THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 660, 10 November 1909, Page 8

THE POLICE FORCE.

COMPLAINTS REGARDING BLENHWU

KEPOKT BY MR h'w BISHOP, Ssl! In his report on tho Police Commission, Sir H W Bishop, S M .refers as follows to a state of affairs at Blenheim which ho ( urges should bo remedied as soon as possible — "My attention has bocn di?awn to a condition of pohco matters at Blenheim that calls for prompt action. I have perused the file dealing with complaints mado as to police adminis tration in that town, and I am convinced that steps shonld at onco bo talcou to put matters on a more satisfactory footing. Tho file dates back to December, 1906, lvhon the commissioner addressed a memorandum to Inspector Ellison stating that ho had reliable information as to Snndaj trading, and that it was 'useless com plaining to local police, who do not endeavour to trap tho offenders I am not at all satisfied that the <-ergoant major is sufficiently strong in this direction' (preventing Sundav trading) And then, on January 26, 1907, thero is tho following minute on a report by Inspector LUison severely criticising the sci geant major 'Inspector Lllison,—l quite concur that the sergeant major has not been paying proper attention to licensed houses in his district, and I am considering the necessity Kir his transfer—W Dinnie, Commissioner' And so the condition of •thing*, judging by tho nlo, continues to steadily deteriorate, and no atrempt at effecting anj improvement in tho only possxHe apparent way is made Complsmt aftei complfint is received, and prompt atttiition is promised Owing to a peat scandal that was caused by the death of a man who was burned in a cottage while drunk, Inspector Ellison, on October 17, 1907, addressed a further memorandum to tho commissioner, dealing with the whole position of police matters , at Bleu heim, and expressing strong opinions as to t'lo groat laxity shown On this-•ithe;;,-commissioner ■■■■writes/ a.;: very ilong minute; , .-yl:, ,':need,: .only,/-quotp", portions of- it:l'The ' ; only>reraedy,'in respect .of ithe' present, stato 'of matters;at,.Blenheim:n*Dre espec!'-'ally,-in ,r«gnrd'fb; licen'sed:'lpreEiises,'':'seeins'-.ta-me.-a. ;.chari?e;;ofc_,local , ;policei"control, : and- I .Tv'ill ! 'keep, this -jn'.view .when' a.favourable', op. , Aortunity. ~' :'"(It■; hasv,apparently"iieeh fept in'!Hew,-.'for .;the ''last . two 'yearsO , ' 'The sergeant-major ■■ understand ■ that by ..-strict i supervision .'over : hqtelkeepers he' ia /ehderinff 'the v tra'de ; a good service,f'and'.'prebeing carried.-'(Tile present laxity, is , .sjmply., r ;plttying into-.the-.hands'.?of Prohibitibnists; ■ \and, ,-oi'eglecting. , -.. his :. lawful' Sutfe^Vy.";Dinnie; October 27,: 1907/, % -A , more.;;extraordinary. vapbea! ■■ by ; : 'a cbinmissiouer of..police;.to.ithe,well-known v sym-. patnies of; his subordinate' the, sergeantmajor,; could not'-.well! be. ; imagined. : .. Then i: we come.'down tb ; July';l3,. 1909, .when Inspector Ellison ■ again addresses a -memorandum.to;, the commissioner, drawing ";attenti«nuto. tho^alleged' 1 drinking'habits,qf-i'the ,'sergeant-majpr, .''and !to, the - absolute, lacfe j,of .• energy; , - on v his part -Vih' i dealingvwith , .certaih''.l!buses.''.ih. 'Blenheim,.- that 'require, and , supervision.'The inspector-says' , that.hV' fears.that, spme'serious 1 trouble I niay "arise ; ; at, lany. time' owing 'to. th'^i , bfficer's",convivial habits. , ,and general:. He says,,. , ..'l.;oonsiderien active, .energetic sergeant; ..of 1 !, considerable"ability,-..is ;»icessary ' atBlenheim 'h in border .to-■'. firmly; • : ■ the'[ .'Eicensinf! ;Acts and'some'other, laws,'and.main*, tain good, discipline : ;in\thq;'service; there.'\The commissioner .minutes •-' this-. , ,thus: : ""Inspectbr Ellison;—This ;.• sergeant-major - must be transferred from: Blenheim.' ■'Hennas', already had. tfarning-in' respect to'his.conduct'in the 'direc:tibri';indicate'd.;''l hope: tb.'be in ;Welliri£ton soon,;;and .will , .arrarige';his'transfer. , .-:'.Please show-him.' this file,; and he' : . can report thereon , ifiiiv.he ;..c,hba , !es.—•W.-'-Dinniei' "commissioner, July; 15j'..'iop9.*; : The sergeant-major' then/writes a 'long , Rigmarole ;;prtUsting v against" v -.being transferred, but, not , /making ,' any : 'serious answer to the allegatibns ; by' the inspector .-The ;tbis:;• 'File .for; present. This/sergeant is now. nearly 'sixty-five 5 years of age,'and will. soon -be leaving ■ the' service:—W. Dinnie,' coramissibner/'August 16,' 1909:' ■•■'l:understand ' that";he will 'not be' sixty-five years of; age until .June.,-next.: As the commissioner seems , to m«toihe : (juite--unahle to/realise the frravity of the.position, I strongly recommend the Hon. • the' Minister to • deal ■ with the' matter himself, and. insist on action being taken. It would■ be far ,botter\to; s?nd 'the.oißcer on leave of absence untilhis time expires than to allow the;continuance : of what;l consider is .-public Scandal.-.- Tor;: this .purpose I am. ending the file .'to the 'Hon. the Mmistor for. his informatidn.";r;l,,:,.;; 7 ..-■• v , ." : "-' ; :•.■:--,-"•. ;-;;..■.: ■.-•.■■•.•