H.—2

22

unable to resist the temptations which naturally beset the path of constables." Well, you can only learn such a thing as that by experience. 50. Mr. Poynton.) You are still convinced that the thing has broken down entirely?— Yes. The police could not be got into the centres to be of assistance as trained gunners ; they would be too scattered. 51. Your opinion is, that it is a mistake to recruit from the Permanent Artillery? —Alone, yes. It is too narrow a field. 52. Colonel Pitt.} Are members of the Permanent Artillery desirable as recruits for the Police Force at all ? —Oh, yes. I see no objection to a Permanent Artillery-man being made a policeman. He need not be debarred just because he happens to be a Permanent Artillery-man. 53. And yet you are stating reasons why such a practice is objectionable?—ln some cases. 54. Mr. Poynton.'] You agree that in some cases they make good men?— Yes. I quite agree with Mr. Pender in that. Then, in my report of 1897 —my last report—l again hammer at them about the English Licensing Act. I then go on, — The system of recruiting from the public as well as from the Permanent Militia is working satisfactorily, and there is, of course, a much larger number to select from. I alluded in my last report to the fact that some of the older members of the Force had passed the age of activity required for policemen, and to the hardship that would be entailed if these men were turned adrift, as no superannuation scheme exists; and, as men are being taken on without previous training, it has occurred to me that a scheme somewhat as follows would prove practicable, and would furnish the necessary training for recruits, and at the same time provide for the older men alluded to—viz., that the station at Wellington should be a depot. Recruits, on joining, should be taken on probation for a period of three months, during which time they should be instructed not only in the necessary drill and their outdoor work, but by means of lectures on various matters which it is necessary, to be efficient, they should know. At the end of their probation period, if their conduct and qualifications were satisfactory, they would be taken on permanently, and then could be drafted where required. The older men who have passed their prime should be stationed in Wellington, and the recruits would join them in their daily work, so that whilst the elder men taught the younger and supplied experience, the younger would, while learning their duties, be able to render their elder comrades the necessary assistance in strength and activity required to efficiently perform police duty. The fact that there is a police-station at Mount Cook would facilitate the training of probationers, for towards the end of the probation term the recruits might, by being sent to that station, where they would, whilst still under depot control, have at times to act more on their own responsibility, prove their fitness to enter the Force. The Crown owns ground adjoining that station, and it would, I think, be money well spent if married quarters were erected there, where the older constables could reside. Reference is made to athletic training ; and I also notice here, — From time to time statements have been published that candidates are enrolled in the Force without proper inquiries being made as to their character and previous history. Now, during the past year sixty-six recruits have joined the Force—viz., Permanent Militiamen sixteen, and civilians fifty. In the case of the former, their conduct and bearing during their service in the Permanent Force, and while (as in most cases) they had been doing temporary police duty, were taken into consideration, while the civilians were specially selected by yourself from a long list of applicants, on the recommendations of reliable persons, and their histories for the last two or three years were carefully investigated. In support of that 1 would like to show the Commission the form of application. In that form a man has got to state his last situation, name and address of employer, business, &c. of employer, position held by him, salary or wages, length of stay (giving date), cause of leaving, occupation in the interval. He has also got to state his last situation but one, his last situation but two, his last situation but three, his last situation but four. 55. The Chairman.'] And what is done with these applications when they come in?— They are filed, and the man is informed his name is put on the roll. They have also to be recommended by two persons. They have to produce two references as to character —responsible persons, well acquainted with the applicant in private life. Then, the mode of selection outside the Permanent Artillery when I was in charge was as follows: I used to tell the Minister how many vacancies there were, how many of those I wanted as married men, how many of the different religious sects, and then I handed him over the roll, and he selected them. He would decide how many of the Permanent Artillery he would take, and tell me the names. 56. Mr. Poynton.'] Then he had the appointment, not you?—He had the appointment. The Act or regulations do not say the Commissioner is to select recruits. 57. Colonel Pitt.'] Did you make any recommendation? —No. I may now and then have said, " So-and-so has been in the cavalry, I think he would make a good man," if a mounted man was wanted ; but as a rule I did not recommend. 58. The Chairman.] You have just touched the question of appointments. Will you now give us some information about the removals, and so on, in order. How were these removals managed ? —I would like to say with regard to these appointments, that many of these Permanent Artillerymen had been acting as constables during the time they were in the Permanent Artillery. While in the Artillery they were taken on very often as acting-constables. For instance, while the Exhibition was on at Wellington we had some twenty of them on Exhibition duty, and assisting the police generally. 59. Did they get any special pay?— Yes, their pay was made up to that of a third-class constable, and always is when they do police duty. 60. I think, perhaps, having mentioned the matter of pay, give us at this stage the pay of the several classes? —Unfortunately, I have not got the estimates here. I could not say straight off. I was going to say, in regard to these men who were acting as constables, the Inspectors under whom they had served were asked, before any of them were appointed to the Police Force, to report whether they would make good constables or not. 61. These men who were on that occasion employed as constables?— Who had been employed on any occasion. 62. They have been employed in other cases?—Oh, yes ; they have been employed in Auckland too, and elsewhere. 63. Only such men who had been employed and were recommended were received into the Force? —Oh, no; but we asked for a report from the Inspectors as to those particular men whom they had had the chance of seeing on police duty.