POLICE COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1507, 15 July 1905, Page 2

POLICE COMMISSION.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night. Regarding the evidence of ex-Constable McDonald before the Police Commission, that he heard Auckland was the worst place of the lot in regard to thefts, members of the Auckland force have expressed the opinion that the Commission should insist on obtaining the source of McDonald’s information with a view of sifting it to the bottom. Inquiry among the firms whose warehouse keys are deposited olicits the statement that there is no complaint or suspicion regarding the Auckland force. Timaru, last night At the conclusion of the business at the Police Court here this morning, Mr Moss Jonas, J.P., took strong exception to a statement made by a witness before the Police Commission at Dunedin, suggesting that thieving was going on by the police force in various towns, including Timaru. Mr Jonas thought it monstrous that such a suggestion should be made. He had lived in Timaru for 35 years, and had novor heard a word against the police. They had always been above suspicion, and he wished to express his opinion that the police were honest and straightforward wherever ho had seen them. Dunedin, last night.

Two private individuals gavo evidence before the Police Commission this morning. One said he saw a constable drunk in South Dunedin three years ago. He hoard a sergoant tell the constable he would boo him in two hours’ time. The other complained that the police would not take up his case. Two eonstablos gavo evidence denying what McDonald has said in regard to older hands being implicated.

EVIDENCE OF AN EX-CONSABLE IPfluss SA«ao.«wdio*.3 Dunedin, last night. The afternoon sitting of the Poliofc Commission was taken up with the hearing of the evidence of ex-Constable Jnriss, who afterjthe robberies had been asked to rosign, and did so. He denied emphatically being concerned or having any knowledge of what had been going on. Ho was at the station when the stuff from Moses’ house was brought in, and invited the detective to visit his house before he went home, so that it could not bo said he had made away with articles. He was told there was no suspicion on him* Ha gavo evidence that, the exception of Sergeant Ramsay, tho Bergeants did not pay surprise visits. The constables knew within ton minutes or so of when the Borgeant would meet them.

Sergeant Higgins, recalled, withdrew ,fce statement about defaulters being sent ;o Dunedin and cot to other places. Oamaru, last night.

In the telegraphed report of Maodonald’s evidence given before the Royal Commission, he stated that the same sort of thing that had led to the Dnnediu police scandal was goinn on in Oatnaru as Well as other places henieiiticnad. There is no truth in the sta'ement. Tradesmen here deny that anything of the kind has taken place, and the police authorities have received no complaints whatever on the subject.