POLICE, INEBRIATE AND M.P.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 105, 11 August 1910, Page 5

POLICE, INEBRIATE AND M.P.

DR. FINDLAY'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) interviewed this evening by a repre. ntative of the New Zealand Times regarding the recent irregularities in the Cliristchureh police siaeion, i..iid the report of the Commissioner of Police upon this matter has been considered by Cabinet. The effect of the report is as follows:—"Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the night of Saturday the 7th May last, a Cliristchureh resident was brought to the police station on a charge of drunkenness, and his proper name was entered in the charge book. Early on the following morning (Sunday) he was admitted to bail, and signed the bail book in his usual name. On Sunday morning a member of the House of Representatives saw the Inspector of Police for the purpose of arranging that the resident's name should not be called in court. The inspector thereupon instructed the station sergeantto alter the name in the charge book, and bail book. The charge book was altered by striking out the name of the resident ana inventing the name of "James Brown." The page of the bail book containing the bond entered into by the resident was torn out and destroyed, and «, liesh 'bond taken and signed by the resident as ''James Brown." These are the admitted facts. A statement has been made that a constable was taken from duty in the watch house and placed on street duty as a punishment for having protested against any alteration of the books. The Commissioner has satisfied himself that there are no grounds whatever for the allegation." Dr. Findlay continued:"ln view of this report, and .of the fact that Inspector Gillies is now ill and will be for some considerable time unfit for duty, Cabinet has resolved that Inspector Gillies should be granted three months sick leave and thereafter three months' leave of absence. Inspector Gillies will then retire from the police force upon superannuation. In January next he will have completed thirty-six years of service. His records, with the exception of the incidents referred to in the above report, has been a very Ions;, 'able and successful one and entirely without blemish."