THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 7

THE POLICE FORCE.

"POLITICAL INFLUENCE RIFE."

STATEMENT BY MR. C. H. POOLE, M.P. ALLEGED INTIMIDATION. (Bj TelOGraph—Press AsaooMon.) 'Auckland, August 31. At tio sitting of the Polioo Commission to-day Mt. C. H. Poole, M.P., raid thoro t was no doubt that tlio appeal for political, influence was becoming too common in ilhis country. From day to day politicians wcro approached by peoplo with grievances requiring redress and by people looking for pobV I ticar favours. Mr. Bishop: Is there anything in regard •to tbo general . odministration that you would say, Mr. Poole? •Mr. Poole: "I roalreo that it ia bardtog«fc' a thoroughly oflioiont police force. 'I have - boon looking olosoly into Ui©matter of !©■■ oruiting, and it Bcems to mo there is o hir ncss hero tliat Should bo abolished, A bettor allowance would probably entice bettor men. Wo' have somo of tlio finest men in the Dominion in our force, but their worlf. is to a certain, extent discredited by tho inr elusion of men who aro absolutely unfit fof the work. Again,'though boido people tej mo that I am fanatical on tho point, I thin! that in combating with tho liquor traffit thoro is a suggestion of intimidation. Som< are not afraid,; but with othoi-s tlwro is I. shelving of tho law and a neglect of duty. Tho recent outbreaks in YMunjgton caused; Suite an amount of cousternntion amongsi !io legislators. Tftko Constablo Donovan'* case. Because ho tried to enforce the law, in Ooromandol ho had to suffer severely. Constablo Dnnn's is anotlior case. They' endeavoured to grapplo with ,the liquor traffio in Ooromandol and Mercury Bay, and they feel that it is because of this that they have novor received promotion. I think that tiio • commission should realise that a good deal of influence is used in this direction."

Playing tho Came. ' Mr. Poolo said onotAer point was thatj ' "with all duo regard to Mr. Kettle, the, detectives who arm 'man-hnntsrs and tha ( police uho aro sent to bunt criminals mart not bo censured when thoy have to 'play the game' to trap inon who' aro brcaldnj l the laws in ft sly and secret way. Then' would havo to offer a higher monetary coiw} sidoiation and protect tho mon from intimk ' dation," . • I Mr. Bishop: Yon aro aware Mat tho right class of young'man is not coming forward to onrol ? , , Mr. Poolo: Yos. I think there has boon some laxnoss in the recruiting, and thoro is need for better monetary inducements | being offered. , Mx. Bishop: How would yon go about, offering those inducements? Mr. Poolo: It is easier to gctTocnrits at certain v timos than at other tunes. For instance, during, times of commercial depression thoro is a greater chance of getting men into tho force. Again, I think that there should bo no nood to go to Wellington ' Ito become enrolled. Provision should .bo | made for recruiting in Auckland and other centres. .' Mr. Bishop: What obont tho education tost? '■' Mr. Poolo: As long as tho monetary inducements, aro sufficient I "do not think tho fifth standard a very big hurdle. Anotbor point is the instinotivo dislike of uio young •! men of New Zealand to any form of dis- ], ciplino. Thoy hko freedom. The same, applies to our volunteer Bystem. Another ' inducement would ho tho removal ofintim».dating influences. If a man does his duty ho is suro to run up against a tough propo- ' ■ sitioii, and ho should bo protected by his Department. , 1 Mr. Bishop; In what way? i Political Influents. Mr. Poolo: Political influonco is rife all through x tho \ country. Every Department should havo tho support of tho Crown m • guarding against it. Mr, bishop; You must know that Bomo members of Parliament encourage that sort Mr. Poole: Yes, I know that, but I thinl we should iinprovo tho general tone, and do . all wo oan to remedy tho evil. ' < , .Mr. Dinnin: Do yon; think tho Co,'nmis« sionor of Police Bhould bo frjo of all in. ilucnoo?, Mr. Poolo: I do. lit. Dinnio: If a constable comes end mnkei a complaint'.to yon that ho haß been passed ovor, or bus • some other grievance, whut would you do? •' 'Mr. Poolo: I would simply send his 1 letter tc' tho Minister. I havo occasionally, done that for mon in ;difforent Departments. Mr. Dinnio: Yoil always got a reply? Mr. Poolo: YesJ Thoy wero not ilways favoursblo. Some limes they wore evasive, but a Ministerial reply if not favourable is never calculated to givo an aohing Ticart., They have" a cdu.ttoous way of putting things.' " i I ,'. ' " , Mr. Dinnie: think that applicants havo tho idea that unfair methods obtain in the Department F Mr. Poole: I must say irregularities have taken place which look liko unfair methods. Mr. Dinnio; In what way? ' • , Mr. Poole: Well, in tho matter of promo-- , ' tions. There aio 'lrien who sown to havo been unfairly'passed over., .' ij "Mr. Diuniei'Do you know'of'any case whore jwlitical iiifluenco has obtained? Mr. l'oolo: Yes, I do, but' I ( am bound in confidence not to disclose tho information.. Mr. Dmnie: Will you admit Mr. Bishop to that confidence? Mr. Poole: Yes, I will ,do so at tho end of the commission..' • , , Recruiting.. Mr. Dinnio: You complain of laxnoss in recruiting ? Mr. Poolo: Yes. I think men'have| got through who should novcr have beeni accepted, il know it is possible. to . boat tbo ingenuity of the police officials at times. Kor instnnco, I know of a case in whioh a man was employed in another Department to go round and put telephones in people's houses. That man got into tho force by falso prctoncos, after serving twelve years in prison on difiorent charges, and ho is now locked up us an habitual criminal, ~ ' Mr. Poolo went ou to say that ho thought tho police of Auokland were a very fino body of mon, hut'ho did not want to think thai tho cflicienoy of tho majority would in any way be impaired hy tho inefficiency of tho minority. That was whnt ho was niming at i in his romarks about intimidation. There was a danger that influence of this kind was going to seriously interfere with tho officioncy of the forco, A policeman should bo so protected that ho could do his duty I without fear. ' ' , . ~, ' Mr. Bishop: Do you Bay that fear of thai ' in-ilnenoe now operates P Mr. Poolo: Yes, that fear does exist, and I I want to bo ono of those who' will bring about tho required emancipation. | J. Cullon, • part-proprietor, of a sporting newspaper, complninca of favouritism having boon shown by tho police in regard tc prosecution for publishinc certain advertise nionti, Ho, also alleged that the polioc ' liarasMsd cs-prisoners in thoir employment. 1 110 also assorted that certain constables had been found guilty of dninkonness on then: ' ' boats, and that thoro had boen a differentiation' in tho punishment of such offenders. Mr. Dinnio stated that ovcry man charged with drunkenness was dealt with according to tho merits of the case. The commission then adjournod till to morrow.