THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 614, 17 September 1909, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE.

TRAINING AND PROMOTION. THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE. MORALE OF THE SERVICE. The Police <>mmissien (Mr. H. W. Bi«lwpJ~ ■ • S.M., Commissioner) sat again yesterday . library of tho Dominion Museum. • Some Personal Matters/* -• Tnfipactor EUisou said'' ,tbat q a/; number oJ, gentlemen outside, aswell as!fwitbin. theforce, ■vrishftd to give Mb conduct, una way. o£ meeting them. Ho did not know whether it came within ;the; 6rder of reference.■ ~ Mr. Bishop .said"'he thought, it did.. Tho • inspector's conduct, had. been, impugned, .Mid' . os a, matter of discipline a contention that men fblind-themselves unablo to, serve under ] -• him would come within the order of referonra. . Hp could mote his own selection of tho wit-, Bosses. . i . •' V"'' Sergeant Matheson, Wellington Sontli, alluding to his cross-oxamination on Wednesday ,by * Commissioner Dinnio, asked that.files should;', bo. called for to show the letters to southern newspapers, which, Mr. Dinnio liad suggested , were written by him, but of which ho denied all knowledge. Mr. Bishop said that when Mr. Dinnio cave evidence ho could bo questioned on tho matter. ~, To Mr. Dinnio: Witness knew nothing'of , " . certain deputations at Invercargill., . ' The Tramcar lncldcnt Again. Sergeant Murphy, Mount 'Cook, was again - . examined as to niß inquiries from the Corpora- , tiou. Tramways' Engineer, in regard to AVil- - lett, the ex-tram cotidnctor, now a constable, , ■ v and reiterated his previous evidence. ■ •Piles wero produced showing that the Tram- > ways Department kept records regarding it« 1 employees similar to those kept in tho Polio® Department. 1 1 , : Mr. Bishop remarked that the police would be able to demand production Of such files i » • in future cases. . ;i ■ v '■ Questioned byVlnspector Ellison, witness' testified, to having been well-treated by that officer. I''The Police and Hid Press. William . Coffeynewspaper , correspondent, , said ho had comb forward in consoouenoe ■ <..■ of the allegations against Inspector Ellison. He had frequently come into contact with tho 1 inspector in connection with the Wellington 1 Boxing Association, and had always found him, , ,■ . 1 though properly strict,; very \ Courteous and:. i reasonable. Mr. Dinnio also had treated him : i with courtesy, and ho believed other newspaper men had formed similar improssioni of i both officers. Tho force'generally performed , t their duties efficibutly, and were courteous to 'all. This was his opinion as a newspaper ■ man, and'he thought other newspaper, men . I would .say the'same. • ■',■'••«' - ' Mr. Wright; M.P.: Is it not a fact that v 1 the policb ' everywhere' treat the press with ■ great ■ respect ?—!.,■ don't ' know,- Thty woe- ... I times refuse to answer our questions, . ; i Do you find that people generally treat you • with courtesy when vou go for information?— >.•■■.- ,Not always, Even politicians den t always : treat, us well. . : Mr. Wright; Politicians are in a different j. ' position. .• ■■ i - ; Good Bohaylour at Wellington. ' Sorgeant, William Xyons, Lambton Quay, said- ■ j the, conduct of tho mc-n at tho barracks Was , CI. Ho had to speak to them once whon they , ■ been talking. rather, loud.. Hb noticed p. ■ skin abrasion on one man'at that timb, ana on inquiry was told that they had been wrestling. ! . ; One.of there was slightly .under, tho influenco of liquor. Both, were dealt with afterwards.^. iThat was.'the onlyKOccasion; of misbohai/iqur ; he had known: at ttiobattackS. To Mr. Dinnio: Inquiries as to candidates, for enrolment were very carefully made. .Ha.. ' kiioiv nothing l of political innuonce. Ihe 1 system of promotion was good. He. knew nothing. Of any sergeant in, Wellington being . : 'the'worse for liquor, and :did not beliovb duch- . an (dilation. .' ' ■ . , , , , ■ } ■ To Inspector Ellison: Hd ;had always been . I treated' with tourtosy br tbo; inspoetor. ! BtaKoh-Sergeant Robert .DaTbSr,, Wellington, , : : said he had good men under-him, and mattori •rinHawobthly at J the barracks.; $b f&vpureA ~ ' promotion from the ranks being allowed up to j the ago.of fifty,'subjeot, to a physical Mamma- j 1 tion. Witness • spoke in favouT of improved. , n»y,: travelling allowances, etc., on the imea . taken by Mcvimls"witnesses..- : , , To ' Miv Dinnioi Inquiries is to MndidatM for the' forte wero jf anything too strict. Olid took up too much time. ,He„ approiod of the t system-of promotion,-and considered Jhat tlio , diseiplino'fwas as good now as it ftver tvas. , He'had nover known n sergeant to_l» drunk In Wellington. Mr.- Arnolds.allegatioM as to> ... behaviour at tho ; barrwks «fo nnfonndod. lie htid seen Sub-Inspector Wriglit playing bil- - liards. three or four tinios TDetrcfcivfe. He Relieved Mr. , \Viigl\Y 6 _ - were gerttrftUy at lunOh. time, iut witness \ras ccu6mlv away at. that tour- Ho saw uo lm. fn Mr, Wright jilayiug biUiardS'tliero. ' Mr Bishop: We shouldn't.agree about that, I .must: ultimdely- o^rcs3.; ? n .. ol To lo Ellisom He bad served under six or SNon inspectors, and , ftevtr under .a ,- StiT fli,e than Mr. Ullsoh. -Ho , know of nothing that would prevent meii serving under : him; Reports frequently tobesenlback to Weants and constables, - but nobodj- was stniiTed out ■, for "tMs 1 treatment. Ite •.* M ncoutiinted with the circumstances alludod^lo Watsoft, and considered ,th*t , Inspector KUiSiiti's etindutt in tho matter was not at fault; . - ■ • / The Training of Constables. ~ • John William Martin Dart,- sergeant > cbat-M of the Wellington 1 •ho had'been, proiuoiotl over ilift | 1^ 6 . j .fj •. 1 hundred other men- He-thought that Was «tvcme case, hilt that lib nctd not apblopsa I. ■..,, h lulfo ft som? 'amend* 1,9 , understood',thtr were;.^to Mr.: Dinnio i Herb are the proofs. . ' WitosS; naS ;Aguiiist lowering tlio t>dntatl9ns| were Vrfectly suitabls inltllectUblly. and odn* ;. ■ nnd ,23 wero inferior,' and nnder ordinarv' have ton Mpsi Education and Physical Training. , Tn Mr Bishop: 111,sonle cases the fifth ~ laK's tf'te'SSWt.Sr written on; lie placed no reiuiMb on the eer- , ■■ ShvsicX instructor should.be appointed for tho - pilJßlCai '."V I ' ,1J -first lout tlio to 1 '° r f C net n tho Constables. He eould aHerwirds ■ . trthb training dewt.' He .had . been led to understand that'lia would - tho rank of station sergeant, but this had liot . , ,°L done. The public apparently .wanted an cveh belter polleo force,, and that be 'accomplished by raising tho paj frotn rs. Cd to'Bs. (id. a day, rising by increments of Is. ~- : every three years to 10s., and Is. house allow. ance in addition, and the pay,of ,»iw B ant or - detective should go from Us. to lis., olid Is. 6d. house allowance, lie also suggested higher rates of pay. for ofheers of higher ranks, irobationary constables Should got 7s. Gd. a day, insteid of' Gs., so as not to deter married men, . tfho usually inado tho best oonstaijlts, • .. ;•••!. Promotion and Influence,' ' Regarding promotion, there" would always bo discontent as long ns the pmont system, br lack of system, prevailed,, Seniority alone - would not do as-ft guide, wid when name alter ♦ name on tlio list was passed over there was no convincing answbr to-fcivo. to those-who were : disappointod. Then tboy were bound to have. . allegations of . politieal infiubneo, and com- : nlaints and a Police Conimission, every fey years. It might Impptn in the prosent lack of system that the political influence ft .man could bring to bear might be the doterinmmfc factor. The authorities were;anxious to run straight, but- thoy should be given a chaheo. There should bo ft right of appeal te the in- , pretae Cburt, and this would take tho maltot out of the hands of tho Minister and Commis. : - sionor. Promotions shtfuld bo deeidod ,011—(1) Results of examinfttiousi (2) a mtui's record a: a polioeman; (3) any special qualification fol thfc position to bo Ailed ;■ (4) and, lastly, seniority. Too muoh regard, should not bo paid to age. There was a tendency/in other wallts of lifo to place eomparntively young men in high positions, and there, was no reason why tbo police force should become fossilised, lie ndveoatod • more " reliance upon /examinations and a more complete system of examinations. Otherwise ihore conld no no moans of stopping political infiuenco, and no means of answering the complaints of. those'who wero jpasscd over. As an illustration, there hod

beenvery fowcoraplamts about Ins own pro--ffi/ip:?motion,;over..3oo,'ottieis, v aud that,was- because ? had 'ivhich moat ,dkl not subpolitical v.' • . influence, it would 1 not :bo. enough to frighten v. ;' ! - : • members of rarliamept from msing political in-: : : : fluorice for' tn-elvo months. The late Commis-■;./■'.-Vsioner■ fought political influenco for some time, ond/;the -result Vwas that ho went Homo anil .. was now living ;in retirement.-. ThoX'ominis- . eipner was just lis much under tlia Minister r as 'h. O (witness) lfns uuder tho - Commissioner, s\.f'^i»';^ , 'Jp^ , ®W6for9riftidid ! 'not.'think it was fair to . • blame tho Commissioner. ■■■■. ■■■"!■■■ ■Detectives and Uniform Men. WitWss: ; did nbt;'<ipproro of: the appointment fe' ih : pf-.detiotiyesi.. to 'ofßcea-.in the nniforiu: branch of the, sefvicej as the practice deprived.the.unii:form inen ofiu stimulus) to exertion. He pointed out that there.:,were ,750. men' in ■ the uniform f ':;:'j ;. ' branch, - and iin^.the- dotective' branch. I";-;'-''■ would not say.'that.a.chief detective.should ■kvJ-. V: ' ■ ~ '.never ,'be made an inspector, 'but the proportion ; i'. --.i; ■ .between ■ tho' two branolies should'bo.obsorved. my H . advocated more. interchange:, behfeen . the Sr.. ;: ' V'- Sclerical and uniforiti branolies,'' under.! coudipr framedvto•'prevent'..unfair, competition^ f;....■( s No member of the clerical" stiff, shouid hold :V a higher/rank than that of sergeant,, except |:.tf L the '.chief .clerkUn ..the 'commissioner's office, who should be an inspector. He would not |V i : t;. ','.. '' ■ say, who. shonld be chief clerk, but that officer fev ' must-necessarily-control considerable portion fe;v ' of .tho service. If -he; did 'not, ,he had no right 1 to'be ( thore.Ho must.often' net;as''commisPi v-~# i'-f - absence, and I ... •. all tho routine work of the office must.- fall f;, . to him. It had been complamcd that the chief ; . ' olerk, . who was 'now a-sub-inspector,- was dic--1: tating.;to inspectors... Witness would not say s s -: . '..that;' was so, but there might be that appeari ance. K ! Mr. Bishop: Do you think the chief clerk ; 'v.' ; V should; have polico rank at all ?—Yes. 'The two t'..; branches should not bo dissociated, as the f:o> training is valuable.... I / v Morale of the Service. To Mr. Dinmo: Tho men at Mount Cook vtire'subject to' Strict, discipline,- and -when ;an fe v,allegation, as:,to:drunkenness :was'made, .every effort was made to detect such: an offence, but ' . . without any .' result. Every .man should, pass an examination. before .' . being • made a ser- : •>: ! V . ,Mr. Dinnie: We - are providing for. that in, tho now regulations. .:;'?/?: • '"- Witness,, continuing,-.said.;the conduct: of the t.. ■' ■ force in . Wellington was about normal,' and if • ' there appeared to bemore drunkenness, and. | : ; y . misconduct now ; than thero was . formerly that P.' W becauso.of-the greater strictness. Old. men e. • , who.woro*in the service .years, ago told stories v . .. ' of misconduct, from which it appeared that Ipv... tho .sergeants were, as bad as ; the Constables, t. and that mon wore atraid, to complain. ' Mr. Bishop:' The logical, inference is that the p-- ■ morale .of ithe service'hns improved, kTho witness also emphatically-denied'a state- '. /-nient.^attributed' 'to -SergeantJey,'at '"."West fv'i' r ;:" ' port;'^-that'he*(witness),must 'hiiVe used political f' i to get':his, promotion.' i' -Ho ■ had neither. fc fo used .such ! influence nor?so much ■as asked for V : , promotion. -, - , , -- -: }. , •To Mr. -Wright, M.P. 1 : Absolute justice was |! • • done in,'the"case of probationers'M'Qrath and [ t , Shannon. Good Behaviour. -■■■.■ Sergeant'M'Crono,. Mount Cook, gave,-evi- ." dence of good bfehaviour among the police,', and ■ assmd Inspector Ellison that ho had been well treated by;that;offlcor.\'Ho,also-said in reply SY-'-':C j t*) -Mr.v Dinnie that : the int[uiries relating to ; £-y£'ii;applicants. for/enrolment were thorough.*■' . - Sergeant .David; Stewart,;Mount Cook, gave k oimilar' evidences; Ho did not see' the 1 necessity , for physical traininp.-' . ■■■ . , : - ', ! iv. ; . :S-- ; . Acting-Detectivo' :lbb'ott. .was: . : recalled, . and • Mr. Bishop said ho had been requested to ask whether Dr. 'Sharman; .119 . police surgeon at " Auckland; to, his duties and |'-V>':. had'the'confidenco of tho force. ' ' • | . . ' Witness replied in tie ' affirmative. . : Dr. ' ' Bharuian hadi attended his ,wife and' himself and three children. • ' An Inspector's Manners, v- , •-r.Thomas Duncan, commission agent,sWellingi r. . . . 'ton, testified to tho courteous behaviour of In- • spector Ellison. •'' . - • '' '■ 'N'-' ' r ' 1 , - Mr. Bishop:'l don't see much',use in 'this. sort-.of .evidence, Ellison. ; Yon might- as T'/' : well ask nie about your: manners. I havo never seen anything amiss with .your conduct, .but pt. - 1 . i ' 'i '- you might say -yoii -been-specially-polite to as a sfipendiary magistrate. . If so, 1 should l be sorry-to behove you. fc?;s/'v ; V'':,'-. -Sergeant' William 11' Gill stated that as.com- »:• '-■ ■■: piler of tho "Police. Gazette,". he had: consider-. _:' ; ably improved it- -' He..submitted, copies. He 1 : : ■ ,Ipraised the administration of Mr. Dinnie,'and : . . . said.he 'would ,-like to speak of Mr. Ellison, : . .-. but at this point:.Mr., .Bishop iiiterrupted him.' , Mr.'-Bishop: Inspector Ellison hasn't asked 1 . ' yon.to speak, and I don't think you 'should f pgive evidence about, your superior officer unless, ' . ' he asks you to. It isn't'necessary. , I havo i .. -:. ' known Mr. Ellison as long as you have. . K^-i: :^S?, : .; Sergeant •M'Gnire/'bf .district ,'ofSce cleri-, eal staif,' replying, to Dinnio, f.'it^'/tfttid'.he-n^'not-lieard-'.of'the !."speci'aUman." ' f'&A ;\3v;::.l To Inspector -Ellison':, Ho' was ; present. when 1 f ri'. Constable' Taylor brought a man to the. office i ; : >' r 't: ■ - ioiieip.enscsV 'and; ho saw ' nothing amiss '. in the j, :/. '-' inspector's ',manner : to: the.- constable. Ho •' " :■ , had'nover:had, occasion to find fault with the - inspector's manner. or treatment of him. t ' ' Clerical Burdens, t In - further .reply to Inspector-Ellison, witf,y;r ii.ess' l said2;thore'!-.Wa3 ial greatj deal:, of work goj.:vv, ing. through.'the,- office:, forthe -Inspector . of f:\vi- : -Machinery,-Old .Ago^Pensions,-,and Education |;',v '■DejiOT^dits;y''Hy,' , :tli6n^Htvln^dcttfr , .iEllison; 'imng'.ittivthis".work; ,'was^^ : .the,'biiaest'i;Govern-• ! :'4v;',-!meht officer in-.Wellington. .' .. . ' : i ' . • Mr.-Dinhio ..said temporary additional as- ; • - gista'nee. conld always he obtained. . ha ; .*hnd.-"Tidman*,' cbmS ■: potent to put into the oflico. On one occasion had-to. be. called off for ' . outside TTork. ■ , V •: ..' Mr. Bishop'suggested that Inspector Ellison ft;-t; f, :ha'dr;n6t'. made -'sufficiently.: strong",'-' repreientaI,::.tions:to Commissioner Dinnie as to : .the:need • of more', clerical assistance. ~ * , Inferior Overcoats. 1' .;v : .'/:v : -'.' ; V':'SMgMttt: , 'imw, , de- :• favo'urablp "opinions.. expressed, by ;his superior: officers.;:; ; Ho ,defended}himself;against: : the.remarks.' anVpfficerV:in . the^'scnith,- who - had in S'i' ; - evidence: r.Tjefore'..tKe - criticised his r ... ■ •' j : -( r -;\' r - , j'i:' I': 1 -J -V: - Mr. Bishop;.questioned".witness as to- certain ; . ' 'coats,'sent-out :of 1 the .stores:'that had been,alP' be : "blue blauket" f f instead .of waterproof ', serge, : -and to to "rott v—:'." ten." ,Witness , said -that' ; discovered ."-the ,*:; s |i : ' , '-ii?,v;iapl(7.--^ttre.'of-'thp-VE'p6ds , :,'a!tori.aVi6iit'.' 'six jf'^s■v^•^^^'■ i ••'■weol^. : ■rad. , ■.then..madb':'a■ ; •complaint , •t6.'■the , firm f VS that supplied: them, -and : they took all the coats . and supplied fresh ones. .The firm had supplied f- 5 v.; / tho Department for several / years, - :and -.- had fgiven-' entire satisfaction.:riSamplea,. had "been, submitted,: and . it .was: 'impossible ! to. 'find a differenM. between the sample And the .goods. ; - Only wear coiild test tho clothing., -iHe'.'-at-i. • ' tributedthe.'iaulfj;, character, of .the goods :to inferior waterproofing and excess of acid in tlio ' : , dye. " Experts, to -whom, he had shown the Roods . •• and' sample said '.thoy |:could.' not be distin-. t guished. ■ _• Mr. Bishop: But Inspector Cullpn said' at ! '' .. 'Auckland that ho submitted'.tho stud to ex- • pcfts "ad they said it was no better thap blue" ]■:■■■ blanket. . Vi. ■ ! !.! . Mr. Hinnip: .This trouble, about the:;cqats. •' ; . • was ver/ much exaggerated.' • • .eicaiuiriation witness'admitted that !",- two lines Of coats had proved faulty. ' .' • The Commission adjourned until ,10.30 a.m.

to-day.