Royal Commission report day 22 page 20
The Royal Commission evidence for 18/5/1881
(see also introduction to day 22)
SConst Kelly giving evidence
8481 Has any constable in the district got promotion for his services that you are aware of?— No.
8482 Have they got better stations?— Yes, there are some senior-constables–Flood and Mullane.
8483 Have they got promotion since the Kelly business?— No, they got it during that time.
8484 Is there any rank between senior-constable and sergeant?— Yes, there is.
8485 What?— Sixpence a day extra and an stripe extra.
8486 Supposing that you were promoted now, what would be the next promotion that you could possibly get?— Second-class sergeant.
8487 Is that the same as Sergeant Steele?— That is the same as Sergeant Steele.
8488 Is there any such thing as good-service pay without getting a stripe?— There is sixpence a day after ten years service.
8489 Have you ten years' service?— I have twenty, next January.
8490 Then, without giving you the stripe for service, it would have been quite possible for your officer to give you extra pay without giving you promotion?— Without giving me promotion I could not get it.
8491 You are now a senior-constable?— Yes.
8492 Can you get extra pay after the ten years' service without being entitled to that pay by the extra stripe?— I would get it without the extra stripe.
8493 Did you get that?— Yes.
8494 Then you got the sixpence a day extra?— I have.
8495 When did you get it?— I think it ie four or five years in existence.
8496 But you did not get any promotion, either in pay or in the service, since the Kelly business?— No, none whatever.
8497 The only promotion you got was change to the westward into a new officer’s district?— Yes.
8498 Are you aware of any constable of any district, or of any senior-constable, since the capture of the Kellys having got promotion in the district for his services or from other causes?— I do not think any of us have been promoted.
8499 Then promotion has been at a standstill in the district?— Yes.
8500 Nobody has been promoted over your head had you remained in the district?— No.
8501 You say the only promotion you got was removal to another district; do you consider that a promotion?— It is no promotion, there is nothing extra for it.
8502 I gather from your answer to Mr. Graves it is rather a disadvantage to go into a strange place and under a strange officer who does not know you; you do not look upon that as promotion?— It is no promotion.
8503 You are two months married?— Nearly twelve months.
8504 But two months married at the time you were ordered to Greta?— Yes.
8505 Putting yourself out of the question, would Greta be a desirable station for your wife at a public-house?— It would not; I would not take her there.
8506 Would it involve your paying for lodgings and for your wife?— Yes, I had to do it.
8507 Did you tell that to your officer?— Yes.
8508 Did you tell him you were married and that there was no place for your wife at Greta?— Yes, he asked me when I came back. I was down here on leave, and Mr. Sadleir asked me and called me into the office to tell me about the transfer. He said, “Have you brought up your wife?” and I said, “No”; and he said, “I am very glad you have not for a bit, for I want you to go to Greta with three constables.”
8509 Then you did not tell him you could not bring her to Greta?— No, I did not.
8510 By Mr. Sadleir— When news of Sherritt's death came to us, was it not in the afternoon, not in the morning?— When was that?
8511 On Sunday the 27th. I have got it that you said it was in the morning; was not it in the afternoon?— No, I said in the afternoon.
8512 Then I misheard you. I will come direct to the matter–you heard it from Mr. Hare?— I heard it from Mr. Hare.....
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