NEW HEAD OF POLICE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 697, 23 December 1909, Page 7

NEW HEAD OF POLICE

MR. DIMIE TO RETIRE. MR. WALDEGRAVE WiU TAKE CHARGE. A CHIEF INSPECTOE PROBABLE. ', In the House of Representatives yesterday 'j morning, tho Pnmo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) ; announced Uio decisions of tho Government on i tho future administration of tho Police Department. ' No Reflection on Character, Tho Prime Minister staled that tho late j commission was sot up at tho request of Mr. ) Dinnie, Commissioner of Police Tho Mims- , tcr for Jusbco informed Ml. Dinnie who was ' to be appointed to conduct tho inquiry, and v i showed him tho terms of the commission, and x Dmmo concurred with tho appointment ; and with tho terms of tho commission. The ,> result of the inquirj was against Mr. Dinnie, > and tho Government, jn vnow of the position ' as < indicated by tho commission, thought that it was not I desirable, considering tho important interests involved, and the conflict of opm- '' - ion tliat had arisen, that tho Commissioner of ' Police should continue in office. Mr, Dunne's \ resignation would bo accepted, and ho would roccive six monthb , pay. Thoro nas nothing in tho evidence, or in tho rewrt of tho commission, to show that Mr. Dinaio was any- , >, thing other than an hononrablo man. There j vas no reflection upon his integrity or his <f character in any ua}, and ho (tho Prune ' Minister) ivishod to confirm tliat on behalf of 1 tho Go\ erniJKint, m connection tho unportant inirk carried out by Mi. D>nnio in < nis position as Commissioner of Police. The ' duties of tho police force, howwor, wero so * important that it seomed to tho Government, in new of tho report, that thero should not bo a possibility of Inchon between tho members of tho force or anyono connected with the commissioner in his otUcitil position, and as public duty all other considerations, (ho Government had taken tho decision ' already intimated in tho best mterosls ot tho force and of the country. An intimation was •■ , received from Mr. Dinnic, during tho inquiry, that ho would resign his position, and that ' would be accepted. , A Chief Inspector Under the Under-Swretary i for Justice. Mr. T. E. Taj lor (Chnsichurch North) asked ' > who was to be Mr. Dmnie's successor. bir Joieph Ward eaid it was intended that the Pohco Department should remain, so far as the oMcutivc head vas concerned) under the Undei'-fectretaij lor Justice. Tho Go\erament did not intend to appoint a commissioner to take Mi. Dimiio'b place, but tho idea was to have, Intel on, a Chief Inspector of Pohco, who woull bo under tho Under-Sccretary for Justice, the latter being the administrative head. Mr. J. F. Arnold (Duncdm Central) said ho was very pleased to hear tho Pnmo statement, and ho was delighted to know that the Government had taken the matter in hand in the way thej had. Ho had e\ory confidence that under the now administration of tho pohco force, very considerable and desirable reforms would bo introduced. Mr. Hordman (Wellington North) asked if tlio Government hud any intention of making any changes among tho higher olhcers of th* ' force, sucli ns removing an officer from Wei' lington to Auckland or ono from Auckland to Wellington. , Tho Pnmo Minister said he could not at that stage intimate what would bo dono. Tho Mini- * stei for Justice would go into (lie whole matter. Mi T E. Taylor (Christchureh' North; said lie agreed with tlip Pnmo Minister that Mr. Dinnit's personal mtcgrity was not involved. Ills capability was tlio question upon which tho whole thing turned The control of th« Department by Mr. Woldegrave would no doubt bo satisfactory, as' Mr Waldegravo waa a very highly respected officer. Tho Govern- / ment wai to bo congratulated upon the decision come to.

PROTEST BY MR. DINNIE, WILL RELINQUISH DUTY AT END OF ■' •"! •»<< ,-> MONTH, ' | After the Primo Minister's announcement of tho Government's intentions regarding tho control of tho police force, Mr. Dinnio made a statement to a Dostikion reporter. Denial Concerning Resiflnallon. Mr. Dinnio said:-"What tho Prime Minister said concerning my resignation was incorrect, and ho must havo been misled; I told the Hon. Dr. Findlay at Christchurch, during the currency of the commission, that Wore any mention was mado of an inquiry,, I had intended to tender my resignation, and my reason was that I had been placed under tho Justice Department and had ito submit all papers and , correspondence to , tho Minister through that Department, the result being that I found I could not carry out my duties to my own satisfaction. I never said that I would resign at , tho termination of tho commission, and I had ,i no intention of doing so. After tho commission ■ " ' was set up, I entirely abandoned my intention '( to resign, as I thought the inquiry might bo ,j>> followed ■by ({iteration in the system, '■ especially in<ilMgard'-ito dealing with correspondence." 'i An Offeri Made and -Withdrawn; Aslced if he had' any plans for tho future, ' ' ; Mr. Dinnio replied: No, I have made no flans. I may say that only yesterday morning was offered tho position flf Inspector of Prisons, but tho offer was withdrawn tho 6ame evening—ijliy, I know not! ' , "I consider that I havo been treated most unjustly," Mr. Dinnio added, "but I leave tho public to judge. After tho allegations which I made against tho Royal Commissioner, I think tho matter should not bo dropped, but an inquiry should bo hold into tho evidence and tho files of tho Department, with a view to seeing who uas in tho right and who was * ' in tho wrong. The statement as to 'friction* ' in connection with tho force and my office was merely put forward as an o\cii6e.' . In reply to a question, Mr. Dinnie said that ho would roliiiquMi his official duties at the cud of the present month, ami would havo wj mouthi , leave of absence on full pav. '