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350. You do not agree with the selections that have been made, but you appear to advocate a system of selection, and I want to know how you are going to arrive at a system of selection that is likely to give satisfaction to the whole Force ?—I would suggest the first thing to look at in promotions is seniority, coupled with ability—nothing else. Take the list of third-class constables, and go down them. If one man has got sufficient on his sheet, and you know him sufficiently well to know that he is no good, pass him over, and so on. To simply pick out a man who has got a clean sheet for seven years is unreasonable. 351. You are opposed to the increment system because it would give every man an equal chance, whether he be good or bad ? —Just so. 352. The system of the classes you also do not agree with, because the selections have not met with the approval of the men generally ?—Of course, that is the fault of the selections. If the men had the impression that only good men were promoted I do not think there would be so much dissatisfaction ; but it is taking the thing haphazard that causes so much dissatisfaction —that is, promoting every man that has a clean defaulter's sheet for seven years, because it is a well known fact amongst the police themselves that a clean sheet is not always a good recommendation. 353. Your principal argument against the increment system is that, whether a man is good or bad, so long as the bad man does not get anything on his defaulter's sheet, both attain the same position at the same time ?—Just so. It would take all the life out of the Force if you promoted a man just because he happened to be a certain time in the Foree —mere length of service. 354. Colonel Hume.] Do you know it is in force in the Irish Constabulary?—l do not know. 355. Mr. Tunbridge.] You do not happen to know it is in force in the Metropolitan Force in London ?—I do not know. 356. If a man neglects his duty it is the duty of the sergeant to report him ?—Yes, but there are ways of doing things. 357. If he persistently neglects his duty? —If he is very bad that way, of course he is brought up. 358. And if he has good officers over him he will soon be weeded out ? —I should think so. There are two classes of men in every Force — the man who throws his whole heart into his work and does it properly, and the other man who does as little as he can. 359. The Chairman. .] You say a clean sheet means but little?—lt is nothing to go by. 360. In places where there is only one constable there is nobody to put him on the defaulter's sheet ?—Not unless he behaves himself very badly indeed, and some of the public complain, or the Inspector happens to drop on him for doing something wrong. He could be there for years, and nobody be any the wiser as to his conduct. You very often find a man with the worst defaulter's sheet has got the best record on his merit-sheet. 361. Mr. Taylor.] Do you consider the training of men before they are put on street duty sufficient ?—No, I think there ought to be a proper training depot. 362. Do you not think lack of thorough instruction is likely to make a man nervous about attempting to enforce the law ? —Undoubtedly; but, as a rule, the recruits are sent out with an old hand. 363. I do not mean that altogether; but is the training sufficient—systematic teaching?— Not as much as if there was a proper training school. 364. As a matter of fact, you would not know much about political influence being brought to bear on removals and appointments of men ? —I would not know anything about that unless by hearsay. 365. The Chairman.] You would hear it from the men?— Well, if they were soft enough to say anything about it. 366. Mr. Taylor.] You are voicing the opinion of more men than yourself when you refer to these promotions. There is a feeling that there have been indiscriminate promotions at times ? — lam referring to those particular lots. I know there was dissatisfaction, from what I heard the men say. 367. Do you know whether there are any tote-shops in Wellington ?—I do not think there is one. 368. Not now ?—There has not been for the last two or three years. I think the last time we raided them we broke them up. Ido not think there is one at all now. 369. Do you think, although the tote-shop is suppressed, gambling is on the increase in Wellington ? —I could not say it is. Ido not think it is any worse than it has been. It might be. 370. Do you know whether there is a considerable number of the spieling fraternity in town ? —What do you mean by " spielers " —book-makers, or thieves ? 371. I mean thieves; Ido not discriminate between the two classes ?—There is a good deal of difference. We look upon spielers as half thieves and half book-makers. They attend race meetings, and fill in the time by a little bit of burglary. A book-maker is a book-maker pure and simple, who follows the races and bets on them. 372. And in the interval?—He does nothing else. There are races going on every day in the year almost in some part of the colony. 373. Do you not think that with a superannuation scheme a better class of men would be attracted to the Force ?—I should say so. 374. You would have a larger number of men to select from ?—I should say so. You would keep the best men in the Force. A man with a few years' service would not want to leave it; but now, of course, they would leave at a moment's notice if they saw anything sticking out better. 375. Do you remember whether Mr. Hutchison's scheme was generally approved of by the men ?—lt was in Canterbury and Otago, and I believe Auckland, but I cannot say about Wellington. I think there was some difference of opinion in Wellington. They were mostly young hands, and they thought the 5 per cent, reduction was severe.