MR. DINNIE REPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 629, 5 October 1909, Page 8

MR. DINNIE REPLIES.

SwSvK D JSpipt;!NEi;OrTHE FORCE.! ///■ ■ i;fw '■'■. ' ■ ip:'^:vAftw;.an , :<adjonrnnient/.of.'a' : ,fp^i^^to' i'sil:':,■.■;.;able ;Commisiioiier ,Dmnio"ito .'prepare;' his evi-;-.cj>'.((lj'ic6 i ;; in -reply; to .iprevious.', witnesses, Mr.;.H. .again'sat i? ei/'tho',<pominionVMnseum', yesterday, and: re-

.'•' ; V l^Sii^'HiS?in4niriM^irito''-^e.iMaiitiJffl'''and r 'dis-'. ':■", . r^pline.(bf 'ihdi'-p'oiice' force:'..; '<■'.}'^ ■;:' •;';'.;!: j.. , : .Vv ;, 'MjV"C.;'P. : v appeared 'for.'■;Mr; .'f".", ■:lJmniei--it'.'lieing'.'' n^lidni^:: that -'.'th? -.'etiect ■■ of v'i '..his 'appearance Vas to'watch ■ the 'proceedings 1 -bbje(!i' ::v .titinable '.questions ;were put 'to • Mr. •'■ Dinniev in ; objection i; ; :uinignt':beieffectively,i : made.'"-.Theresas but-a :•; ifsnialliattoridance,:;/';*;;^:;:^../::.^; :, .' O/y : '■•?;■ " ; -."-':-'

"|iK>g?r^;MRi^mNNIE'SSTATEMENT. Z. ':., M '■ ; : ?>.: merit,^^ , ;m':which;ho.snbmitted..that..the'evidence' ;;:-i; tod/records showed': that', the ..force: .was highly. i>!;:.'.*ffioienVandwell > disciplined) and the,general ;£■■; ■' ; condnoti ; ;a)brietj i , : ;'and morality of the men were . t , '>'-.veo'''good.> ;; i'Spea)dng/with ; over i 36; years';'exn -vi.i.'penence'.of 1 police :forcesrof ■•Eurppe arid rtho , r'&s.tfnited;States,■■aa^well■• as' of ■ Australasia; J he i that; the .'New'-Zealarid police,,.taken; - ■ : ;i-' as-.'a : bbdy.icomparedmost favourably .with the ?f.':r.'police.forces.-of'other countries..,,- Every,allega- :■','■.: tibn' made., by /'Messrs* Arnold arid Taylpr --.was ■:•;,- either '.•grotesquely.:exaggeratedi er absolutely ,:-.' ; . ; :; ; baseless.w r 'f-. ':':■,■'■■ -. -.•/'■" '-.:' '':'\ '■''■'■. ■•■ ■■■' '■A:v-.l'':';-: !.v> ; ;^-:Mr. ; Arnold's;Cliarges;:;J. ■ : :; ; ■, .•';y.-;:i'Eeplying 'seriatim ,to'.:charges -made, by Mr.' ; \ / ''Arribld, : ; i .M.P., : . the said ■ the evidence ';',■■,'bad;'over"whelmingly-shown .that-inquiries into !::.■; .the character.'and>antecedents cf the raoii who ,'.?N' : had'joined 1 the'forCo...were;ncver.so:strict ariil •;svv-compljste. , 'as':-.'n6w,' : 'and-!!the'.pfficial'''.flles-'abun-. this.- No',dissatisfaction and "V-" ; .V-unrest' : whatsoever /general'.' : public.' ' '■>;■' hatt-been/ahown/by: the ,cvideiico- submitted to :■:.., the"-commission. "/If"thc ; :"rpyelntions"';rofef.'. to /: ..''ah assault caso-in which .'three members.'of tho :;i :fbrce c ycro!.concerned, ho.might say , ;.that the "' ■ offenders' wero' promptly dealt ,with' and dis■;,■;'missed: from-the 'service.: The/conduct of tho 'd:'. men'-'referred -to ,prior ,tq enrolment was very ■ ~ Batisfactoryi'- ; as : proved, by: ihe ..official, records .: i'v.ft-Bhowing', the' and result/pf the leshaus-/O-Hiv.V,inquiries ;made :in rcspeft,. to their; anter :?t- ;.cedehts^:'irh6.evidence also, clearly : showed that '3 'there.' was no dissatisfaction, ;in the ?;.v: 'fprce.'.'/In;every service..':there was ■ always a /,..,. certain /amount of discontent in respect to.,,prpr. Vl': motion,-whichi could:uot bp.ayoided,',if,the;in- ::■, terests'of , the public" service'was the solo'-co.hr ; ■: ; ■ - Bideratibn "of the, administratian. ■.-. If. there..was ■/'':an: , ;under-current, of.dissatisfaction,-it only, ox-. '"■-. : isted:aniongst a few' : "agitatpr3,"..whose iden-' '•'- : :'tit*::.was apparent frpm.'the evidence adduced, :■' "before,tKe,cqmpissiph.; : .Three'. ;meinbprs;pf,the :';/ force :were' concerned';in Van -assault; in ,i the / ' ; % istrepts ':of 'Referred.;:; to: i .'by.'.- Mr. ; /.'iAinoldl'; Strict 'inquiries were/- made "into :tneir :v'i;'ar.tecederit3- prior, .to theify,admission.,to./.the' ■-.■.-force.-and their Characters .up,to that time twere 'rP' : ' ehown'f tp'-.be -most-satisfactory.'': After- the -of- '•''■ /fence, the'icbnftables concerned were 'promptly ://-dismissed-'-'/MrfArncld :said: "A.man leaves '^ : :Great Britain, arid.he has with tam.his wifes '' .''•'■'!■ sister. He comes :into this 1 country, and within ';!"'■'. :e'very"few-weeks ■h'e'-is'J'engaEied in ,the police '~''; force.--'-In ■reply,". , .witness :said' the.Vmon /was ; ; '■ Zealandiin' \:V;> vice before' , he. joiried.-the'fprte.sHo': had. been' iii'the-Government railway service.;of; * J '■■ Cape Cdlony, .and also irithe'pobce force there , . W'/ -His parchment-certiflcates;were marked,'-'char-; '-:,>''acteV-.very -gpbd.'' ,'There'was -no: -reasbri; to'.'M-. ;:-M,<:iieve-that-the'/woman .and-two. ,, children-in'his ■■■Vvvhbusehbld/werecpther'than his'pwu-; wife and */•,'. childreri.-./When iftfprmatipn'■ reached:•'■ the' De,■"'■■partmerit-« i 'this.'mari's limmoral-conduct.fhis ■ '-■'■'' 6drvices:were; promptly dispensed with. In re- '■■;■' Bard'ito' : ari'bther,; and somewhat;,similar -.case, '■t'. '-.''wittiessVsaid■itw'asriifter/'.the,'man left theiforce. •" '■- ahu/'tfie-'PominipnTthafc/ibiprmatipn , - was ; re-;. ■ /^"vceivcdvbj" , the ..police/'that V "married '.'wdman;: t '''^- tn ' : V'' , ' ;? i'^^''-^ a^' ll i?' l ? n^!(!l ' n '? &■>■ immoral/ conduct' orin his 'part .whilo .-ho/'wa's, in : -■":"■'■ tHfii'servjceJi','-Another nonstable wh.P' had; previ-; : ": ' ;i busly: .was-en-. •'■ '-'■ rollcd/nn iprobation/ pending inquiries ( in .bcot- ■.; laid,*--his ■ discharge /being marked.;.;.;cpnduct. >'-• : -(;obd."' : Jiiom ;the' result of .the; inquiries vit' ■■?v^.tt'aMpited:\tha^he>hadV:ser>eia'V'eho ■$. :■' : in' the"olasgow.! police: f crce,and.had Jpen <d;s- ■'/ missed-'for.'Wtaiauct: .When-.tbis. J waß*diej "■'■'."•;covered- , -ho was r promptly dismissedi/jand^ WS> had.withheld ;:■;:'!-their jknowledge of dispensed |:w;./:-..',,-v'/^:.Af'"Ay'NptbribuS-C'rlmiiiaK^';-S; : / ; ' '»■;■;.•■ ' f '£\- : SMrV:irnpld'had i: saidV;"A : notorious/crimirial '"i-'came to'.New' Zealand. ... Communications had / ■•: ■■ been' received by Vthe" Police, .Department here, . "/; together/with theVman's . photograph,: and also W his finger-printo. But ,onp'. day, in ".the upper '? '-. office'.of./-.the ;,barracks,j:in . Wellingbn,- /when : '■" Boine /officers ; were , lopking,:'at the phptograph, ? / r ''of. , this'criminal,/they recognised 4he, constable ■/ /i ; dbirig duty opposite the' barracks, ,'andj wearing. v". itlie-'lvinifc"'uniform(,'ns •;th.e.;'man:- i , required. ,-,, '"■'.& Tho'; files I shbwed.ttbat ; ;,this- -mari',:applied : .-.-f or, *;''enrolment .in':Ma'rch, .1908.' !At J thatctime.;the; ■' .': Department was /'particularly ; short of candi : '■:"'• - - dates," , arid ' it/became inecessary \ to. select', a few jZ-'/who-had hbt-bberi,placed oni ; thb.list-owing ; to; :■ *"■':. the '■'inquiry : irito , Hheir' v antecndents 'not'-'having" •'•' / rhneri/completed, but jrhb cprild bo got at once: ■'' ' This 'candidate came" with the ..best .of recom-•'.'.::meridatioris.-V, He : 'and. two. others•'■'who .wore ''- :"■; in Wellington'-at', the. tiine/were :medically'-:ex-'and:..sent/.tp :the:depot v ; v on ■•prbbattori,/• boing- told - that!'.-inquiries'.-would ■V'V-be ; made as ;tq:jtheir. : .'antecedents3 '■: •-ithoy'-'turn . but ,'Unsatisfactbry' they,- .would be ■ : ''"dißcharged; ; A: written : : .:->to':!the , ,Now ;,South'''Walesa-police";asking.-for ■'■'-■;■-■ a-report'as to"his ; char'acter. , ''.*:No'reply : having :'.' - before the'/batch, '.was Bworn '.in,. '■'■■,'■■'.■• he was aPPoi° teo V still "subject tothe i'nquiries J: ■"■-Ticking -satisfactory.;V.While,.in the ■ depot I ' hiff ' : ."■■ taken',' arid no.:similar finger-■■.-.■'•.'•'Sprints' 'cduld".b'e:;feund, ,; ,in.;V:the- Finger-print V ■ i'Bnreaii, .as':up/tb' that had not; been ■ Vv-recorded; there.' The. following'mbnth: his photo- ■'■;. J-Rra'ph was accidentally-noticed .in; a.'volume. of '.';:■■■# :New: ; :South';Wa!es;;:criminals, : >";lnquiries-.',were ■'*■: /■'made.'.'and'/itiwas ,'iiut \boypnd. .'.doubt.' that'he., '']■:,: had-;tj'ftn■:'.corivicted:,of' , 'fprgory. ; ; :in .■Australia; '>;.w.and/he-.was promptly di?charged./ The result :/'''• of inquiries from -li[ew- South , ; Wales 'did nbfc ;';: / cbine toShand until: after: his . hnd .'"•' been' recoprnised ■ here, ; and.', be.-, had , : been dis- : / '.'missed.'/' Through' sbrao reason. , - ;:' the.; letter ,t<> ithe.-Sydney'. police apjp'arently did ";: .not' reach".'ibvdestination in. due. course,; ether-. >;: : Lwisp'thp.'man:;would:haye'been discharged from :/:::;v:ithe''probatiori/c]ass,v'prior;.tb enrolment. / .'■. -/:;■:

$ r.Vju'.'reference/to the.etrWt'brawl, in'.; Welling. V' ''.ton, ■ reforred "tc.- , by Mr; .Arnold, there ujas ■'■'no ' '].' evidence;.forthcoming ■) to 'show. .that the .'con- .,- '••: Btable;;n)ontibned .urged.-the crowd on ,jn any. '.; '.-wiiy. to.assanlt the .arresting constables. As:it 1.,;. iKas'.'evidetit,''-however, 'that' -he ': seriously .;., ■;neglectcd.;:his;duty.;b,y. not rendering prompt ':'■■ ''. and-.active .assistance to quell the '•' v,'and ashis, previous .conduct 'had not- been' satis-Vy'-factory, .witness; dispensed': with - his : - services. /:pKThe: constable;who "was found-.drunk on beat -,-. in (this city, na&i entered the force with 'good '-.':-,. reports as tq: character.".'.'.On'June 16 'last, at ■ ; : 9.15.'p.m.-,'.his'serßeant-noticed -thatihe was ."'-.i-'eUghflykunder! ■they.inilu'ence'Vof ..liquor.- :■■ The '■■ V, , sergeant ?did,not notice', anything amiss.-with '.; .the; constable.when -'posted'on his. beat at 8.45 '.'.-. p.m. .'"As,.the;-.ccnstabU>- had : not been- giving . : ;'. ;.Batisfpction,' and;- was ■ adversely .reported on , , by his: superiors,■; he ;was at.onco ; dismissed.. ; . 'i .-■: :'■ '- :: :t :. ■in .the Barracks."; 1 .- ; ,/> -.-■: : ' :• ;'Mr. ! :Arnold's' -allegations '»- of' misconduct in ;.:...:.some; of tho :barracks, particularly at -Welling- .;. : ..ton,->ero- charac.terfsed:.br- Commissioner Din-;,;-nie as ,'fa gross exaggeration,'and a libel on-'a hard-working,: and fine body of .-..■'.men—puhlicuervahU 'of whom the.Dominion : . ••• may well.be prond/' .The only -"scenes," to - i use Mr. Arnold's word, which had occurred in ,'•',,. "the, Wellington barracks -.for years' -past were ;.. β-iiuarrqlibetween two'married.raen, who, were ■ i-.-Bot living.inithe barracks,'and who.had since ~:' left 'a ;.disturbance caused at ;. ■.;.,-, midnight by .two; single men,(one of - whom: had- -■:■:■ -since been:-dismissed),'-who were reprimanded ■;;.v for "their condnot.-' Otherwise/ the conduct of ■:-i ■■. '■ tho;.men in. the' barracks : had.been exemplary . v. ■•.There*-'wMS:-flotbing -iimiss--.with tho: sanitary ..■ : ;ctmditions.of,th6''Wellington-barracks; The -.-::'.- accommodation was certainly not so good as'-it .-• , ; might be,; but it was.intonded to erect'an addi- '.-.- tipn'-.tovthe,station.;; - : . V . i ; - ~'.;'.■..; ..

Mr. Arnold had said: "A member of the force requiring to go to Great Britain received sii months leave of absence on full pay." The official file and the evidence showed that this statement was absolutely without foundation. Ttfr. Arnold had further said in bis evidence nt Dunedm: "The belief now is that sii , months' leave was granted on full pay, but that in consequence of certain criticisms by a paper previous lo mv speech, and which I had not seen, the authority had.been altered.from eix montho , full pay to one month's full nay,' tho leave pf absence,baing still six-months" "I have declared on oath," said tho witness in reply, "and , now. repeat it, that the file produced beforo the dSmmission is the original one, and was novor altered. . As this is a matter thni touches my honour, I feel it necessary to add thw. The suggestion is an utterly unworths ono.; On my prodoeinj the original

'file*''"one "nainially"looked for a frank arid imaDly'admission' byMr; Arnold that 'he had Been .-misled, arid fpr an apolbgy -to me for the-iinjuiyne haddone." '..'■ , ;■ .' ;■ •'■■:•■■ • T : c ' Mi , . - T. E.-Taylor'j.Charge.' " .'■ '•.A■ statement by- Mr-• T" E:' Taylor, . M.P., ■■ in '.regard to" the conduct of a certain police officer, was repudiated by witness as a brnel re-flection-on: a man who Iβ doing' 6pleridid work in Atfckknd. ; Hβ had been well reported on.by all his.superior'officers, arid Mr. C..C. Kettle, S-M.,. bore high testimony'to his character. Mr?- Taylor has : riot appeared before' the: commission to'substantiate tho.charge he made in the, House, although ~he had indirectly.■"inter.vpnijd by supplying .information to the commission, in. respect to Ithe "'conduct. .of certain constables. ' The-statements madrfby Mr. Tay-lor-in regard,to witness assumed some importance when made in the House; but public men occupying',important positions, had-before now •had experience of tho reckless'nature of Mr. Taylor's statements. ' ■'■ /,' '

' ■'.'..!".' .■;'; ; ; '>; ■■'■ Pollticil I nfluejiee. ':' ; ; ;• ■ The" efficiency, • conduct,-:eobriety, arid morality of i the .members of the service .as a .whole •had been Very' "satisfactory, and -compared most favourably with■ the. efficiency.and conduct of other .police.: forces..'' Influence, political and otherwise, was : frequently .sought by • members of the service, and the mere fact that.'membere of Parliament and-influential .persons apparently did 1 not;discourage members',-of .the .force from-seeking 'influence,".had a". bad /effect, on .discipline. , . It was clear "that many', members of the service believed that influence obtained i u the' Department, and this' fact : alone. caused dis'satisfaction; and.it was difficult to convince .them otherwise.' Witness emphatically declared .that in no case did ,he know that influence; had obtained or had aneffeot in-either appointments to the police service, transfers, advancement- of or promotion.: The fact that influence had been successfully resisted had no doubt those few dissatisfied members of the service,' or "agitators,", and caused them to. seek other ■means of ventilating their grievances. ''.'. ■■:■■':' . ./ V■ , -' ;_' , ;The Alleged..." Useful 'Man." ';

In his evidence at Dunedin, the district inspector .said , there, was a general iinpression amongst,!members of. the force that the com-missioner-had;" a usefubinan " posted in:each district,., chief function 'was .to convey to 'the' commissioner'.special information'■'. in regard to the actions- of members of the force. The most searching ' inquiry,, made' in every district in which the commission sat failed to discover this imaginary . individual—" a use'-, ful man." ;'This is au instance in which the reckless and ill-considered • statement : of one man might cause much unnecessary, trouble. The. matter was unworthy/ of any further at■tontioniV Mr.: C. H.'Poole, ;M.P.j had .stated that a sergeant at Waihihad been transferred ,to Auckland at the instance 'of the late Premier in.; IPOSj '■ because .-.he,:, prosecuted • a certain hotel-keeper. Witness , handed in a report on that subject from which, he claimed, it was evident that no grounds whatever existed for Mr. Poolels;assertion. :; ' ".: ' -"'■•■ ■'•

.•'-,. '.■■' /v.-f' .Headquarters Staff. ■!.-.":',... , ■■ '..The suggestipri'that the,clerical.staff at.headquarters should, be civilians cpu'ld: not have iemanate'd from anyone of experience or knowlodge of/the pesitipn. Thj questipri bf the chief clerk signing routine 'documents on: behalf of the'.commissioner 'in his--absence;' had' been .raised., ; Chiefi. clerks'in all ■ Departments had i to;'act iri a similar-capacity in the absence of'the head of their Department. No pbjectien. had- ever been: taken in respect to documents ■9o v eigned;by the ..present chief clerk, and witness had always found that the ..files had received careful -and proper attention. The . chief clerk. had carefully observed the line ■to be' drawn .in/ respect ~to documents -arid' cases which 'shpuld be personally' dealt with by .the commissioner. :When.:the chiefs clerk, was,, a' 'civilian, cprnplainfe-were received-in respect/to .minutes.ho pla'ced'on .the , files, and -.the district' ■inspectors, did: not consider a -civil;- servant.' capable; of minuting. correspondence to: them, ;on, police matters. , • Witness suggested that the inspector at. Auckland, in disparagingly referring tp/tho headquarters-staff, allowed'his 'personal 'anitrfus to-overcome his better judcmerit.. His relations with the chief magistrate, i'an'd' police'.'siirgobn'Of his district' tended to ,confirm'-this view.; ■'.: '•-... .' . ' : : r /■;'

.'; ; , ; J ■^, ; .;,v;;,/Two-Mr. .Wrights.. \//v'? y-_ '-■■;■ h'."lt' has ; . been ..suggested,";:: continned : the commissioner, "that my.chief clerk , :uses undtfo. influence; with-me. in dealing with;,-police matters generally.., I'• simply.' reply ; that? there, is-not an atom..pf .truth'.in. the iuggostien, but '■I am not' af'Kll 'surprised' 'at■ this Or. any other (suggestion emanating from'the source, this did; S'-'Mesire to point out-that although the member ■ for Wellington South (Mr.'-'.Wright) attended the', commission and displayed'.a.'marked' hps-, -tility'tb myself 'Personally and; ; te the, .pplice /force generally, the. .'result' -of' the - inquiries which emanated from 'him has only demonstrated; that; he has. throughout acted .upbn baselessr;arid'-unreliable infprmatipn." . '■- ■■...■. : '

,■•;'", SQUESTIONS BY- MR.i BJSHOP; •' Mr! , Bishop asked tha'witness what nVwished to':be inferred, from his references-to Inspector -.Cullenf'-'df''Auckland."'•;'•" ' ■"■■■'." ■'r , '. ■■,*:'.-: ,

;,.;^r.'Dinnib: ,-If/.he. once.takes_ a'.dislike..to-a i man, , he harbours .a'feeling against.him.' : . '..'iMriVißishiipiVDOTyou , meaH;thal he'is vin-- : dictive?— to, a.certain- extent.- , -, .',:"■. " ■ Would that not/make', him-less fitted to have ,charge?ofJ.a.Jarge..district as.an inspector, of ■police?. \Vns it-.not/your duty to see .that,such a man ivai.'ipt oißcer; jri■ charge of such a district ?-jlri most respects Mr. Cnllen is an'eir cellent/officer, but he has. that: failing. . ' , ./l'he.practical effect -is'.,that.;he is--unreliable 'and actuated ■by rh'alico?—To'-ai -. degTee. that 'is 'soy-.:;,;■'■■.■-■• ,;.■■ ; .■■■■■;>'-.- ■ ■::-"'■;. '■■ '-v .■-.-. :VTheri' I should: question: his litness^for his' position?—lt'does not jaifect. discipline.. ... .;. : -If he, is/unreliable in. his reflections on the headquarters: staff, he'.maj- be . much -more so' .inhisiecommendations'for promotion?7-Lhav'e that' his- recommendations ;-,are.'most..carefully made, and the men ho has placed in •'charge 'of Stations, have'done well." '\'; '~ ■ r ; must.be -a -'mahyi-sided manpTrAllof iis "have our > little failings.,' . . i:.'.\. : " /.. ,' :I, shotilcT call that :a- big one. '..:' .' /•■ ,- N ", •U ■ C'S.' Minister arid Promotions. ■'.', '. In.'reply !to furthor'questions, Mr.'Dinnie said the list left.by his predecessor had been 'of-the.greatest assistance to.him, and most : ofithe men-.-recommended'therein-had turned but 1 well.: The' commissionershould.have, power to.make.promotions without referring the mat-' jter'to the Minister. His recommendations:had hot been, set aside, and he 'was responsible, for ;tho latent promotions,.'including, that'of Sub-Inspector.-m'Grath and- the recently-appointed inspectors.. '.The question 'of.; seniority.lbetween : Sub-Inspectors M'Qrath' and Hehdry wo'uld.be ■ set, right, ;; Since' : th'e amalgamation '/of : the Police, and Justice -Bepartments,: 1 his' reco'm-, niehdations to the 'Minister'had ,t6' go'.'through the .Under-Secretary ;for. Justice.'•' This.caused ■serious delay, and: he had protested against it.s

:'-. -'-■'..,- ■'--'.'. ; .Licensing Law.:'.:. ■''■■' ■'.'■•.■'■ ■ Mr.' B<A.! Wright,' .M._P., : , questioned'ihe witness as to the t sale of liquor by five-hotels at Nt-wtown during , a period -when- they held ■' no licenses. •■■ ' •-. '; -. ■ .. ' : : ; : - ■-r: ; :.■■■;\^-;r l;Witness -replied that, he had- had reason 'to'believe that the hotels.inrquestibn were.-selling liquor without' licenses, '■ arid he '■ would''■ hf.ve takon action if he could have done so.; :■ i ; '-..'.■■ : - Mr. Bishop: Evidently he was. prohibitedi'by, his political 'head. That was a matter of; policy, of course. It is a question .whether Mr, Dinnie would feeljustified in. over-riding the instructions, of his political head! If he, did, he would have to pack, up, I should think/.. Witness": I : should imagine so. ;,, < -'■■■■:■■■ '. Mr. Skerrett, feyer'ting to this .matter, a little, later, elicited' the explanation that an appeal ; tb tho Privy Council was pending at the time: re--ferred:to, and that,'as. a'result of: the appeal, tbo licenses wereVgranted...-• >• ■'■-.'!::■ :, v- ; ' ■ •":'■"■ •Jn further reply;to Mi l.'.Wright,s,orossrexamination; witness; said he/conßioered-it.his to ■ transfer Sergeant; Matheson from Inyercargill to Wellington-in order to put a stop to-a conspiracy at the' former'place. , - ■: ti-'';:',•' .".'. Mr. Wright: Is there,not a rule-that a con,-: stable •is not', sent to a district where., he, has frjends in the liquor hade?—There;is".a.rule noS to send a constable!-to a district >where.he.' has relatives. -I 'don'tthiuk. the liquor trade ! is.mentioned in .the regulation's.';.'•' ■'■ i '. , . 1 ,-".' , -/■:-':\.: : '. .' '- I '-:'''"-';: ■Mr. Wright alsbjput one, or 'two. questions, regarding -the binployment .of; police- officers/in-, stead of-'• civilians .'ohi.-the. .headquarters'.--. office staff,: but, Mr.; Bishop .interpSscd'::"lt'is,q'uito' unnecessary for'you' to'go'iritb'that. ■ I , am>go-. im? to refer ,tov it ; - in -.my report,' and'-'l^shall' ■ take quite a diSoient-'line-.from'thatitaken'by Mr; Dinnie." ■;* 'i : '-:';'■'■. ■ ' '--' : ",''■ ' ":'"■'■■.■■.' '.--; .'■'.-Mti Wright ftlso'asked whether.; Detective Cassolls had had'fair.treatment->in regard;to; his application for- special, recognition; of tain valuable services;'-' 1 '■ ■'•'"<■'';'■■ ■ ■'■ ! -'' . .-• Witness: The .files .can'be'produced.', '■ ■■■■'. ''.'- ■■Mr. Bishop, said '.he had, gone[through the flies. The matter;could;not be gone'into "at'the present stage. '■;■ •'.'-. " '.--.. ~-■:,■.-.■'::".i In reply to Mr.. Skerrett, 'witness 6aid Inspector Cuflen wasone of.the.most.able in'epectbrs id'the force, but'iu:-exprcssing his views in i regard to the headq,uarters>t«ff he had'allowed,' •soniej animositj' 'againsKtho ;chief;clerk to;affect' hie" judgment. '•& ■:■•■•'■ ; j" ; :-' •■■'-...■,,> : ■'.'■. '■■ : )- : : Mri Bishop: If'Mr.'Dinnib; had stopped at" that J. should' have said nothing.' :\lt was 'hiSj reference to a'.magistrate.■and another ofßcM ;that caused me to refer to the matter. ' :

Mr.' Bishop then announced that the inquiry TT&s dosed. . His report is'to be presented to the Governor on or before October SL. ■>■ "'■-■