THE POLICE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 244, 20 November 1909, Page 6

THE POLICE COMMISSION.

MR. DIXXIE ON HIS DEFENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Xovciilicr 111. Commissioner Diunio's reply to the Police Commission report is piiblisiiiu to-day. It practically covers I lie whole of the report and traverses must of th.' lindiugs. He points out Unit mi far from nothing being done to revise i .e regulations, work was' begun in August. I'HKi. For two venrs the Chief Clerk worked overtime'on a draft which was completed in May and sent to inspectors in August of this year. He contends that due inquiry was made in the case nf the mill who turned out "bad marks.' .mil t'nit. thev were dealt, with as s 1 as their chara'itcr was known. Nor were the regulation discharges granted freely. On the question of'political inlliieiii-'e. he say* lie invited Air. Bishop. S.M., to peruse letters from members and replies, in his oll'ice, but Air. liUhop never did so. There was not a tittle of endeuce to warrant him in reporting it ■ • a mischievous miliumc and then", never was a time when polilinl iiillucncc Inn! less i-nVct tlniii now. lie scouts Mr. Bishop's comments n„ !he licadiiinrlc"stnir as based on evident of Iwo ms contented men ami Air. Ilislmp's own "preconceived opinion." ami asks if a hard-working oll'icer is to be ruined in such testimonv. As to the suggestion that an ordinary civil service clerk i-ouh! easily pick up work requiring years oi exper.ience. he denounce-,' it as " absurd.

Replying to Mr. Bishop's urinationof leniency in drunkenness!, lie ~« - "the regulations were never meant ,-o he carried nut literally. A policeman itcehnically drunk if lie has anv sums nf liquor at sill, and tliere must he dcerc--of punishment." lie himself has fol'.c ed the practice in oilier forces, end nl-v that of his own predecessors : " ''•' force. As it is, he has dis-h-vvd ."" men on this head who were Hken <•■■ in his predecessor's time without inquiry. Speaking gencrnllv. Mr. llinii"' contends that the Commissioner did no' approach the question with an open mind. "On the I'mdimr of the Commission," he adds, "the force is efficient, free from hribcrv ami corruption, ami everything is goo-l except the man who is responsible for tip results."