105

H.— 2

294. Do you think, Colonel Hume, in regard to the spieling classes, that it is the duty of your officers to prosecute them if they are known to be spielers ?—lt all depends on what evidence you have against them. 295. Suppose they are known to be nothing but walking totes, do not you think it is the duty of policemen to know them thoroughly, and to prosecute them ?—lf they have sufficient evidence to go on, but not if they are going to lose the case. It does more harm to lose a case than to win ten cases. 296. There were no special instructions to the Force to deal with this evil ?—No. 297. They know their duty ?—Yes. Police Eegulation 46 says : " Every person whom he shall find playing or betting in any street, road, highway, or other open and public place, at or with any table or instrument of gaming or pretended game of chance." 298. Do not you think, taking that regulation and the legal power in the hands of the Detective Force in this colony into consideration, that they ought to be able to deal with the walking totes ? —I do not say they are not; but I say this, that so long as I was Commissioner I used every exertion to get them to deal with the evil. 299. The Chairman.] In the face of this, you still repeat that statement, that as the law now stands it is practically impossible to put it down?— Yes, I should be inclined to say that. 300. Colonel Pitt.] Can you make any recommendation as to the alteration of the law on that point ?—I would rather answer that question later on. I think I have some suggestions to make. 301. Mr. Taylor.] Have you the papers of Constable Edwin Murray ?—Yes. 302. When did he join the Force?—On the Bth February, 1897. 303. Who recommended him?— Mr. H. J. McKenzie, Wellington. He was one year in the Permanent Artillery. 304. Colonel Pitt.] Was any inquiry made into that case of Sergeant McArdle, which was before us yesterday, in reference to the Magistrate's remarks in his judgment ?—No, I think not. 305. Never done anything at all?—No ; I do not think ihere was any official inquiry. 306. Do you think that was fair to McArdle ?—Well, he was moved from there shortly afterwards. 307. I know ; but no inquiry was held as to whether he was guilty or innocent of what the Magistrate alleged, or the counsel alleged, against him?—lf we inquired into everything that was caused by remarks made by the Bench we should be incessantly inquiring. 308. When an Inspector is moved from one district to another has it been the custom for the sergeant-major of his former district to be moved to the new district with him ?—No. 309. It is in some cases, I suppose ? —No ; Ido not think it has ever been done. I think in one or two instances they have been allowed to take their district clerks with them, but that is all. 310. Are you sure you are correct about Inspector Moore's age? You told us he was sixtythree or sixty-five when he retired ?—I explained to the Commission that was an error, and I have corrected my evidence. He was fifty-seven. 311. The Chairman.] With regard to promotions in the Force : Your reports referred to the stagnation of promotion, and I asked if there was no limit to the classes ?—There is a limit, a financial limit. 312. Perhaps you will be able to explain how it is that sixty men were promoted within a year from the time you resigned office. What was done to remove the stagnation ?—For one thing, I would not promote first-class constables in charge of stations to be third-class sergeants, because I believe a man loses £60 or £80 a year by it. I wanted third-class sergeants wiped out all the time, and I would not fill vacancies. 313. Mr. Ttmbridge.] The fact that you were not making first-class constables to be sergeants caused stagnation in the ranks of first-class constables ?—That is right. 314. The Chairman.] That accounts for the first class, but what about promotions from third to second, and from second to first class ? —When I handed over the Police the authorised establishment of sergeants-major was 2, and we had 2; of first-class sergeants, 22, and we had 19; of second-class sergeants, 22, and we had 12 ; of third-class sergeants, 12, and we had 8 ; of first-class constables, 122, and we had 120; of second-class constables, 116, and. we had 113; of third-class constables, 216, and we had 221. 315. Practically you had your complete strength of first- and second-class constables, but not third-class sergeants? —Yes. I was in hopes that the third and second ranks of sergeants would be done away with, and that the scheme I had in view would be carried out. Of course, every man I promoted made my scheme the more difficult to carry out. I may also state that, of course, I knew my successor was coming out, and naturally I did not make any appointments just before he came. Aethue Hobbins Weight was examined on oath. 316. Mr. Taylor.] How long have you been in the Force?— Sixteen years next August. 317. What districts have you served in ?—lnvercargill, Dunedin, and Wellington. 318. You have never served under Inspector Emerson ? —No. 319. What is the practice, supposing a complaint is made against a constable, is it immediately recorded in writing in some book? —Not necessarily in a book. It would be taken down if a person came to the station and reported a constable for any offence. 320. Is that a permanent record?— Yes. 321. What becomes of it ?—lf a trivial matter, it would probably be sent to the constable for an explanation. 322. Then what becomes of the document ?—lt would probably go to the Commissioner, or be filed, according to the gravity of the offence or the result of the inquiry. 14— H. 2.