ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT TO MR. LAWLISS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1896 Session I, H-14

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1896. NEW ZEALAND.

ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE LICENSING ACT TO MR. LAWLISS (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 23rd June, 1896. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House copies of all letters and telegrams sent by any Government departmeu-t to any Magistrate or Inspector of Police or police officer regarding the issue of a certificate under the Licensing Act to Mr. Lawliss." —(Sir R. Stout, K.C.M.G.) (Telegram.) Police have notified me that all objections to Lawliss are withdrawn. Certificate will now be granted. A. Hume, Wellington. A. L. Stanfobd, Palmerston North.

Sic,— 11th May, 1895. Eeferring to memorandum of 16th ultimo from Inspector Emerson in reply to yours regarding the transfer of license for Weber Hotel to E. J. Lawliss, I beg to inform you that the police do not desire to raise any objection to the transfer of this license to Lawliss. I have, &c, A. L. Stanford, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, S. P. Nobwood, District Clerk, Palmerston North. For Inspector.

The Commissioner. Kebtjiebing to your telegram of yesterday and my reply thereto : The above is a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Stanford on this date, which should reach him this afternoon. Constable Drake, of Danevirke, will also be instructed not to raise any objection at the annual meeting of the Licensing Meeting at Danevirke. S. P. Nobwood, District Clerk, 11th May, 1895. For Inspector.

(Telegram.) Have written Mr. Stanford that the police do not desire to raise any objection to the transfer of license to Lawliss. S. P. Norwood, Constable, Napier, Commissioner Police, Wellington. For Inspector. A. L. Stanford, Esq., S.M., Palmerston North. The Defence Minister wishes me to invite your attention to the case of Ex-Constable E. J. Lawliss, who is applying for a publican's license, but I understand it is likely to be refused because he was dismissed from the police. Inspector Emerson is at Galatea, and therefore I cannot communicate with him, and do not know what he reported, but it seems that Lawliss paid the penalty of his improper conduct by being dismissed ; and if the police are going to hound him down and prevent his obtaining a livelihood it looks like persecution ; and I trust you will take these matters into favourable consideration before deciding the matter on fourteenth. 11th May, 1895. A. H. Hume, Commissioner.

(Telegram.) Be Lawliss: On 16th ultimo Mr. Stanford, S.M., applied to police for report as to Lavvliss' character and fitness to hold a license. Inspector Emerson wrote that he could not express an opinion, and that Lawliss had been discharged from the Force for immoral conduct. In consequence

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of this report I understand Mr. Stanford has reEused to issue certificate under section 12 subsection (2), Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. Inspector Emerson is, I believe, at Galatea, and there are no means of communicating with him. Please instruct what you wish me to do. I would suggest your wiring to Mr. Stanford. S. P. Norwood, Constable, Napier, Commissioner of Police, Wellington. For Inspector.

Inspector Emerson, Napier. Ex-Constable Lawliss is applying for a license for a bush-house in the Napier district, and I understand the police are opposing it; why, is it because he was dismissed from the Force; if so, this looks like persecution ? If necessary, let the Committee know why he was dismissed from the Force; but it appears to me that he should not be hounded down. Immediate action should be taken, as the case is to be decided on fourteenth. I hope you will be able to see your way to withdraw the objection. A. H. Hume, Commissioner.

Sin, — Danevirke, 12th February, 1895. With reference to my dismissal from the Police Force on the 30th January last, I would beg to state that I tendered my resignation on the 23rd January while I was suspended, but no notice appears to have been taken of it. "With regard to my pleading " Guilty "to the charge for which I was dismissed, I was advised by Inspector Emerson, who even wrote me a copy of my plea of "Guilty," telling me at the time that I would be more leniently dealt with by the Commissioner of Police, and also save the department the expense of inquiry. I was therefore misled by my Inspector, and wrote an admission which appears to have - deprived me of the right of resigning, or one penny compensation, which, to say the least, seems a more severe punishment than the offence deserved, after a service of nearly fifteen years, which was served with only a. reprimand. . Please inform me if I am entitled to a discharge or anything that would enable me to join some of the Forces in the Australian Colonies; also, whether the police would raise any objection to me holding a publican's license in this Island. I remain, &c, The Commissioner of Police. E. J. Lawliss.

Police Department (Commissioner's Office), Wellington, Sib,— 16th February, 1895. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I have to inform you that you are labouring under some delusion as regards compensation, as members of the Police Force who resign are not entitled to compensation. I am, of course, quite in ignorance as to what Inspector Emerson may or may not have said to you, but the evidence forwarded by him here was of so conclusive a kind that it would have been only a farce your pleading anything but guilty. As regards your query re a discharge, I have to inform you that, having been dismissed, you are not entitled to a certificate of discharge, and I am not aware that the police would raise any objection to your holding a publican's license in any part of the colony. I am, &c, A. H. Hume, Mr. E. J. Lawliss, Danevirke. Commissioner of Police. A'ppi'ozimate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,350 copies), £ 1 fls. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9o. Price, 3d.}