THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 616, 20 September 1909, Page 8

THE POLICE FORCE.

0 x INSPECTOR ELLISON'S EVIDENCE. ' , v LICENSING AND PERSONAL QUESTIONS. ADJOURNMENT FOR ME. DINKIER REPLY. Mr. Hi W. Bishop, S.M., Royal Commissioner, heard further endpneo on the condition of the pohco forco on Saturday morning, i Constable Michael Gr,een denied a suggestion that he had been responsible for taking letters to the late Inspector Macdonoll for publication in tho press. He olso domed responsi--bility for letters to the press, nod giving m- , formation to' reporters. \ Mr" Dinme said one of the men who was «aid to have gone to Sub-Inspector Wright ; aDout promotion had wired to him that,the allegation was, false. Should ho (asked Mr. Dmrne) call -these men? Mr. Bishop said Mr. Dinnio could mention the matter in tho courro of his own evidence. Sergeant Doit, referring to the evidence of Chiof-Detecbvo Broborg, domed that hov wns seeking to use his position at the training depot as a short-cut to promotion. In thi« connection he deprecated tho chief detective's tactics of "besmirching an opponent." -fiV: ;- ; Vf J.'o-v-"vi-'/ p f sagreijabla. s Duties. . ■■'', .■■/• '';'"■ , ? 5; ; .^nspMlor^EUison" said /he /was/.enrolled 'in ' .'.;;-;vv>.; : H72.s.ena ,; :appointedl.'inspector in L 1899. /The ;y,V;? condition of the force'. had been 'greatly'im-'■'ii-'-iri'-Etpved ';sinceTlß9B, ! '.but. /he; did not think it >;!'!/V: could; bp;\made: attractive' to young'.men -of ;:(^viv;■abmfy/7■ , ■βnβrCT;/;■md■■•/^^catioll:■.■'■•'Aln , 'bn^•■ :; ;thβ mentioned ■■'•' the :/ .-.■/. unpleasant 'nature 'of. many .'of the policeman's the. of dead: bodies; ■:;; : ;-;;;and';of:dirty;.and,;.dißeased/, persons.. :'Many ;^?vvwere:::yery:negngent,;in; : of sly s ; .:;; ; .,grog-selhng.r'TheyVscemcd "to rthink, that 'the should/dctect: all'the;sly. grog-sellers in J i co ™ff^--Py : 'uisjinctj:.-; , A3-..a'matter-of'.faot,-;yery, : dimcupto -get. the/Widenco : of ';.'< v "" ac W.sale,'which was ..required- in sly-grog ,;and;.itvcould: hardly ;be 'done .without : yo,.j.actions which/would, :in ; any other: connection, described asjiiiean::; It': was almost necessary *■■'■: ■ Q tp.toll .untruths -in; such, matters.- A- supposed sometimes ask:"Are you , &'. ;;i --S t^^ tra ! ?^,^ d r !Ar^t > u " c onnected: -P', , slf r the.:, constable .gave a $■ :"feS l 'W* ! i ; * ll !?;> l i!«! ■■■•w6uld.Vbe.:defeated. J---■!-v;:-V-'.^S™^''aa; at:present-a;flno- ! lot-.'of--'iaen'at'-tlie ,, stetions/.bn^ther^were , a few ■%-XX™. ■.eonld.-.be.:.well- i donewithout.-:.There were : i': ' .^raanmecrmts^i.street ;duty. in the city;' :" ;: .'V: : '3M"\^l^:f w <>: ; years,-for-:a ; 'nian'td , --become: ?; , r : V;;A; r rise- :o f,paf ,of;6d,:a ..;,;-^^day,jand strengthening, of.■'the jprovident fund "■ ,:,, : ;SvXere;,desirable.: to S'---.'-.vfe e *.'-; c ,s™Petent;.men. for;the,clerical work;-• in-'-regard ■tovEdnoation Department 'work/ witness j.:wc^i??ste<l;™: : in:each(centre . a : : man-6f; tact JiK v; : , a S d , abl 'ity'.and 'asgppd-.writer'■ should be,told ;.-:--: : 'v"?"---V > -«i%*,solely: : to..:indnstrial-:'soho6l--,Trork:' :i':S ' l e :! : .coUection/ of ■:fees;and inquiries '-asVtb ;re- : V■: ., i atl , T .«s of- children, proposed jto be committed : ;:/■■■ ■f/:,-'-.to i ;the.schools.. V\;r ■'.■, ;..v.:,j: ■.■'■?..:■; ;.'. ■.-■■ ■:;/■'.■■ . W^ : -, v ii y : ';\ to /His. Critfcs'' i].'.". \ ,ft , ; Constable'. Taylor's: evidence; regarded that"constable', as■; a : ,;■;,;,: monkey,on.-a f letiok ; rthe string'was'.pnll«d..by ;Ui',.i fW^l?■■«l»<'.--Heidid,no(;•. know., why -don-- ;■;.:;■•:. stable ; Matheson/"was; transferred'i-to :Welling-,;,•::--,ton,::-ana;:had: no .cqmmuuination , about ■ hinv notifica-- .■ -J'A-™" He had never,tfied'ito harass :-■■ V; : ; ™ atl ;es o n: m:-any .'.way. ■ Matheson, sent!' one' or:*;;';i ttwo Jong, reports; written;iniaistraggling; hand .;■-,->;.,'.; and;diflicnlt: to-deoipher,': and' witness'had -to; ,;-;.:-. send ,up'to': the' :•:-:;;., standard'he of: sergeants' in':charge y'''-vA°^'^ t . a P^V ; -' Ua^^n V.'*Ppeared-.t6'.-expect : 't£e ■;:; ; i ;his vresponsibilif.:,..,.hes.; v Herhad.'known Matheson 1 years-ago' as, [";: the reputation : of "a : -mischief-inaker' :? , .f , .'; ..of w,ho:, was always' running ' after :-S S .who -were supposed,' to ; have ''influence' ■■'V :;; v 'ty'Wtt?*'ri;'; wao , had /alleged discourtesy "against '..witness, r.;.....:-flad demanded'.attention , to'.his request on' the i:i'^::'-^W t ofJ)Mng-'.a'-Preem'aMh;Vand:.:witnessiie.: ■'>-,:, plied that ihat ; would.make.n&.difference; he .•i;;; r wonld'.do'.;his duty.'.:."Witness:detailed tho cir,.p.i".!oumstances,':and.rel,ated;'M'atson's .visit, to'him ■ V?' ••'•'■■■ : i as^-?!Ss? a '.f ni ß n '."when . Watson , threatened. ■''■-'" sett's, him, make -him'"sit up,".etc.; and "k--?-'*aw ;,he. thbugjit ] .he; : w.ould' go>,beforeti the. com-: ;~?.i\". ;niissjqn." very- muchiMoitedViand! ■ ysciuldnot.control himself. .V.;.;: ; . ■ . ' ?v To 'Mr. Bishop:, He. .hail mentioned to. the' ~-;>: one of'the,lien' , ;,;,.>.; ; whom he *ad: said 'the .force; would'. be "better ■■:'.: 'r.vHe'.vconld ': -not -: formulate ''v'arty 1 .... -~:.!; charge.. against; ; thejn.'' ■ If' he' obiild; ; he ; wonld -^U.jnotuhesitate'.tp r dp 50...::, There• were'very.-• fevr ■'■:&. 'J"!' tn em.vln makirig.inquiries■as\inspector; -he ;?-,n ". thought 'he.should ■have , ' , power ! to.:administer ■?? l" , -' ™ had never;known'of drinking at fti;.v:)tne station, had 'never had to''search for #>■'•' liquor in./the''barracks.'';lnspectorvCullen's'al-;':?-:V,^P"on'.in .this connection , had 'surprised: him., i'-' : ';K'.-rhere..was a rieedless'.ampunt'of oramming'-of the depot.'. More practical''.trainin'g. was ■; : 3, ; .:,needed,'. and'there .shonld be physioal drill. Ho' :.-;r.; v ;.,favoured .the suggestion oftraining'in iheuse /'r : jof.the.rifle.%;;'ft.-!.^';:>:..;;i./.',;.:;i, ; ;, :. ;.•■../,.-.,', ' :'. : W/'"a d ;;goodi;clauns'^^^ AV.'.i .'f° me ;roason ; ,been .passed : over, and 'were■ now :; What' should ' ::-/■ ':;::■ ■.:■ -■■- .■•!. .\. i. ■->".,:;■.:;Witness said', he;would promote"-.fhem.;' .-.'' ■"' ' '■y'v^fiMr; ;JBishop said the question; ! of.'• efficiency. i'-Y-■< considered.;: Could, tKey not,'bo 'made V.-PJ& ' eort.-jot senior. constable,.with.a chevron per-fl.\/'-V'l^ps?;;,:V'. V.S■.■■.'.;:' J,' ■'•'.■'';,' ; ..;....'i•..-./■..■'•v;,;.• ..-..','. ..-;'/ • i ; ]-: ; "feF i tn«Svdid,,not :fay9ur"' ''Men^of' &■'■■:/-"'W? cla ? s refencdi'to were^better-qualified :for .: !: i '■,-. "Prombtion.v.than., some ,whb shad, been "promoted, 'flvrijapers.: were :relating':to'; the :prpmp-.- ' .'■if..', tibn'of. Constable to be;sergeant" ■■ ;■;;'",the recommendation of witness,' j thbngh- he had ■/::.., : not .been ,recommended*-by Inspector; Cullen,' , ■ ■J: •'viiwhcee'.district, he Shad left.' shortly". before,- af- : :;;..':.»*.several.years' service there., .Witness/had' ; ..'S.'i.je^imniended,Hodsonv:bn.his.merits. :':Men:had- ' Inspector. Cullen's'. district" v;.i;;,!Whom witness./^buldinot : have;recommended. V ;

%'**};:-['<■ :_ .Witness;had,-heard no complaints : about tie ;.;■:.; , : >v Jhead .-Office , staff ;',until -ithe .commission. •Hβ thought'the, clerks should'; not■-, mik/with , the t, '. ..' ■v:coiistables' in thebarracks.:/-; There ,werei ad- ;,-■ w ".' ':..:■ - /Vantages in the■ office ;staff'being members of 'i '■'' "■ XQ\- the; force,; and •.'■he', knew of; no disadvantages; 5;;.,;, Vμ, L except, that:; it \ seemed to -be a cause'■ of .jeal-■' :^;'r'v;p u sy."/rHe;had:played.billiards at.the barracks *;.'-.v'.Wi-':.-.4;'-»w.'.tini€s,-. chiefly.- to see how' the men be- ; i;,-''i'.:(: had played with the chief. detec- : t'.'i ':';. ,«yej-,.with'a -magistrate,-'and/, with one l of ..the Eg^x'.:-clerks of /.the vconimissioher's. office: . "iRe once; \\f.>iQ-4 went, to ■ the bilHard-room..'on account.of- hear-fji:ci:}-.V *&g : .a noise.:., IHe found ' : two men had been .them,.. Better. k:;. ;.-.:| : a accommodation 'jyraa~y urgently:' headed .at the ':i- : 'v,'»v:Dan , acks.;/N ! <":;-Uv-V , -- ■:;'-• -.:..•'", ■•>;' ■ '.' -.--.■. ■;. ■' --, £'~l!- - I^;v';;'i*i>.vMr., ;.''pinnie: , .'.TheV.i; had .'■ often • discussed Sfi :; &'-:b/\tne: : question' of.';inoreased; -accommodation to-' fv.-.tji.-feigetner. , -;. The': Department . had , lately built. fc'-V! : ?':-- : .: ■ the .training -depot.* --V. He ■ recommended ;the E-V';;;'':/.transfer of. : . Constable ,WiHett3 to Wellington !;•;'{/?.;■. South;vwithout. haying, received, any communi-• ir'?':'- : ./:'-:s'.V'cation 'from, the head; office about the matter. -To: 1 Serg«nnt Dart:-CWitnessdidlriot consider. ( ; ?i : tj ■> '""t: .the:questione> had..p'fbiririted or "coached" f.'iV'fl /.Constable Taylor, in regard; to his .allegations ib'i P'ii^Wfre^therCpmiiiissipn.;,-';;. -^V'-,-','■%' ; ■.;•"■";', :■ !S?j:';;.-'.^Mry:Wright,*' M.P., and '. Licensing::lKJatiers.-.-' $-[■?}:■:''■ uMrJWright, .il;P., ; 'referred : ,to'the'inspector'B fii.';;/>,•':'.-.remarks' on'.getting..evidence in sly-grog , cases, questions relating, to,five jhotels :at t..' ■/;::,,' -Newtbwn'selling liquorwithout 'a license in. fe* yi,«;jm^::S- : : : ~y::' \ 'H ■!;'.. ,:'\ >:'.' '' ■'•> t.': '.-I fi''.':. ; '- evi-,. riy- ;i;\!. idence/.buti.wasjnstruoted hot, to proceed. ;An |>:' : prV appeal" case 'was -then spending. Hβ -was , not for not' prosccntingS. -: ! ', ;^: '■'. '-' .•;'■'•-.' •: • lir;:Wright. also asked questions' concerning l p , :-.", -allegations^'of drunkenness on the part.of cer-. ffi'.fi- .^vtainjconstable?; '?(Names' werp'not':menlioned.) !/,:.: ■ r .;i \ Witness 'described the inquiries/made, which fc' !f '«'/C had;not'resvlted:in any :i)roof.;.:: ':?;;/"' :. yi',;: -M '■': '-Mr. ; ,Wright. also referred" to the robbery at ?J.,-'. ;r irV'": the Cartcrtori.Railway'Station, and. said tnere R;;'■;:'■," was a~rumour that; suspicion had fallen upon : o. u-m.; : eomeone;irho'was- related".;to :a highly-placed i;,;;::; V; :poHoe, officer...He.asked that: the papers ro- ; : W.,'■'■:;-'■'■::'. lating\ to 'thei occurrence bo produced to.. Mr.' &: ,-■;'Bishopl^^-"V;■'■••■■'• y ; .V:i<:?v.;.-..\'!;'- : '.,'v.:;'\-_-,: ; ; ; ' ■.''•'• [vV:-' -r; ; . : Hr. .Bishop-gave-instructions accordingly.. l; f - : ../'■.:You' know tnat 'nearly - nil the hotels /are' V- '■''■'>':':< '■■: owned - by'.orioV firm?—l believe 'Several are %'-.'■:;';£.; owned: by:,one 'firm.' .'.'■';'.-. /'■■:■':. :' v. ; ,?. ; .| ;:;: : >. : :-;*V"Where does your son work?— One of. my sone f: '■':": '■'•'■■■:.' : 'j works for Staples and Company, ! and he earns, v:'. v- , :.'his money, honestly. ;'This.may be,'what you. \'" : ./.-¥:■.' are • getting'- at, and I' know; who prompted i:'. : . : you. .Only a , gross-mind could suggest any- ; y ■-,■■;•. thing wrong. Vlly.'son. has no fancy .billet. te'^ , ' H. ;; "A DreadfupThinD." ■/.'■•; ■: : ■'.. i.':\; ' : , . -Sergeant- , Mathcson'asked-some questions rei-:■ : i': •■■'(lating to Inspector Ellison's comments- on the %'■:',■■■-■■ '.questioner's.career, 1 and v the rolationa between 'them," but without eliciting- anything material. S-tf.';\,-.' Sergeant;Matheson:'And would your career P,; ?::- ; sstand ;so much-.inquiry? ; :■'-,. : ■■ ;.,''",.■.."-, : ' :-,. £ ■ ■'-;-',;■'" '.:,■ Mr.- Bishop•; It;is.■ absolutely.; improper and f• : .'V-.--:■'■. :Bubversiye of discipline for'. a sergeant to. talk '•■''to^his:.inspector ,hko. that.. If your position I- "-?'■•'■.' in the'force -doesn'ti'Batisfyi.youj' don't :stay •V ; ; v in it j hut don't vstand. -there and ■ get .such /an K:--v .example-to the "constables who are. here. It ia &&. : :>,dieadfnl thing,:.to ! my mind.'-■,: :.. -:. ; . ,

.Subsequently, Sergeant Matbeson, referring I to suggestions by Inspector Ellison, , raiid ho had not prompted "Constable Taylor or ' Mr. .Wright'.in regard to their evidence.

';■:■• , .;,.. Question of 'Adjournment. ' ,: .', Mr. , Bishori'.' remarked' that'' the ' only other witness to be called was Commissioner Dinnie. '■'•■. ',•,'..:■ ..'-■... ;,,. . : . •. ,/, , : ..■Mγ. Dinnie said he did not intend to call any witnesses to speak to the efficiency of the force, although many :.hnd written to him offering' to give evidence. He w'oidd not say he 1 had had "thousands of letters," like Mr. Arnold, but he had received a good~many, and ■he: thaoked tbein for-thair. offers. Ho asked for an adjournment of a fortnight from Monday, (to-day).: He had his own work to do besides preparing' his statemont for the commission, and he did not know, when tho report of the proceedings to date would be available for reference. ; <"'--.. .'■ ■ '•'" : '- .. Mr. Bishop, after consulting Mr. Gray .(secretary to, tho commission), said Mr. Dinnio conld expect to, have a copy. of. the complete official report in. his hands next .Wednesday night. He pointed out, however, that he was not in , a'position" at the moment to consent to sp ; long" an : adjonrnment as Mr.'Dinnie: desired, because the cemmission expired on Sbd■tember'3C. ;.',.- ,-. ;■ : .•■. ■.-■■..' ~-;':"

-Mr. Dinnie said ■he understood from Mr. Waldegrave (Under-Secretary for Justice) : that the commission would be extended to, October 30..'., "-■'.'•.■.-.-' . . ' .- .■. ,

s Mr. ;■ Bishop stated that he had been asked by Mr. Waldegrave how mnch time he would' ie.quiro,: and had replied that that would depend upon how much time Mr. Dinilie wanted. The position at present was that the commission in his hands-was dated to' expire on Sep; tember 30. V ' •', '■.'.-■■■• .■■"■ : . ■ ,

In reply to-Mr. Bishop, Mr. Dmnia said he intended. to;put his statement into . llri Bishop: Then we can deal with it easily in a day, tut It is a case of waiting a'fortniffht.'for.thatjlay... ', ■■-.■ / . ■; .■ .Finally; VMr.'-Bishop "said he would .consider ■the position, consnlt the Minister, and advise •Sir. Dinnie of the-'date of.resumption • •