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26. Are you aware he has been to see me?— No. * 27. Are you aware he says himself he is not fit to perform street duty ?—I am not. 28. We will call him later on. Then, you recommended a man named West: what is his length of service ?—I should say, considerably over twenty years. 29. What is his age?—l do not know exactly, but I know you have promoted men who are very much older than he is. 30 I have not promoted a man of over fifty years of age, and West is over fifty?—! do not know what his age is, but still I will assert that you have promoted a constable to the rank of sergeant who is older than West. . J l \l he Gommissioner -. Will JO" us his name?— Sergeant Donovan, at present stationed at St. Albans. Mr. Dinnie: That requires explanation. Witness: Does Mr. Dinnie say that Sergeant Donovan was not promoted in his time sir? Mr. Dinnie: No, Ido not. The Commissioner: How did he come to be promoted? Mr. Dinnie: He was offered promotion before I came here, and he accepted it. Witness: I thought the promotions were usually made by the head of the Department. Mr. Dinnie: He was promoted by the Minister of Justice, but not on my recommendation It was very much against Mr. Tunbridge's wishes. The Commissioner: Did you protest against his appointment to St. Albans? Mr. Dinnie: Yes, I explained the position, and stated I could not recommend him, as the papers will show. . i 32 ', M Z' Di7 " ue '\ The next man y° u recommend is Matthews : do you know what has become of him*— Yes; he is now at the Chatham Islands. He is an excellent man undoubtedly, and deserving of promotion. lam aware he had only eleven years' service in 1907, but 1 have known constables of only ten years' service promoted. 33. District clerks, I suppose?— Yes; but why? 34. Because of their special qualifications. The next man you recommend is McKenzie, a man of similar service?— Yes, another man deserving of promotion, to my mind. 35. Your recommendations are not very strong. In the case of West you say he is a steady reliable constable, has a very good general knowledge of police duties, writes a good report and is not likely to place himself under obligation to any one. As regards Matthews, you say he is a steady intelligent constable, with a good knowledge of police duties, writes a good hand and frames a most intelligent repoit; further, that he has passed the late police examination' As regards McKenzie, you say he is a good constable, has a fair knowledge of police duties, writes a fair hand, formulates a good report, is active and always ready when definite duty is to be faced?— Well, I think that is a good recommendation. 36. But you know there are recommendations from other districts?—No doubt. 37. You will recognise that men of more than eleven years' service are recommended by other Inspectors than yourself, and perhaps better men?— That may be so. In connection with a point you referred to a little ago, I shall name another constable who was promoted to the rank of sergeant some considerable time after he had attained the age of fifty years. That is Sergeant Morgan, of Canterbury. Mr. Dinnie: I have not the files here to show his age, but I do not think he is over fifty The Commissioner: I know ho is a most excellent officer, and I think he is more than fifty years of age. J Witness: If I say he was over the age of fifty-five at the time of his appointment will the Commissioner of Police contradict me? 38. Mr. Dinnie] There may be special cases where men are promoted, and 1 think it is only right. Your recommendations have been few?— You speak of 1907 only. There have been recommendations later than that. 39. How many did you recommend last year?— Three, I think. 40. One was West again, I suppose?—l believe so. 41. And the other two were Taylor and McKenzie?—Yes. 42. What service had they?—l do not know exactly. 43. What service had McKenzie?—Ten or eleven years. 44. What is the length of service for which men are promoted now, barring special cases, such as district clerks, for instance? Is not the least about fourteen years?—No, I think there are some promoted whose service does not amount to that. 45. And who have not special appointments?—l know nothing about special appointments. 46. Who was the last man promoted, do you remember?—Eccles. 47. He was a man who came to your own district?—He was not in my district when he received his promotion. 48. What was his service? —I do not know. 49. Now, fourteen years' service is the lowest I have recommended for promotion. With regard to these men of yours, West was over fifty years and the other two had only twelve years' service? —Yes, but the question arises, why is West, who you say is over fifty years, not promoted, in the face of the promotion of a man who was about sixty at the time of his promotion ? 50. I do not know of any man of sixty, but if there is such a man I suppose it would be because that man had better qualifications than West, for instance?—l have had experience of both, and, if I am any judge of qualifications, the man who has not been promoted is by far the better qualified of the two. Both have been stationed under me, and I have had good opportunities of knowing them.

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