Royal Commission report day 51 page 2
The Royal Commission evidence for 8/9/1881
(see also introduction to day 51)
[[../../people/peN_P/nicolsonPAC.html|Ass Com Charles Hope Nicolson]] giving evidence
17133 They were well enough armed up to the time of the Kelly outbreak for all ordinary purposes?— Yes.
17134 After the capture of Power, did it never strike you as being necessary to supply men with arms which should be more effective in range and so on, for the capture of that sort of offender, than those that had been in use up to that time?— No, I do not think so. Power was only one man at that time, and there was no occasion, in my opinion, to fear any one else or any outbreak in the district. It was only necessary to keep the police up to the mark and improve them.
17135 But now, after the experience you have had in this last unfortunate affair, do you not think it would be a very necessary procedure on the part of the Government to recommend that arms fit for that service should be supplied, and the police exercised in the use of them?— Certainly I do; and I always considered for many years that the mounted men were not sufficiently exercised in the use of their arms, and when I visited stations I used to order their practising and getting a supply of ammunition for the purpose.
17136 Up to the time of the Kelly business you did not think they should have been supplied with rifles?— Yes, but I think now all mounted and foot men should be trained to the use of the rifle, although it may not be necessary to arm the foot men with the rifle; but there should be a sufficient number of arms available for any service they may be required when sent into the country on a sudden emergency. In every barracks there should be one or two rifles, and, if the country could afford it, I would give every man a rifle
17137 And you think a periodical opportunity should be given for every member of the force to become established in the use of them?— Yes. If he is taught properly at the beginning, he will not forget it, and a little practice will keep him right
17138 Can you give any further information as to how this jealousy arose between the officers?— I am not aware of any jealousy amongst the officers. Do you mean the department generally?
17139 As between yourself and Mr. Hare and Captain Standish, for instance?— I consider that for some years back Captain Standish has shown a disposition to keep me down, and to raise two of the senior officers up to the same level with me as much as possible in official matters.
17140 Can you give any particular instance?— I have handed in an affidavit, given by Gorman, as to Captain Standish's treatment of my reports. For instance, I mentioned one in Mr.Hare 's district. It was that constable I spoke of in the early part of the enquiry. This was a man who had served under me in the Kyneton district, and I had several times found him careless, though a clever and good constable. I would find him in bed as late as eight o'clock . On visiting my rounds I found him in Mr. Hare 's district, and I had reason to report unfavorably about the police and the station. Mr. Hare made use of a remark, amongst other things, to the effect—What grounds had I for making such a report about the man? questioning me on that point, which I thought was wrong on the part of the Chief Commissioner to let pass without letting me know. It was my duty to call attention to such a thing, and that station I observed and reported that it had been visited on one occasion, only once, for nearly a whole year, and I considered that, under those circumstances, Mr. Hare 's remark was uncalled for, and that the Chief Commissioner should have told him so. If I had mentioned any other officer almost, very serious notice would have been taken of it by the Chief Commissioner.
17141 Then you complain that the same notice was not taken in Mr. Hare's case that there would have been in other cases?— Yes.
17142 Have you any reason to believe that the service has suffered in any way by partiality to Mr. Hare?— It could not but suffer. It was degrading me to a certain extent in the eyes of the force.
17143 Did your appointment as Inspecting-Superintendent affect your relations with Captain Standish or Mr. Hare?— Captain Standish advised me not to accept it, pointing out I would lose pecuniarily by it; but I told him I did not care for that—my only object was that I did not want the officers to be placed over my head, and I should not object if Mr. Hare could accept the appointment without being placed over my head.
17144 Did Captain Standish desire to give that position to Mr. Hare; did he say so?— He spoke to me about the state the city district was in, that it was all in order, and it seemed to agree with me and suit me very well, and that I would be away from my family for so many months in the year with the other position, that I would not like it so well. Besides it would be a pecuniary loss to me.
17145 That instance you spoke of was the instance of Constable Redding?— Yes.
17146 Did Mr. Hare interfere with you in any other cases in the same way in the district?— There was something about my visiting the district that occurred at the depot.....
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