DISCIPLINE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 6

DISCIPLINE.

THE CASE OF INSPECTOR GILLIES, SUCCESTED REINSTATEMENT. , DR. FINDLAY'S REPLY TO A DEPUTATION. (Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.! Chrlstchurch, January 13. ; At _ the Chamber _of Commerce this morning, a deputation was introduced to tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister for by Mr. G. Witty, M.P., on tho subject of the reinstatement in the I>olice force of Ex-Inspector Gillies. The deputation consisted of over thirty citizens, including Messrs. G. W. Russell, M.l\, G. Laurenson, M.P., and leading men in tho legal profession in business circles.

Mr. Witty briefly introduced tie deputation, which' he said 'was nonpolitical in character; Mri William Reeco and Sir. 0. Allison (Mayor of Christcburch) were the speakers. Dr., Findlay, in replying, said that he need scarcely tell the deputation that Inspector ; Gillies's case' had given him and his colleagues more anxious consideration than probably ..any other caso which had arisen in connection with the pjublic service. They had had to deal with a case of a gentleman who for thirty-six years had maintained an. unspotted career, not. only of useful, but also of excellent, scrvicc. (Applause.) To deal harshly with one, who, whatever might havo been tho character of his offence, it obviously aroso from kindness of heart, and not from any corrupt or vicious motives—(applause) —was a doubly painful duty. Ho desired to emphasise the two aspects of tjlio case—tho personal, to which naturally and properly tho deputation attached tho moro importance, and the official,, which be considered tho moro important, • as bearing on. the .welfare, tho efficiency, and tho discipline of the police force of the Dominion. Whilst it might bo easy to emphasise the personal aspect, he wished them _ to look at the case from his (tho Minister's) point of view. A special report on tho case was made by Mr. Waldegrave, . about whose fairness- and about whoso intelligent investigation of tho. caso no question had." arisen. That report was published in' tho newspapers, and he did not intend discussing it, but-it showed these facts plainly, that tho record, which was a public record, was deliberately, arid, he must say, surreptitiously altered for tho protection of tho person arrested, and that if it was not altered by Inspector Gillies, ho was privy to its alteration. What would this 'load to if they looked upon. it with a lenient eye? If they were going to permit the alteration of police records tor the protection of any man, then they, opened" a' door for practices in which wealth would play an important part, in which corrupt political influences would operate.. The fact that Inspector Gillies was a man of great experience and character, and possessed a. high record, made the indiscretion (if ho might, speak quite boldly arid frankly) less pardonable. If a blundering,, ignorant constable had made the alteration, one might-havo found moro. readily an excuse, but an excuse could not bo found in. tho. caso of a gentleman who knew as much : as ■ Inspector Gillies. "Wero" ho lightly to agree to tho deputarequest, what would bccome of tho discipline of the force? The maintenance of discipline in a police forco in a democratic community was a difficult matter. It was so in Now Zealand, as ho had experienced during tho few yearn he been in charge of it. If discipline were relaxed,-evils would be introduced that ho would not worry them by recounting. Discipline was as essential in tho police forco as in the military force. If the offenco under notice (whioli he must look upon moro seriously than tho gentleman who had spoken did) were dealt with lightly, what was he (tho Minister) to say to an ordinary constablo guilty of some offence? He would have .his action in the inspector's case quoted as a precedent, and not only so., but as a. pretext to cover what might possibly be vicious offences. Hence, as in many other cases, the individual had to' suffer more seriously for the sake of the system. - Any student of history, or of tho history of any forco like tho police force,, know that in tho past some of the best and most useful servants of. the State lost'their positions for indiscretions springing from good-heartcdness. Whilst he would, of course, represent the request mado so eloquently to his colleagues, with tho view to.further consideration, ho. wished to tell the deputation frankly that discipline must' be maintained first above air things, and that feelings of charity and mercy must take second place, otherwise that which was essential to the maintenance of order in the country would go to wreck and ruin. What would happen if discipline were relaxed in respect to tho higher officers ? It was a. gibe of old times that "that in the' Captains but a. choleric word which in tho soldier is flat blasphemy." He would not bo a party to'condoning that w]ii<;h would lead to demoralisation of tho police force, or of any forco under his control. This might' not appear a very courteous reply to the request so courteously made by the deputation, but it was better that he should say what was in his mind. Inspector Gillies had been a party to tho steps he (tbe Minister) had taken. Ho (the Minister) had done his best to consult his feelings. He agreed to retire, and received three months' sick leave, and three months' leave to complete his service. He retired after thirty-six years' service on what ho would admit lie (tho Minister) thought was a very comfortable superannuation. . Ho would not bo left in want. It had been suggested to him (the Minister) that the matter could bo met by transferring Inspector Gillies to another district or by calling on him to resign. He (the Minister) liad taken tho-.most charitable course, and if ho could havo done more than ho did lie would gladly have done it. The deputation had put to him as .much as could bo said on.the matter, and he would lay their representations ■ beforo Cabinet. The reply of the Government would bo probably forwarded in tho courso of a fortnight. He regretted that ho. could not give the deputation much encouragement to hope that their request would bo granted.'

Mr: Keece, in thanking the Minister on behalf of the deputation, said tliat thov quite recognised tho Minister's difficulty in regard to the official aspect of tho case, and would urge that somo service be found for Inspector Gillies, even if not in the Polico Department.