H.—l6b.

T. o'BBIEN.]

Witness • I will say this in answer to your question : that, whatever recommendation was made by the Commission at the time, it was, I think, brought about by the evidence you gave in Wellington at the last moment, before the curtain dropped on that inquiry. 9 Mr Dinnie ] Do you really think the Commission would not take into consideration the evidence they had obtained here?—l do not think there was anything in the evidence obtained here to justify the Commission making any recommendation which would be at all to my detriment. 10 Then I am sorry for the Commissioners if they would not take into consideration the whole of the evidence obtained here, together with that which I gave them. The Commission would be a farce otherwise?— Then, I should be very sorry that any Commissioner of Police should think it proper to make a charge behind an Inspector's back which he dare not make to his face. You refrained from giving evidence in Dunedin while I was present—while I had an opportunity of asking questions and of calling evidence to disprove any allegation you might make You went away to Wellington, when neither Sub-Inspector Green nor myself were present, and you made, according to the newspaper account, sweeping statements which we were never given an opportunity to contradict or disprove. 11. Did I arrange in any way how the evidence was to be taken?—l do not know what you arranged. I only know what you did. 12 Did I not give my evidence when I was asked to?— Probably you did. You say that notice should be taken of "something that transpired in Dunedin in evidence. Why did you not, then, in Dunedin give your evidence, and give Sub-Inspector Green and myself an opportunity of saying something in reply? 13 I should have been pleased to do so, but I was not asked to do so. My evidence was kept to the last. I was bound to give my general evidence at Headquarters I—You; were.not bound. It was open to you at any moment to step into the witness-box m Dunedin and give what evidence you vvhether that can be called a fault of mine or of the Commissioners?—lt was evidently the fault of yourself. , . , ... , Mr Dinnie: It was due to an arrangement by the Commission that my evidence should be j reco i lec ti o n of what took place, so far as Mr. O'Brien's position is concerned. That particular Commission had no idea of the 1 nes on which the Commissioner would give his evidence. It was merely a matte! of convenience that he should give his evidence in Wellington, to finally clear up the Proceedings of the Commission. Very likely if we had been aware that in that evidence there would be statements reflecting upon any officer who had already given evidence we should have heard those tatements in the district," in which the officers were stationed 1 propose to adopt that practice iroughout this Commission. The Commissioner of Police will be sworn once for-tha whole of the sittings of the Commission, and at each locality where any individual is affected he will be asked to give his evidence, so as to clear up the matter once and for all. Mr. DiLie: I think you will remember, sir, that it was in answer to a question from yourself that I said anything in respect to Inspector O'Brien at all. _ The Commissioner Naturally, I would want your opinion as Commissioner of Police as to the manner in which the Inspector had discharged his duties. I did not know what your answer was going to be. Possibly a mistake was made in not hearing your evidence m Dunedin, but 1 will see that the same difficulty does not arise again. 15. Witness: No; but I think I have your assurance now, sir, that you did not in any way urevent Mr. Dinnie from giving evidence in Dunedin. P The Commissioner: All he had to do was to come forward and give it. We expressed the opinion that it would be more convenient that he should close the Commission by giving his evidence ir!(Wellington. Of course, we could not anticipate what the nature of his evidence WoUl lViL SS .- Well, I feel quite satisfied there is no other Commissioner of Police in the British dominions who would have done what he did on that occasion 16 Mr Dinnie] That is a matter of opinion ?—Yes, and I put it forward boldly. 17' So that you have a little grievance I—No, lam not a man with a grievance at ail. 18. The Commissioner] At any rate, the grievance is not a matter which is likely to affect your evidence now? —I have no grievance, sir. , 7 IS > Mr. Dinnie] You suggest I have placed a man in each of the centres as a sort of spy?--1 did not suggest anything of the kind. I said it was a matter commonly talked about by men of all ranks from the north end of the Dominion to the south. 20 Will you give any instance of any one telling you so?-I will mention no names. _ 21 I mean to the Commissioner ?-I will say I have heard it from all ranks of the service. 22' I shall be very glad indeed if you will give the Commissioner the names of any persons who have 'iven you this information. You say you have recommended a number for promotion, and that none o/those recommended have been promoted. Are you sure of that?-I am sure of everytlllng 23 Ythfnk voThave recommended very few for promotion. Who have you recommended during' the last vear?-I presume you have the papers there. I might say that, in consequence of Ke failures'to promote, there has been a tendency for men in my district to apply for tarnsfCT to 24 a «flS*s!f On the supposition that they would not get advancement here?-I do not know Probably they thought promotion would come about quicker in another district. 25 Mr Dinnie] Here'is you? last list. Here is Constable Mclntyre, who is acting Inspector of Weights and Measures. Is 'he fit to be promoted to the rank of sergeant ?-I think so, otherwise I should not have recommended him.

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