13

H.—2

34. When they were enrolled in the Armed Constabulary were they trained as members of the Armed Constabulary ?—Yes. 35. And were subsequently transferred to the police?— Yes. 36. Was the Police Force only recruited from men of the Armed Constabulary ?—They joined the Armed Constabulary in the first instance. 37. Have you any knowledge of any men having been recruited for the civil Force in any other way than from the Armed Constabulary ?—I am not aware of any other mode at that time. 38. What were your duties in the office ?—I was only junior clerk in the office at that time. 39. Have you any knowledge at all of the Force other than what you have obtained through having access to the reports furnished to the department ?—No ; I have had no police experience. 40. You have been simply confined to the office? —Yes. 41. Are there any records kept in the office of promotions and transfers, or what has led up to these promotions, and transfers, or dismissals?—Of dismissals, yes. In some cases, no doubt, there are records of transfers and promotions too. 42. Can you tell us how promotions, dismissals, or removals were brought about: what was the system of promotion, if there was any ?—I cannot say. 43. You can put in the annual reports of the Police Department? —From 1870 to 1897. 44. In what book did you say the records are kept of promotions and transfers, so far as you have them ?—ln the register. 45. Can you give no reason why these promotions were made ? —No. 46. Can you tell us what led up to them ? —Possibly there were vacancies. 47. But there is no record of the reasons? —No. 48. Can you produce a record of the promotions ? —Yes, I produce a letter-book of the department containing certain promotions made in 1883. 49. Is there any system, so far as you are aware, of recording the conduct of individual members of the Police Force ? —Yes. 50. Is that kept at the Head Office, or in the separate districts?— Defaulters' returns are furnished monthly to the department. 51. That is the " black list " ?—Yes. 52. Colonel Pitt.] Can you say for the last ten years what has been the average number of the defaulters' returns ? —No. 53. Mr. Poynton.] Can you, by taking time, tabulate a statement to show whether there were more defaulters during the last two or three years than in the years before?—lt could be done in time. 54. The Chairman.] Can you supply us with an abstract, year by year, of the offences recorded against constables for the last ten years in each police district ?—Yes. (Exhibit No. 1.) 55. Mr. Tunbridge.] You have just been examined on the question of records, showing the means by which men have been promoted from time to time. You state there is nothing beyond what appears in the register in the office, to show how the men were promoted, other than the mere record in the book that they were promoted ?—lt was so at the time I was alluding to. 57. First, you gave the Commissioners to understand that the records in the office here merely showed that the men were promoted without showing what led up to these promotions ? —ln some cases, no doubt, there were reasons given—for meritorious conduct, &c. 58. I mean in regard to promotions to fill vacancies : there is nothing in the book to show how these men were selected ?—I cannot say how they were selected. 59. I am only asking you whether there is anything in the office to show how they were selected?—l have no knowledge of the grounds for selection. 60. Colonel Pitt.] I understand you produced that letter-book to show that was all there was ?—At that time. 61. Mr. Poynton.] Subsequently, is there any file of papers to show how the men were selected for promotion ? —No. 62. Mr. Tunbridge.'] Will you kindly look at this record of promotions made by me ?—Yes. 63. You see there how made ?—Yes. 64. Will you kindly tell the Commissioners how the selections have been made?— The Inspectors have been called upon to recommend. The memorandum reads as follows : — [Confidential.] (Giroular No. 23/97.) Police Department, Wellington, 27th October, 1897. Addressed to Officers in Charge of Police Districts. Please forward as early as possible the names, &c, of four constables whom you can recommend for promotion to the rank of sergeant. The recommendations to state fully the grounds upon which they are recommended. In making these recommendations, it should be borne in mind that the principal object is efficiency, and that seniority, although receiving the consideration it demands, must stand second to efficiency. Also the names of constables whom you can recommend for plain clothes duty. J. B. Tunbridge, Commissioner of Police. 65. You know of your own knowledge that each Inspector did send in a report recommending officers for promotion to the rank of sergeant on that circular ? —Yes. 66. And were there, subsequently, 17 constables promoted to the rank of sergeant ?—Yes. 67. And were these constables promoted to sergeants upon the recommendations of their Inspectors ? —Yes. 68. Colonel Pitt.] Why were not the 28 men recommended appointed?— Because there were only vacancies for 17 sergeants,