The police commission

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 38

The police commission

SITTING AT GREYMOUTH. j f GREYMOUTH, August 4. *The Police Commission sat here for two burs, and heard representative constables, ko sergeants, Inspector Black, and a elective. No complaints were made, ©presentations were submitted for mfease in tire pay of constables, beginning $ 8s per day," with increments up to 3b with free uniform, boots, and railway mcessione during leave. The sergeants Sid the inspector e-ndorsed the claim t the men for improved pay. They rebried favourably on the physique of the »«n on the West Coast. Jlhe most interesting evidence given before ac Police Commission to-day was that jy Inspector Black, who, in the course t his statement, said the chief reason rhy a good specimen of men did not come ptrward was the pay, but a great many id not come because they did not care bout wearing tlte uniform. He thought bat according to the cost of living in be towns, where sergeants and constables jad to live in good portions of the town, ad had to pay accordingly, the pay of I constable should begin at 8s a day. ( ising to 10s. He considered it should ; c a hard and fast rule that ev«ry man hould be transferred every five years. i "would avoid the feeling that there was olitical influence at work in some cases nd -not in others. There was a good eal of political influence at work with jbe force, but he could not actually menion a case where he could say that this ad been exercised. But it was patent hat men in the force -were apt to consult oliticians, clergymen, secret societies, and a forth, to advance their own interests. !he transfer of every man in the force wild tend to the advantage of the serice. Any constable should be able to earn his district in 12 months. His ex- ! Jerience was that a constable would b© Dore energetic in the performance of his luties in a district where he was unaiown and had not made friends, than ie would in a district he had been in jieveral years and knew everyone. He did bt say that a man who occasionally took £ little liquor was doing wrong. There re»re men who had a number of marks n the defaulter's sheet who • were among |ho best men in the service. The men irho took drink were not the "duffers," nit the brainy men, and in many cases hat he knew of these men had become eally zealous and efficient officers. U WESTPORT, August 5. . The Police Commission arrived here it 6 p.m. overland from Reefton, and iat in the evening. ' Evidence was given by Edward Cockery, iceneee of the Royal Hotel, but formerly . policeman, that he was in the service rom 1898 to 1907, leaving with a good haraeter, but because lie was not on 0 years he got no refund from the Prorident Fund, whereas a constable disiiissed from the service would be entitled o a refund of his contributions. Witness ilso stated that constables should be ratter paid, receive an additional uniorm, better houses, and travelling allowances, and each one on leaving the service be given his merit list for use if teed be as a character in the event of pplying for a position elsewhere. Constable Reid, on behalf of the police of the district, brought several complaints jbefore the commission, principally against felleged unfair promotions. He himself had no complaint. L Sergeant Dew also gave evidence, the mrden of his complaint being that chief Bet>eotives mere given the preference over jtmiformed sergeants for sub-inspector-ships, the witness considering that detective* should rank in a different branch bf the service. \ ~ '_ NELSON, August 9. r' The Police Commission concluded its fittings here to-day. J Constable Cameron, of Richmond, jwith 21 years' service, complained of he pay and the house and clothing alowances. al^ of promotion, and of [juniors being promoted over the heads of seniors. He was 57 years of age, :&nd considered his> eyesight stood in the j.way of his promotion. He did not »know of any political influence. '■- Constable Foley, of Collingwood, said ie "was enrolled in 1892. He was dissatisfied with the promotion, and (said

the pay was not that of an average working man. He had many duties to perform in conneection with his position. He had not gone up for promotion. He considered it morally certain that political influence existed, although, it was of no use to him. Sergt. Dougan, in charge of the district for seven years, said he was enrolled in 1879. and was promoted in 1898. ' He considered the people and the Government at fault, and that a good many things required adjusting. The police required men mentally, morally, and physically without a blemish, vet they gave them a shabby salary. He did not favour religious instruction, but probationers should receive moral training to guard against the many temptations surrounding tne force. No constable should be allowed on the streets before the age of 26 years. The pay was not in keeping with the important nature of the work. Regarding promotion, he thought that as much as possible the men, if they fulfilled the requirements, should be promoted. He would like people to have a better opinion of policemen generally. He would not promote a man over 50 years of age. He thought detectives should j constitute a separate branch. He had never observed the use of political influence. With over 30 years' experience he -thought' there was not a better body of men, as a whole, than the 700 or 800 who constituted the Police Force. The commission goes on to Picton next.