CHRISTCHURCH POLICE TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH POLICE TROUBLE.

DECISION OF CABINET. j The Minister for Justice (the. Hon. Dr. Findlay), interviewed yesterday by a '."■ representative of this journal, snidr-y .' The report of- the Commissioner of"---Police upon the irregularities which eeiitiy, took place in the Christchurch Police Station has been considered by Cabinet. The effect of the report is aV follows:— ..-.'. (1) Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the night of Saturday, May 7 last, a Christ, church resident was brought to the police station on a charge of drunkenness, aud his proper name was entered in the charge, book. Early on the following morning (Sunday) he was admitted to - bail, and signed the.bail book in his ; usual .name. On , Sunday morning.' a member, of the House of Representatives saw the Inspector of Police-for the pur- ; pose of arranging thut the resident's name : should <not: be called in. Court. The'• - "i•■'■ inspector, thereupon instructed, the station--.sergeant to alter the name in the charge '' book and bail book. The charge'book: was altered by striking out the name of : \ the resident.and inserting the name of ; ' "James Brown." The page of the bail, book containing-the bond entered into by the resident was torn out and destroyed, and a fresh bond was taken and signed by the resident as "James Brown." ' These are the admitted facts. A statement has been made that & constable was taken from duty in the watch; house and. placed on street duty as,, a punishment for having protested against any alteration of the books. The Com-, missioner-h'as satisfied himself that there are no grounds whatever for any such, suggestion. '■ . ':.';■ (2) In view of. this Teport and of the .- fact that Inspector Gillies is now ill and \ will bo for some considerable time unfit for duty, Cabinet has resolved that In-• : specter Gillies should be granted three months' sick leave, and thereafter,three'' months' leave of absence.'. Inspector' ■" Gillies will then retire from the police force upon superannuation. In January next he will have completed 30 years of. service. : His record, with the exception of the incidents.referred to in the above...'-■ report, has been a very, long, able,' and i, successful one, and entirely without blemish.