V. B. TAYLOE.]

45

H.—l6b.

25. Supposing he commits a little indiscretion, do you not think the anonymous communication should be inquired into?— No. Tlie Commissioner: That is more an ethical question. I am not prepared to say I do not agree with the constable. Witness: Any private employe;' would put such a communication in the waste-paper basket. I feel very strongly on this point. 26. Mr. Dinnie] You object to old-age pensions work being done unless the constable receives some remuneration for it?— Well, I cannot object, lam Clerk of the Court, and it is part of my duty. 27. You get £10 a year for being Clerk? —Yes, 1 am Clerk of the Court, Inspector of Factories, Inspector under the Food and Drugs Act, and Registrar of Old-age Pensions. 28. You receive other emoluments in addition to your pay —mileage, &c. ?—That is infinitesimal. I should like to say it appears, and it is patent to every one, that for some time past, since the last Commission, Mr. O'Brien's district has been under a cloud—why we do not know— and promotions do not show out well in proportion to those in other districts. 29. The Commissioner] Is this a matter of general remark amongst the police? —Amongst some of us. 30. It is felt?— Yes, and his recommendations are evidently not taken much notice of in the matter of promotion. 31. Have you ever heard about what he termed the " useful man "? —1 cannot say I have. 32. But you know what he meant?— Quite well ; and 1 believe he exists. 33. You have heard of it? —I cannot say I did until the subject was brought to my mind by what the Inspector said yesterday. 34. What accounts for your saying you believe he exists?—l fail to see why the district should be under a cloud for so long. There must be something radically wrong, or else the district is very inferior to other districts. 35. From what I can see it compares very favourably with any other district. You think a man is handicapped by being in this district?— Yes. 36. Mr. Dinnie] What service have you had?— Fourteen years. 37. Do you know that the last constable promoted outside had fourteen years' service? —I cannot say. 38. And that no man has been promoted under that length of service outside?— Very likely. The recommendations of my Inspector have never been carried out. 39. Do you know how many men the Inspector has recommended in the last three years?—l am not in his confidence, and cannot say. 40. If I tell you that only one over fifty years of age, the rest being under fourteen years' service, has been recommended by him? —That may be. 41. Do you think that men with twelve years' service should be promoted when there are men with fourteen years equally qualified? —That rests with you. 42. The Commissioner] Can you suggest anjr direction in which the Police Force could be made more attractive to recruits? —By better pay. 43. Is the standard of education required too high?—l do not think so. 44. How long is it since you ha,ve been out of touch with the main body of the police?—l have been in the country eight years; I do not know much about the central stations. 45. Mr. Dinnie] You have nothing to complain about in regard to your treatment? —No; but, speaking generalty, there is a general feeling of dissatisfaction, ('specially in this district, and I think it is my duty to say so. It has been hinted that a man who conies here is a marked man, whose career is finished. 46. Who has said so?—I have heard it. 47. The Commissioner] I have given the Minister's personal assurance to all the men that they need not be afraid of speaking out?— But the question is, can the Minister carry it out? The Commissioner: I think you may disabuse your mind of that; all we want is the truth. Witness: I forgot to say something in connection with railway travelling passes. When a constable is in charge of a country station, something may crop up which necessitates a detective being sent up to assist, and the constable and detective may require to travel somewhere together by train. When they get to the railway-station the detective gets into a first-class carriage, while the constable has to ti avel second class. The position, then, is somewhat humilating to the constable, as superiority is not recognised in travelling. Then there was something mentioned in Invercargill in connection with sectarianism, when it was said we are all supposed to be tarred with one brush. Now, I happen to be a Protestant. I believe my Inspector is a Catholic, as are many of the other officers I have been under, and 1 should like to say for them that they have never allowed my religion to influence their treatment of me in any way whatever. Hugh Henry Butler, Constable, examined on oath. (No. 22.) Witness: I am stationed at Dunedin Central. I joined the Force in 1905. I am one of three delegates appointed to make certain suggestions in the interests of the Force. We consider the rate of pay is not sufficient for the work we are required to do. We start at 7s. 6d., and after four years we get a rise of 6d., and so on till we reach the maximum of 9s. (id., which is reached after sixteen years' service — practically half our service. We consider that uniforms should be provided free of cost. We are allowed material for the making of a tunic every eighteen months, and for trousers every nine months. Gaol warders, on the other hand, get two pairs of trousers and one tunic a year, and two pairs of boots free of cost. The making-up of our uniforms costs us about £2 10s. In the matter of leave, we get twelve days' annual leave, while