POLICE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 582, 10 August 1909, Page 5

POLICE COMMISSION.

SITTING AT NELSON. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ■ ' . Nelson, August 9. The Police Commission sat here to-day. Constable Cameron, of Richmond, twontyone years in tho service, of tbo pay, houso, and clothing- allowances, also of slowness of promotion, and 'of juniors being' promoted over ".the heads of seniors. Ho was 57 years of' ago, ' and considered his' age stood in tho of his promotion. Ki did not know of political influence. ' Constable Foley, of Colliugwood, said lie was enrolled in 1802. He was dissatisfied with the promotion, and said the pay was not that of'an average working-man. Ho had many duties to perform in connection ivith his position. He considered it morally certain that political influence existed, although it was of no use to him.

Sergeant Dougan, in charge of the .district for ,seven years, said ho Was enrolled in 1879, ajid promoted in 1898. He considered the people and the Government at fault, and that a good many things required adjusting. The polioe force required men mentally, morally, and physically without a blemish, yet they . were given a shabby salary. He did not favour religious, instruction, but probationers should receive ■ moral training to guard against the.many temptations surrounding the force.' No constablo should bo allowed on the streets before tho age of 26 years. The pay was not in keeping with the important nature of the work. Regarding promotion, he thought that as much as possible, men if they. fulfilled requirements should bo promoted. He would, like people to have a better opinion of policemen generally. He would not promote a 'man over 50 years of age. Detectives should constitute a separate branch. Ho had never observed the use of political influence. The opinion that outsiders should not be appointed was nonsense! With over 30 years' exporionoe, lie thought there waa not a better body of men as a whole than the 700 or 800 who constituted tho polico force. The commission has now completed its inquiry hero, and goes on to Picton.