76

H.—2

These men were both my juniors, and were both promoted over me, and I reckoned the services for which they were promoted were no greater than mine for which I was not promoted. 63. That was duly notified in the Gazette ? —-Yes. 64. Will you tell the Commissioners of some one who was entirely promoted through political influence ? —lt is impossible for me to tell that. I could not point out a specific case. 65. The Chairman.] Have you ever been told by any member of the Force that he had secured his promotion by political influence ?—Yes; I have been told by two or three, by different Governments. It was the general talk throughout the station all the time I was in Wellington. You could infer nothing else from their conversation but that it was political influence, and nothing else, that got their advancement. 66. Colonel Hume.] Coming down to the last eight years, since you left the Force : you are a licensed victualler, and you keep a house at Paikakariki, and it is the only house there ?—Yes ; I have been there since I left the Force. 67. You see a great many men there passing backwards and forwards belonging to the Force, and ex-constables? —Yes. 68. And generally have a talk with them about the Force ?—Yes. 69. In fact, you and I have had that kind of conversation ourselves ?—Yes. 70. Well, now, I want you to tell the Commissioners of anybody you have heard of during the time I have named having been promoted out of his turn through political influence ?—I positively refuse to answer that question. It is not fair to the men. I know of nothing of my own knowledge. I have been told up till quite lately that political influence has been used, but I decline to give the names of the men who attributed their and others' promotion to it. 71. Now, you have said that, if there was a good honest and impartial Commissioner, free from Ministerial control, it would give much more satisfaction?— Yes. 72. That, of course, reflects on me, therefore I should like to ask you whether you have any reason to believe that I was not an honest and impartial Commissioner ? —Certainly; I do not say that you were not honest, or dishonest. 73. Then, I take it, from what you know and have heard, you have no reason to suppose I was not honest and impartial ?—Not a bit. 74. Mr. Tunbridge.] You say, notwithstanding the written application you submitted to be allowed to resign, the cause of your resignation was dissatisfaction with your position in the Force ? —Yes ; and I entered into the outside business transaction through being dissatisfied. 75. That is, because you did not get promotions and rewards that you thought you were entitled to ? —Certainly, when I saw other men being promoted. 76. You said just now that Eemer was advanced to second-class before you, and that you founded a complaint on that, owing to that constable being junior to yourself ?—Yes. 77. Now, admitting that Eemer was advanced before you: his date was the Ist June, 1884: would that date coincide with your recollection ?—I think it would ; I am not sure. 78. Do you know Constable Eemer personally ?—I knew him in Wellington, but I have not seen him for ten years or so. 79. Do you know that he is a fairly good constable ?—Oh, yes, he is a very nice fellow. I have nothing against Eemer. 80. If you were dissatisfied with not getting first-class before the Bth August, 1890, you would consider that Constable Eemer, who was made first-class only a few days ago, would be more dissatisfied than you were eight years ago ?—I thought you got promotion or reward for meritorious services. 81. You will admit that a man is not an impartial judge of his own actions. Do you not think it is for other people to judge of a man's actions, than for that man to judge himself?—Of course ; but when a man points out his case and compares it with others, and points out that it is a better case, he ought to get some recognition of it. 82. The Chairman.] You think if he waits to put his good qualities forward they will never be taken up? —Undoubtedly. 83. Colonel Pitt.} You said you think the police are fairly well paid?— Yes. 84. Do you think it is right they should provide their own uniforms ?—No ; and I think the system of long-service pay should be continued. 85. The Chairman.] Have you heard anything in the Force in respect to superannuation?— No. 86. When you were in the Force was there a system of compulsory insurance?—l do not think so. I was insured, and my premium was deducted. 87. There was no feeling in the Force in consequence of the want of superannuation?—l do not know that I have heard that question raised before. Colonel Hume : I wish, Sir, to put in two circulars which were asked for, in reference to police attending fires and drill, and instruction to be given by Inspectors. [Exhibit No. B.] 88. The Chairman.] Have the latter instructions been carried out?—So far as I know instruction is given, but there is no system of return reporting that it is done. 89. You have no reason to suppose they have not been carried out ?—No.

Tuesday, Ist Makch, 1898. Geokge Neale was examined on oath. 1. The Chairman.] You are an ex-constable of the New Zealand Police Force?— Yes. 2. What rank did you hold in 1883 ? —I was a third-class constable stationed in Christchurch. 3. What is your complaint in respect to Inspector Pender?—On the 28th April, 1883, I received information from a woman that the dead body of a child had been found in the grounds of a brothel