reason'•.'. why, ho was shifted" from,. Lyttclton iwa's: 'xl matter conheotcd with an:air-gun with which';: Mr.' Laurongon.vliad /nothing to do,, . ;;.;,, Witness "■. was : then .'.'questioned- at soiro : longth as. to his, career after leaving Lyttol-;; ton. ■ ■ ",.'■■.■;■''■';'-.■."•■'.■- : . r •.'■'. .-'.'.•;.■ .'■ ■';.■,■■;;;.;", Why wero, you promoted ? L -"l [suppbpc because!,l deserved it." ~ ,■.',' How do you say that .Mr. LauronsqnV .art prejudices you?—:''lt matters udt how piod a-man is—as soon' as there are couipl.-.ints against him: from a "man 'like 'Mr.. La malison it. has a tendency to do,him harm;" ,v .What is tho duty of a member.' of; Vnrlic- • montwhon ho, receives;a complaint .in,i;o;!;;-,i-.l: to a 'member of -tho: forco?—"I should :"shy. .• acquaint tho ofncdr in charge of tho diiti-.'< t." Mri Bishop: .That would raise much nore' 1 presumption of political, interference tbhil going to the political head of the Depart-.''' ment. The ofucor in, charge is only a croa-, ture of the political head. ' The Miuistor -: Jold.Mr.. Lawensonj: in as r^ain...tornis.jas I.

vvVhaye?-. ?ev?er? hevd[";ia :/'a';;Ministeriidi"cqrim]diii-( fij^'catibn, l ''^hatsthwe-i^erb-~absolutely:, -no [S; grounds;; for, [complaint;:^ w^nbtVinterfero^?-'.'^^ 'V^'iWititess^BM^^ K ; ';;Laurcnsbn-?sending "letters te l tfie.'headlof stne ;??;[j:;: : : :>;.; ; :.?,?v,?.';:-: [ ; ;??i[v:; 'is?-Mr. Bishoprl^ [A.': ion whether :'a. mombbr: of Parliament _lias v'visterS;lf' tliat'is.:.ybur "opinion'l.'dbn't-.agree. S^mtii that ho; '& ['Bhouldifbrward.ai letter; right to,tha.:Minister ; :; -=Mr; Diiinibni''would' like; your ; .ruling.■;on V;rili^;point/:>lt' , wouU^bo;:rato.*intcres^ng ;y;'te ; kh6w;it? :■■)•■ "f-f-y- ■■■p '\ '■■ have .nny.VweightY ••./ if. ■ '4 Mr; : .'.\Duiiie': : y Ipuggest^that'; a- ;;mcmbcr : ■'Ft' .tbe[Mmister[for:;Jus-\ ipfikelp : P&pf-ff--W,Pi ( r"-ffff : fvfy'':'f\ .':?..'?" Mr; ;Bishbp: "If ,they ;gp;te;?tho; inspector-in r/?:'charge/they"?go tbva";breaturb. of. th'o.'.Minis-; SSter^-thatVis..using; the:Word i : '.'creature"; in., xtiks technical 'sensoivV'lf -"tliey.; go ;to; the ,-politf-. '?' : .'' 'cal'head'bF.thb #innproper4'W,ayV vif::they':go to! a lower;;gradp Kf. official ? they ;.- raise :thb ■ ■ prPsu mptioii- :■ that[ tho ■&■ BBpectc*' , br v 6th«r". efEcer'.will ;bb: liabletoldo ft ?/an apt to'.please? the'?iriember fortho district. than:tho^indi*idual;|i,Thatis;tbe-Lpre-'■.;-"anmpti6ri:'".v-:- ; -f~> fy :.', ■'■<*■; '-V-v; ffi-AKOoristiblb ■ Cbrihell,:, tO.wing "'.to [Mr.; Lauren.-; ;;['?'spii's'.'f-rnterf eronco [-it [te'for:iub : , rnadp.a ~vbrygrave .ajleSv Mr}:.;Eaurcnson.,;,...;lt?;nicaht; symr/athies.; werewith';. ?fr'%WtncsV:; I:-did ■'• not X say.:Vthat;:;;.l^didn't;

; :;':::W;/MrS;BishopVIf.;ybu; had ;giybn;:mo;tljp,;ex> Invprcargillithat j'buhayc'giVen i Ij'vw'buld fh'avo'.. : taken >;a?-;very;. different; ':'4View/bf.!what you force ;X;[:tioi'?upoh^Mr.vLaurcnspn7 ;^ 'rib'right rtb "interfere' 'iii/tho-rju-anner; ho : .■>-:.:/Mr.(Bishop:-Youconsider, that/ be. had no i!;:: ; ngbt;tbvfprirafd;this ?y!- : f 0-- ; y '■ rf '- : -f'ff;'-- : '•

i J4;?[Mr:; : Bislipp^: : F.ba;ri't:agreb::W ;;?'¥'; ; ;This;7:cpriclu;ded:?;Cp?nstabioy^ ■ ;;:[deiiTOS;?:? : ;[;::;"i![^?-i- : ;? : V' ! :: - ; :[?■;? :l '?-'■[:'•;[:':?•;;v? ! i , '':; ££- : 'Mr: : :-Bishbp^■ref6rring'.:to? the -;.■statements. ;i;;niado)by?'CpnstablejCc;nnell?:C^ .;[?wharfiiaboiirer3, : :,'said[t-hat''he ■did?'not;thtrik, ;':" : Vthat'ConiiGll'iriteiidpd te' : :saY;tJiat / thoy..wore w--J;E?tdishoriesf/ ; 'comiriuiiity;; wTlio way:;;iri'; which S^the'[-b^dbhce'::iva3[ i .birculated^was:?liable':-; i tp

[[;[ bas^.a'^tigriia. : en;tho,:gbiierali^y^;,iv:h^ -..\;labourersj':;brit.'[th[at;[was.'no;t;t ;::[;'; lc,ft;bri jhis .mindi;V Coririell-.was'.dealingV'witJi. wharf;['labourers./ rf-Therej'was^rip^inipres^ion^n'/his^ria ;w,[the:?gen'eral.:;body;of; i l^bburers.,wcre;.a ,;:.Varid;Hfr?they: ! ;^liad[iieeri [it:?wpuld;;takb:;moro: ;;:■; tliSn?sthe?evidohco;of?ia?disra£cd:'detcctivo;-te : ':.;cpnyiricb.;him;that"thjey,:werc' ;dislipbcst.;: ; ; [■■-. i:;K ; 7[[y ; .'.•;£■',. Mr;[;Lanre.risou;' then'--gave'lcVideiico Voii;his fyj. bwn ; ;behaif [ stated ;;that;. liojbbiivcrsatiqn ;:"!'; of; the[ ki [tp'byfCous'tablo.Coniicill .•.;;h'ad-?;eyer, Jtak'eri;- : 'p;ia^o'','i-l)etweeri' : :^theini'!.; ; ,'Hb ;v^hadiieyersiiggbstcd[te[: ; Cpniiell?that lio'Wds. [ ; [?vtoo[sactive;;ih:;hia[;diities, 'or' that hp^wmild,

; pb>ition?if:ii.eyk !'s ten.S;Thb;;lettpr£ : :wr6te[[^tp;[?the J'Ministerfwerpi.vwHtteri^^iri^'cpri'se^uenco'^of: vcbinplaints[[riiade^:[tb;';himi : :;:?'/?Hp "had^refu'sed f':te":'fPr^^;;:aiiy,'tiF? ; ?thp/'|Cohiplairits,>;[esOT i;'Writteri.: ; pribs;'[and?he\Kad;;beeri.;very??c^

/.V'/iiQt ; :Constablo I .••ijConnell.v:."He.'-, in^thqVslightest', J;; ; ;.Had^&eftH-' o ;{witliv ; .i.; : 'arid'''wii]d;::;'ratheK''have: dbiio ;himi;ap;godd: :- anythhigri-qlsb..;/ Complaints chad. :.,, r 'comd: ih'.-befpro-.the -electiont,of .l)cceißb"er-;G, s;,;l9os;ixahd MiaU'-iljoeiiwintWcllirigtoiv ;;' / s till '•■■ fivo >ivcefe bef orb: ; ithai .liti'couid -Dot ; havp had .•; .^he-alleged-^pnycrsationMwith; : ;Cpimblh: J/As: ;. : :;:to' ?Conneirs stateiindht, that■ tbo,' nicri ohaking y^the ;^cdmplaints;?;Were.j; ori.bad ..character/■ lib' :: .OTiyyyknew; that^ ;;Arvicted:>; f %Uflkennessi dr. c.bad y'^langtiago.Vv; i : ;,?:- : l'l'-':>:^!.'i : ',c' A' ■■.■V?>'-'.'^V'. 1 ;V. ■■*■' asV^member^ f bfw\I > a'riia--s.^;;.iiieiit, Vhayb'.you".attempted;to get -.Council," or :c.:,any Mother-, ..,:^ : rapmbbr'.<]^^^ ;; ; ; ooristable:S^r : vr€cbguiSß 'y ; ;tlie" 'difficulties l 'of :;■■;. ;;their i^^M?'}ji^^^i;^p:^V:!^'' :^'^ : fii '■QU'-lMri.; ;Diun^^:((Kmihissioher;:i' ; of : :./-11..aJ. v 'M ■ > f.bdry' distfict)y'; arid ; ■ Charles';: Ru'tlcdge ■• (fdrm-/ tvrerlyysbrgeant"'of /policbjiat-Lyttolton): gave- : V:;no unstaiico; ?;Mr /'Laui;ensoii : ha v.;:V.fpr.ett ;: :W^ Jy ; C\ '■ Dr. : '-!M;'J ■■;: : f ß.i i':::v;Ch"ristehurbh,v;Viiu ■: v : ' that A : .iho,;V< overcoats:,:. ■ . issubd : kyio ' ; { C;Aof.cloth" • ".coats .'• -:-. ■putyii^veralv■jncoivghicrices :,;.bf.V-!tho'^present r ; ■ ;oveVcoatSiybhr.;at: • Hel- ; i-,-4 mets'v.shoiddyba.usiibstituted/,.. ■f6r.">'ishakcs;' ;:::yilectric:lanip_3;sh^ .:.■:.the'. 'use;'; .pillars,- "■:'■■- 'conistables^bn ;.,' witk;'; ; teaj.i.oiv'bther:'suitable 'fluid.' in v: : ttuem';>'there! should 'be.a'. : gymnasium ? at the v •■■;',station'j'fnow, books'; sliouldVbb-..provided ..for. ■.■MVthonjbr^^ S.='sp«t?i>p;'candidaAcs ,: fbri should'bo r,- twelreVmoiith/3.' i Theybnly' casoyof .'"political '...■influoncavAich ho:could cite happened'romo .■'.'.'•years:ago, ; and:.prior/id ihd preseiifcinispfctbr ,;^.taking:; He v !(witriess), had vf ■to .'the :'tae'u Jnspcctpr; .that men 'were. :->in)•*■' theV'liabit Mof not' ? ;drunkardsV-and fthen..''tlip jinspoctor.told.him'f, '.:';;; "I;' don't■.:think'; li'l is: a'dyisalilb ctb • •interfere; ;;.!• with ithesp' men: : .theyclave 'got /tnore.-'politi;" '■: •'!■ eal/infiuericp'tha'n.cl ,•'',, :made'csugg'estibn : s^;regar.ding' ; 'tho :.'.7. : 6ohem^^^ ■;;-Cit - waß.Cainia'ttdr-' for,.actuarial-examination.' /;"■.■ DK" : 3'Syiries>f /cd'niannal"

; '■-. ,nippirig;::.was;,m^^ ;? drunkenness,;: and'.conduced ,'mbrb :;te ..irival-?. :!. iding[the'.system/:VHb.?lnent'on'ed:a '■ case [of. ?[;a.constable';:who,'.had■;.'boen;,seiiV?home from: '•the?.-'.racecourse;'in-ia'.,.drunken',Estate.•; ;;'He ;-:?riearly[:killed; : [tlib[.;constable?:;who :.took?:him :[?homb:jiii;ia::cab;j: Tho[;man' w'as-; dismissed/; ; ?, but?was;.[rei;istated ?in .twclVb. months. .'.-This ?':;was?:spmb years';rigo;;.?:'<;[;.?:, f:'\'.'.'.■■ ?;?V? ; :-:;: i i' I .' ;','';v Cpnstables-'Eegarir?[Carne'y,[;arid:M'Carthyi [ appointed ;'by[?; l tbe,:-lccali[.police ;-'-' : force);;[gave; -:?:'; proveirients ;in-;'.coririebtion [:;-;;constables,,:;thoir' ; 'p'ayV.?their ; .other' ■'■'.■[ sihiilarvriiatters;:;;;;v;i;-"'; ; '? ..-;•,{.•'■•.: :■:.£'.-.' '■;;;■, .t-i'-i''" ;:'■ ; : : ; ;';[Tlio?[cbmmissiori; adjourned [10.30?-- ?[;?•[,??[- ~??;, tfi ;'[.-.;j