Royal Commission report day 28 page 3
The Royal Commission evidence for 9/6/1881
(see also introduction to day 28)
Insp William B. Montfort giving evidence
11018 I was speaking of the management of them?— Well, Mr. O'Connor's trackers would do nothing for any person but him—in fact, Senior-Constable Smyth, the police clerk, said so, yesterday. I forget what question I asked about. He heard me ask some question of Kirkham, and he said if any other person told one of Mr. O'Connor's trackers to do this, that, or the other, or gave him any instructions at all, he would say, “Oh, I am not going to attend to you, you are not the boss.”
11019 Do you think that if the present trackers at Benalla were under the management of Mr. O'Connor that they would rather obey him than the officer that has had charge of them since?— I cannot say that. In order to judge that I would have to see Mr. O'Connor in charge.
11020 The men have not been acquainted with Mr. O’Connor . I want to see, as far as you know, have you obtained any information from any of the officers that had the opportunity of judging of Mr. O'Connor whether he had special qualifications to guide those black trackers for the object they were brought to this colony?— I do not know; I never heard. Of course it must be assumed that when Mr. O'Connor came with the black trackers from Queensland that he was better capable of managing the Queensland black trackers than anybody else.
Mr. O'Connor — The native police in Queensland are taught only to look to their officer—to take no commands from anybody else. If the Chief Commissioner came up they would take no commands from him. That will account for their not listening to any one else.
11021 By the Commission (to Mr. O'Connor)— If the trackers brought from Queensland were placed under an officer here who would be kind and efficient in his management they would obey him equally with the man who came with them?— They would.
The Witness — I was going to say that was my opinion. I can only speak of those six that are there.
11022 Do you see any necessity for any change of the management of trackers at the present time?— Of course the effect of that question is-
11023 Do you think their efficiency would be increased by a change?— That is apt to bring me in contact with other parties.
11024 It is simply a matter of opinion. So far as I gather from your remarks, you think they are perfectly efficient by the tests you have applied to them. I want your opinion as to whether you think they would become more efficient by any change?— I do not think so.
11025 There is one black tracker, I understand, that was with Mr. O'Connor during the time he had charge?— Yes; I believe so.
11026 Have you heard any complaints from Kirkham, or Baber, or Whelan, that this particular black has disobeyed the orders given by any of the officers?— They never disobeyed any. Moses is his name. He is a most active little fellow, not the slightest difference from the others. I think he is more intelligent than the others.
11027 Are you aware that that intelligent boy did not come from Queensland?— I am sure he did come from Queensland. He said he did.
11028 The question I ask is this: are you aware that Moses, the black tracker, did not come from Queensland with Mr. O'Connor's party?— I am. I did not know it until a few days ago.
11029 Are you aware he was found here and enlisted into the party by Mr. O'Connor?— I did not hear he enlisted him. I heard that he joined Mr. O'Connor's party here.
11030 Do you know now that he received no Queensland training in the police?— I am aware of that from what I hear.
11031 You have altogether six trackers at Benalla?— Yes, six.
11032 If Kirkham and Mr. Baber, who have had the principal charge of them recently, were removed from the immediate charge of those men, and the trackers were made acquainted with that fact, do you think they would obey some one else placed in charge in course of time, equally with those in charge of them in the past?— I have no doubt of it.
11033 In point of fact those men have simply to be made aware that a certain officer has the control of them?— Yes; they are wide awake enough, and know me now very well. I am endeavoring to answer you as straight as I possibly can—in fact, I have no reservation in the matter. I do not care what the effect of my answer may be, but I can only offer an opinion, of course, on the majority of these questions.....
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