THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 3

THE POLICE FORCE.

DETECTIVES' EVIDENCE. SUB-INSPECTOR WRIGHT'S POSITION. AN INTERVIEW IN THE STREET. Further evidence in the police inquiry, which is being conducted by Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., as the holder of a RoyaF Commission, was given yesterday at the Dominion Museum. The Education Department Again. Sir Edward Gibbcs, Secretary for Education, was called by Commissioner Dinnie.' Ho said the police did a great deal of valuable work for the Education Department, and did it extremely well. There ■■ was;, however, an impression in the Department, that the police did not look seriously enough upon tho apprehension of absconders from industrial schools. Some work which was formerly done by the police was now done by officers of tho Education , Department, and ho had afforded tho police substantial relief., Mr. Bishop said that nobody questioned tho duty.of tho polico to collect maintenance moneys on orders of tho Court, but objection was .taken by the police to what they considered an unnecessary amount of work in conneption with industrial school ex-inmates, and also in the collection' of fees ■ under tho Infant Life Protection Act. Witness corroborated tho ■ evidence of the Inspector-General of Schools, to tho effect that the inquiries referred to could be made unobjectionably,. and were less arduous than had been represented. ■ '. , Inspector Ellison said it was. not a nice sort of thing to have to do to go and taake inquiries about a man in a good position, or a woman who had become tho mother of a" family. •Hβ suggested' that if tho ex-inmates wore doing well, they should be allowed to drop out of sight. '■'•-■■ . , • Witness- said his Department .would be willing to 'negotiato with the, Police Department abbnt modifying the system. • ; .'■■; ... ; . •' Office Matters.', .Colonel. E. J.' Collins,- Secretary to the Treasury, called by Mr. Dinnie, said the polico accounts were well kept, and promptly rendered. ..■■■■■■ ' ■•■ ' '■ ; - .■■; .'■' ; ■'■ . . ', ■ ..Constable Michael Fleming, employed in tho office at Lambton Quay, and- George Nash, milkman, Wadestown, confirmed previous evidence as to .'• Inspector Ellison 9 courteoup manners. . , ■ . . ■ • Arthur, Edwin Andrews, , acting-detective, Wellington,' called by Mr. Dinnie, said he had bever written to Sub-Inspector Wright (chief clerk) about promotion. .':■. . Chief Detective's Evidence. ' Charlee . Robert Broberg, Chief Detective, Wellington, said that. Detective M'Mahon had said at Auckland thatvho had been passed Dver in favour of. witness.' Ho admitted. that M'Mahon was two : years his .senior in' length af service; .but witness had received extra pay ind the equivalent of six years' service, so that he considered himself virtually four years senior^to'M'Mahon. i •; '.''■' , '. . , : Witness said that so much prominence had been given before tho Commission to ActingDetectives Ward and Gibson, that ho thought, it right to lay-some .stress ,upon the high efficiency of Acting-Detectives Andrews and Hammond. Hβ had known Sub-Insoeetor Wright play billiards with Sergeant M'Gill, and he.. often. had 50 up. with witness, but witness had never known him play with a ionstable „ or mix with the constables at the station. ■■.•■" ■ '.'•'■■■■■ '::■''•'■ ;- ,: ''■'.-,■ '.Speaking, aa a. delegate from the WeW lington detectives, witness replied to certain representations of tho Auckland sorgeants, 'and stated that, in the last 23 years, 93 per cent. jf. the promotions to commissioned rank wero troin' the uniform branch, and taking the period before tho most.recent promotions, 96 2-3 per cent.. in t 22} years had been": from- the jnifprmi branch. -Witness, also ■ controverted several' other. contentions of the , Auckland 1 sergeants -in connection with , the respective WARCS, allowances, and privileges. of detectives «d sergeants., . , i ..'.,. •' ■> ~ ■-,' Reply to> Sergeant; Dart/ , ; Witness opposed Sergeant : Dart's views (expressed in evidence ( on7ruesday) as to tho proportion: of promotions to commissioned rank Tom the uniformed, and detective branches feipectively.. Witness said Sergeant Dart wished x> use his special' position in charge of' the xaining depot as a ground for promotion to ;ho' rank "of■ sub-inspector,- iand' olassed" himselfn,the.preventive branchso rs to base on'that i' claim for Ta" 13,'t0 lvChance..:' Witncss'hv'as i> detective ten years ago,, when Sergeant' Dart vas' a .probationary- constable,',' ana now the at to,, wished,-.to: say, that ho, should.be pronoted to . a sub-inspectorship before witness. >ergeant Dart! (witness admitted) was. the best iffioer in New Zealand for his 'present position it the depot, and the position was a very mportant one. AVitnese also objected to what ie regarded as Sergeant Dart's endeavour, to ibstrnct the'advancement of> district clerks in ;he .interest of tho sergeants. Sergeant Dart lad the distinction of being the first man who, iad appeared before'the commission to advo:ate reduction of pay. He had suggested.that leteotives should be enabled to draw only" up to :4s..aday, instead'of 15s. as at present. The ergeant:'did' : not advocate any :; reduction of ;he pay. of 6tation-sergcants, to which rank ho loped tobe:soon promoted. It was the deteoives, who'tad to go out on. tho street, and rork haid, and -be-on* duty, at all hours, whose >ay SeTgeant'Dart would reduce. '■ Tho.seigcant iad comb to the .commission on his own,'not isspciatirig with the requests of' the other ser;oants, :but trying to .push-his own. barrow: ilong or grind his own axe. Witness submitted ih'afc: a : station-ferjseantis position was not mperior to a chief'detective's. ■ . ■ To Mr. Bishop:. The appointment of Detecive Quartennain did not causa discontent. To Mr I .'Dinnie: Tho finger-print brandh was' if great' valuo. There was ' very little dislatisfaotion at , the.station.' -Tho men.'at the larracks were as good a class as any police bree in the world.' He never heard tnat Mr. Dinnie's son had six ■• months' leave on full ?ay.. ■"-,; ■'..,. •..- ■■'■.:''}. .:.',- . - : ■ '~'..-:',: : ..... ■'~ Acting-Detective Abbott's Promotion. Questioned by Actirig-Deteotive Abbott, witless said Abbott was thoroughly well qualified or his position. Tho Department had a periect right to' give the position .to .the men Thorn they thought'most suitable. . : Mr., Bishop:'! don't see what|j to prevent ;hem a .man a' chief aetective six reeks, after loining .the service... ■:■ ! Alleged Agitation-Against Mr. , Dinnie. . ■; Chief-Detective -William' Bernard : 'M'llveny, itfached iheadqunrters' Btaff, , ,eaid he vas solely-under the, direction'of the cornmisiioner. ' ' ' ' ■ " . ' ■' • , : To Mr. ; Dinnie: : He: eaw in a southern news>aper letters about 'Commissioner Dinnie. ■. He hought'they were, in the' "Otago. Daily Times." There - appeared ; to ■ be' an agitation lownv there '■ for thei removal of \ Commissioner Dinnie.' He could !i not ■ connect .Sergeant , aktheson with that -agitation,, except by hcoria'y.' He understood • that Constable' Green' had iupplied data to :InspectorM!Donell, and; that ;hese : Were;;; used -.; in:j a •; letter -. to -■ the,. newspapers. 'i .'.. '".'■'. :'■'-. ' ■■ '.• ■' :■••..■'■'.■ :• -Xo: Sergeant ; Mathesoh: The -questioner .was a [ood constable and., a'good, sergeant.,'..' He ihought Mathespn .was .present when Mr. Diniie was antagonistically ieferred to by others in ». certain • occasion ;at Invercargill. Witnese mew that' Jla'theson' had'''wished' ' that , llr. Dinnie should be-supplanted. - Before leaving [nvercargill ■ te come to Wellington, witness b>4"been- •spoken-.-to ,;,about,' bnWnspecto'r Wright, who had. antagonists. »t .Invercajgill. Boweyeri aftertwo years'in the head office, be considered' there was not- the slightest jround for the Tern arks -that had , been made ibout.th&t: officer..- -Inspeqtor- Mitchell, had icknowledged Matheson's fitness,for promotion, tat:, for'eome reason had 'hesitated to'recom(nend'him, and:did»not do• so'■ for some' time. Mr.'-Dinnio, on meeting .Matheson at Lumsden, iras/so favonrably impressed, that, he aeked U.Hchell ; why he .had not recommended him for promotion. Witness understood that the comnissioner practically'asked'the' inspector'for n recommendation : of Matheson,' and ; the latter ivas soon after:promoted.> '■ • .'' . ',■ < i To, Mr. • Dinnie: He .knew .nothing • of < any Special man," though'; he had. travelled from jnd.to'end of the Dominion. "' . : ■ , , To Mr. Bishop: In connection w.ith',.thc .'agitation" at Invercargill,' the suggestion wae th'at-'-Mri' Dinnie should^;be supplanted by Inipeotor'.Mitchell.■''."■.-'.' '.'<.;: v ■ ; .' .. The Head .Office Staff. ' Sergeant William M'Neely, ■ of the commi» rionor's office staff, expressed',the view thai tho pay was too low,' especially for marrict men tin first joining tho staff. , Tho staff ii the office was: hardly adequate for the. work, i Sergeant Michael Gaffney, in the "conimis iioner's office, also gave evidence. ','':■' Seeing the Chiof Clerk. i Constable WUlott, recalled by Sergoani Matheson, related that when he wished to b( transferred from Lambton Quay to Wellingtoi south, ho. was advised to sec Sub-lnspecto] Wright. Ho did so, and'lie'was soon aftei transferred.7 ' .'- ' ■'.'• . : Mr. Bishop: Why are these things not doni through tho inspector? Mr, Dlanioi They ere done through tin 1»

Mr. Bishop: But why did this man go , far Be the chief clerk? Mr. Dinnio: I can't prevent a man callini to see the chief clerk. I'm going to provi that it didn't affect his promotion. [ Mr. Bishop: Very well. You can prbvi what you liko, Mr. Minnie, but you mus aniiver my questions proporly. . . Sub-Inspector Wright's Position. Sub-Inspector Wright, chief clerk and ac countant of tho headquarters' office, said h joined the force in 1882. . Ho read a state incnt to show that his experience und service justified his promotion to his present position fn regard to the complaints of himself actiuj for the commissioner, and thus signing in structions to seniors, ho contended that n other arrangement would be satisfactory, am thcro would be discontent if the chief clerl were • a layman. Ho considered it was essen tial for efficiency that tho chief clerk shouli bo 6. police 'officer. There hud been somo sue gestion that Acting-Detective Abbott, the sup posed "liaridy man," acted in some way ii connection with him, but the idea was- quit unfounded. . Ho only knew Abbott as ai officer. Witness knew his position too wel to allow any man to influence Mm. \ Ho wa nover a tale-bairer. 'The force was never ii a better condiuon than" at present.- Political Masonic, or social: influence had no effect 01 promotions} or transfers. ' Billiards Again. Continuing, Sub-Inspector Wright said tha the evidence of Constable Green (who hai spoken of witness's personal relations with mei at the. barracks and playing billiards witl them) was bo manifestly vindictive towards wit ness, and not in the • interests -of the force that he thought he might treat it with con .tempt. To insinuate that ho associated witl the uniforin'men in any way was a wilful false hood. Constable Green's evidence had onl' enough truth in it to shield him from i charge of perjury. Witness knew whom ti speak to, anil'could do so without lowerini his position. . - ■ Mr. Bishop: Do you think it is altogethe consistent with your position as a 'cornmis sioned officer to frequent the barracks for pur poses of recreation? . ■ ' Witneis did iibt apparently liko the won "frequent," but tho \ commissioner intimatei that they need not quarrel about tho word.' : l)o you think it. is consistent with the fulles demands of discipline to do so?—I have neve seen anything wrong" in it. I never associatei with any men but the senior officers. But nov I see that harm may come of it. Very well, then, wo will say no more abou it. . What I mean is that it may ba-made us< of;- , - -•.■',' ' ■.'■'■',-,.'. "■'"''■ Then you don't say it is wrong, but that i is a question .whether .it isi wise?— Officers ii the Army play football and other games witl the men. , ■';■'.'!.■•• . ' •'' Mr. Bishop: Under totally different circum stances. •■ . : .■.:-, . '.'; -■ ■- ■ > . .How Not To Do It. . , Mr. Bishop: Do constables come to see yoi at your office?— ¥cs. Mostly country constables > l)o you recollect Constable' Willett comini and discussing his request, for.-a transfer?—No He, says he came to see you and, discussei his request with, you,; and asked for your gooi offices?—l should not; discuss it with him. I he came and mentioned the matter, 1 shouli say; "Well, put in an application." . . Constable U'illettj recalled by Mr. Bishop said he spoke'to Mr. Wright in the street.'. What business Jiad you tostick up the, Sul Inspector in ' the street?—l wanted to furthe my own ends,, and I was told that was tt only, thing 1 to do. : : .,. ■' Witness further said that the interview oc ourred near, the Glasgow/Wharf. Witness ;bc gan by saving, "Excuse mo speaking to you ii this way, sir, but will you, kindly use yourin fluenco to get mo a«'ay from Lambtoh Quay?' and'Mr.-Wright replied, "Very well." ' .Sub-Inspector Wright said he did not remem her tho incident, I)ut 'wqald not deny- what- th'i constable had said. Ho would not have .pro tnised to.use his influence. He was not in th habit of allowing CMstablea to 'speak to hit in that way. He might have been at fault i: allowing Constable Willett to.do.so. : ;. Mr. Bishop said he 'should not have a! ■lowed the constable, to ■ proceed with his , re 'quest v ...: ■ .:. '.' - . : ,,.•.■.'■•■ -•■ .■•■;.■■ - ; \ - ■ . Sub-Inspector Wright: Tho ; transfer was re commended by Inspector Ellison. Mr; Bishop: That is not .disputed. ::",'. , Sub-Inspector's Pay, ..,■"■. Sub-Inspector, Norwood complained, that : i sub-inspector's .pay.was less, than that of ' i chiefr,detective, .though tho. former was higher officer. '' .■■■.'■'. . ■ ' '.. To •. Sergeant Mathesoni--:Chargo-sheets -fron Wellington South had.been properly made ou since witness. ■cam.e,;to;Lambton.-Quay. ; ;.,