POLICE COMMISSIONER’S RESIGNATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4474, 5 July 1930, Page 2

POLICE COMMISSIONER’S RESIGNATION.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE. Wellington, Lsat Night, lion. .1. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, made a statement in Parliament yesterday in regard to the lesignation of the Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. B. M.ellveney) and also with regard to the enquiry concerning the dismissal of exsergeant Bonisch from the police force. “The action of the Commissioner in tendering his resignation in the manner lie did, presumably on account of exception talkien to the purely administrative direction iti regard to the case of Bonisch, could only be regarded as holding a pistol at the Government,’’ lion. Cobbe said.

“As the responsible Minister in charge I was not prepared to countenance such an aek “Insofar as the Government is concerned, the acceptance of the Commissioner’s resignation had no other hearing on the issue of this enquiry. As the ease of Bonisch was under investigation by the committee, i deemed it inadvisable at that stage to make any reference to it.

“I now desire to state the following facts regarding this matter. Bonisch was discharged from the force on loth ultimo on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, approval to which was given by my predecessor in charge of the Police Department. Formal notice of appeal was sent to me by Bonisch and numerous representations were made to me by other persons that this officer had been harshly dealt with. I went into the whole of the papers carefully myself. From these papers and from further information received by me, I was of opinion that punishment was too severe anft that the case was one in which further enquiry should he made. 1 referred the matter to the Public Service Commissioner and Solicitor General and they recommended that it should he reviewed by an informal Appeal Board consisting of a Magistrate, an ex-member of the police torce and an outsider with the view (A submitting a recommendation to me as Minister of Justice as to whether the punishment of dismissal was in their opinion warranted. This committee was of almost similar constitution lo that provided by the Statute for appeals where an appeal could legally he made and which would have been granted Bonisch had he pleaded not guilty to the four charges on which he was dismissed. The report of this committee has now been received bv me but as it deals with matters of internal administration and with the ease of the individual officer, I do not propose at the present time to make it public. “I may say, however, that the committee is of opinion that the letter 'written bv the Commissioner ol Police to (be late Minister, on which he acted recommending the dismissal of Bonisch, did not fairlv

and accurately set out the circumstances of the case.

“Alter full enquiry they express the opinion that the punishment of dismissal in this case was not justified.

The whole matter of administration of the police force of the Dominion is receiving the earnest consideration of the Government and the l aider-See ret ary of Justice has, in the meantime, been appointed acting commissioner.”

'Mr. T! Holland ' (Buller) asked whether it could be taken that Sergeant Bonisch would he reinstated.

Hon Colibe replied that that world be for the new Commissioner to decide but he gave the assurance that Bonisch would be dealt with fairlv.