H.—l6b

A. .1. MITCHELL.]

of district clerk, then if his brother holds the rank of sergeant he should also hold the rank, because it carries with it certain additional remuneration : it is for that reason only I think they should hold that rank. 28. Mr. Dinnie.] Tlie Commissioner would not have the same control over a Civil Servant clerk as he would have over his own men? —That is another matter. 29. There is one question T wish to ask you : Do you know of any political interference so far as you are personally concerned? —I know of no instance where it has been resorted to. John Campbell Mackenzie, Sergeant, examined on oath. (No. 6.) Witness: I am stationed at Gore. In 1876 T joined the Otago Provincial police. I was about three weeks in Dunedin, then at Palmerston for a month, then in charge of Waihola for six months. From there I was transferred to West Taieri, where I remained for fourteen years and a half. From there I was transferred to Lumsden, where I remained seven years and a half. In January, 1898, I was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and transferred to Queenstown subdistrict. In 1903 I was transferred to Gore, where I remained for sixteen months; from there I went to Auckland, where I remained four months; then to Gisborne for eighteen months; and in June, 1906, I was transferred back to Gore, where I remain. 1. The Commissioner.] What led up to all these transfers from all the different places?— Probably the interests of the service. 2. During your long service, have you formed any opinion as to the general organization, control, and enrolment, of the Force? Is the control satisfactory from your standpoint?—l do not, know that 1 have the same confidence in the Commissioner as I used to have in former Commissioners. T feel that the Commissioner does not back us up so well as we might expect. There is nobody to take our part against the public, and we are not allowed to do it ourselves. 3. In relation particularly to what? —To complaints by the public, and so on. 4. The Commissioner is more inclined to side with the public than with the Force?—l should say so. 5. Do you think this has an unsatisfactory effect upon the Force? —It gives us a feeling that we are not backed up as we ought to be. 6. Is your feeling shared with others yvithin your knowledge?—l have not, discussed the matter with any one 7. Do you notice any deterioration in the class of men being enrolled in the Force of late years?— There probably is not the same class of men available that there used to be, and a much larger number of men are required. 8. Why are thej? not available? —Probably because the inducements are not sufficient in the way of pay and promotion. The pay is not now what it was thirty-three or thirty-four years ago, when I joined. It is nothing like it, and promotion is extremely slow-. The probabilities are that from now for the next ten or twenty years promotions will be very few to the higher ranks. 9. Do you find fault with the manner in which promotion is carried on?—I do not care to go into that. I have not been sufficiently connected with the Department, having been principally in out-stations. 10. But you must have formed certain opinions in regard to men who have not received promotion, but who y r ou thought were entitled to it?—l should consider that a matter of discipline. If an Inspector considers certain men entitled to promotion his opinion is better than mine, and he has a right to have things done the way he wants them. 11. The Inspector has very little fo do beyond recommending?— That is a great point, in the matter. 12. Do you know anything of any political or improper interference with matters affecting the Force? —No. 13. Have you used political influence yourself?—No, I have not used even police influence. T have taken everything as it came. 14. As regards the efficiency, sobriety, and morality of the Force to-day as compared with your long experience?—l do not know that there is any appreciable difference. 15. How many men have you at Gore? —Two. 16. Do'you always get good men?— Yes. 17. You have no cause of complaint?— Not recently. 18. Since when? —Not in Southland of any consequence. 19. So far as your experience of the Force goes, are they apparently sober and moral? — Yes. They compare more than favourably with any other Department in the public service. 20. Have you any suggestion to make in regard to an improved method of promotion? There seems to be a scarcity of first-class men coming forward. How would you improve it? —I have not considered the matter. 21. Have you given any thought to the amount of educational qualification required for enrolment?—No; but I do not think the standard is too high. 22. Mr. Dinnie.] You say you are not backed up as well as you think you ought to be : what was the cause of your transfer from Gisborne to Gore?—l have no official idea. 23. You had the papers on the matter: was it because of neglect of duty?—l do not think it was. 24. Did you apply for transfer?—No; but I had more work than I could do. I had three men's work to do. 25. Were yon not transferred for neglect in the performance of your duty? —I was not aware of it.

15