THE POLICE FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 189, 14 September 1909, Page 2

THE POLICE FORCE.

THE COMMISSION IN WELLINGTON. THE WELLINGTON MEN " EAT THE LEAK." 1 By Telegraph.—Press Association. I Wellington, Holiday. The Police Commission opened its Wellington sittings to-day. Mr. Alex. Gray, solicitor, applied fur leave to represent the Lambton Quay police. He said that while the Commission was sitting in Duaiedin die Lambton Quay police held a meeting. They were not actuated by any antagonism to the Commission, and wished t'j withdraw tho suggestion of any want of confidence in the commission. The men I upon reflection 'considered their action was unwise, and if any excuse could he offered the men said it was more or less to the short reports telegraphed from Dunedin. They -wen; under a mistaken impression that some individuals in Dunedin were being offered 471 opportunity for ventilating their peisonal grievances. Mr. Bishop, S.M.: That is the opinion of the Wellington police. Mr. Gray: They entirely withdraw any suggestion of disloyalty or wxat of confidence in the Commission.

Mr. Bishop expressed pleasure at finding that the police here had acknowledged tho error of their iwaye. Reading the resolution they had passed, tlic-e was no doubt as to what actuated the people -who were responsible for it.

The Commissioner characterised the resolution as absolutely improper, and said he should be sorry to think that a body of forty men belonging to the police force should metst together and speak about matters which they knew nothing about. As the result a haphazard meeting had carried a resolution tantamount to a vote of want of confidence in the person appointed to hold the commission and expressed confidence in tfieir own head. Personally he had treated the matter with absolute contempt. He had hoped that the motion was not the outcome of the views of the Wellington police as a body. To him it appeared to have been engineered by one or two individuals.

Mr. Bishop said he certainly took exception to being pereonaHy held responsible for a great deal of what lias been dcscTibed as irrelevant. His desire had been to obtain evidence on the sounded possible footing and enable it to be spoken of with credit everywhere. J. <T. Meiklc then came forward and asked give evidence concerning a constable who, he alleged, lmd fO'ji | mitted perjury at his (Mcikle's) trial. -The Commissioner ruled lie could not hear the evidence.

Constable J. R. Thompson attende-l as a delegate for the Lambton Quaj police and asked for 7s a day, rising by Od every three years to a maximum of 10s for, constables; that 1" days' leave T>e granted annually; that the house allowance for married men be increased; and that the accommodation at the Lambton Quay station be improved. Witness said the conduct of the Wellington police was excellent. Liquor was not taken into the barracks. He knew nothing about two sergeants having to go to the barracks to make peace, nor did he know of the larrikin element in the force. He had heard nothing about a "handy" or a "special" man, and did not believe such a person existed.

Referring to the crowded state of .the bedrooms at Lambton Quav, Mr. Bishop, S.M., said he thought the state oi affairs absolutely indecent.

Constable J. J. Gallagher endorsed Constable Thompson's evidence. Constable Dovle, representing the Mount Cook men, urged that the pav should be 8s a day for constables and that a free pass on railways should bi given them when on holiday. He also ventilated grievances regarding emoluments.

"A COMMISSIONER ONLY IN NAME." Welling on, Last Night. At the Police Commission this afternoon Constable Mieliaol Green complained that the Police chief clerk frequently acted as commissioner. Mr. Dinnie. was Commissioner only in name. Mr. Dinnie had allowed his powers to lie wrested from liim by the chief clerk. Witness had known men to mine to Wellington to sec Mr. fright {tbe ichief clerk) about promotion instead of seeing the Commissioner. Horse-phiy had taken place at the Wellington police station, but the statement Of Mr. Arnold, M.P., about the conduct of the station was incorrect. Mr. Arnold had been, misinformed. Witness denied having anything to do with letters to newspapers atfout Commissioner iJimue.