AUCKLAND POLICE FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 13

AUCKLAND POLICE FORCE.

ALLEGATIONS OF INSOBRIETY. AUCKLAND, September 1. Some facts as to the trouble that has taken place in connection with the Auckland police of late owing to the misconduct, principally insobriety, of some of the [ junior members of the force were elicited ! at the sitting of the Police Commiesion j to-day during the examinaton of Sub- j inspector Hendry. On being questioned by Mr Bishop, the J Sub-inspector said that there had been a | lot of trouble during the past few years I with young men. The conduct of some | of these m-en had been anything but ', satisfactory, and several had been dismissed for drunkenness. Mr Bishop : Are they dismissed for the fh-irt offence of drunkenness? — Sometimes they are giv&n another chance. Mr Bishop : Why should there be any distinction? — There have sometimes been j previous offences of another kind, and j this may make a difference. Mr Diunie (Commissioner of Police), in reply to Mr Bishop, said all the circumstances were taken into account. Mr Bishop : Do you consider that there has been abnoimal drunkenness amongst the constables in Auckland? — Sub-inspec-tor Hendry : Yes. Mr Bishop: Are there special temptations to take to drink in Auckland? — None ' th.it I know of. Do you attribute this abnormal condition to anything? — I know of no cause, except perhaps that they cannot resist the temptation placed before them. Why should that be?— A man may have less will power than formerly. The stamp ' of men who have been coming into the force lately is not co good as the etamp of men who came in years ago. The men now — that is, a portion of them — require more constant and keener super- ' vision. In the cases of drink, when have the ' men got drunk? — Usually at night. ] What has happened?— Sometimes they i have been found drunk on their beats by their sergeants, and have been sent back ' to the barracks. j On any occasion? — Yes. j How was it discovered? — I have had my suspicions, and on the overcoats of some of the men having been searched on , their return from their beats bottles of beer have been discovered. What has been done with them? — They have been called upon to resign. Where did they get the liquor? — I suppose it was given to them by a publican ! for some motave.

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