Royal Commission report day 41 page 4
The Royal Commission evidence for 2/8/1881
(see also introduction to day 41)
[[../../people/peU_Z/winchSup.html|Sup Frederick Alfred Winch]] giving evidence
14250 You were senior to him in joining the service?— Yes, by some three months. I am senior to Mr. Chomley by some two years in our present rank, and yet he is placed over my head. He is Acting Chief Commissioner and I am still superintendent. He got his present rank—that of superintendent—two years after I did.
14251 Are you aware whether this system of favoritism on the part of Captain Standish has obtained towards others besides towards Mr. Hare?— I am not.
14252 In the question of the minor appointments and promotions?— I could not say that. I do not know anything about that.
14253 Your attention has been drawn to this more particularly in consequence of his being your junior?— Yes.
14254 Has Mr. Hare performed any actions in the shape of encounters with bushrangers?— None that I am aware of. The only thing I am aware of is what he said himself, that he captured some intended burglar or another at Benalla, and he intended to throw somebody overboard if he had come there, but he did not come. I do not know what he has done to be chosen over the heads of men who have done that sort of duty over and over again.
14255 You do not know anything in which he has specially signalized himself?— No. It is not a graceful thing to blow one's own trumpet, but I could point out where I have done those things over and over again.
14256 Has it come to your knowledge that Mr. Hare has used his influence with Captain Standish in any way for his own benefit or the benefit of his friends?— No.
14257 Not to the detriment of any others?— No. As far as I am concerned I am friendly with them all, excepting Captain Standish . When he was up the country we were very good friends, and he returned. He then thought fit to slight me in the most marked manner, and I wanted to know what was the meaning of it, and he said he had been told something that I had been saying about him, and that in consequence our friendly feeling must cease; and I asked him who was his informant, and he would not say; so I said, “Very well; if you will not give the authority for this statement I cannot help it.” But he subsequently said to me that he believed he had been misinformed, and he hoped we would shake hands and be the same as before, and I said, “All right.” I was glad he had come to his right mind again.
14258 Do you think this points to the desirability of not allowing so much power to be exercised by one man as commissioner of police?— Yes. If I had my way in the matter I should have a chief commissioner and two assistant commissioners.
14259 To consult over matters generally?— Yes; there would be a check then upon any desire on the part of any one individual to do a wrong to any other person.
14260 To consult as a board?— Yes; I would have a chief commissioner and one assistant commissioner in charge of the metropolitan force—as I am at present—and the other assistant commissioner should travel. They might take it in turns to travel. The great fault now in the police force is there is no one to supervise the districts. I would recommend one to supervise the metropolitan district and the other to travel. They might take this six months about.
14261 But that all appointments should be made by the united three?— Yes, exactly. They should meet and determine any important matter of policy dealt with by the department; not one person to do it alone.
14262 You mean promotions?— Yes, promotions; and formations of new stations, and generally anything that might crop up.
14963 Any appeals against punishments?— Exactly.
14264 And consultations about such matters as this last Kelly outbreak?— Yes; I think there was a great want of caution and judgment shown there in not consulting with officers who had long and large experience in matters of that description.
14265 You are under the impression that if, during the Kelly business, the Chief Commissioner and the two next junior to him had been consulted, a better state of things would have been brought about?— I am sure of' it. I do not think that Captain Standish has the slightest knowledge of police affairs at all. He is a capital fellow in his office, but as to actual police work he knows nothing about it at all.
14266 Might not that want of police knowledge and the favoritism you have spoken of have been the cause of a great deal of the trouble in the force at the present time?— I think so, certainly.
14267 Are you on good terms with all your brother officers?— I am on the most cordial terms; I never had a quarrel with any of them, from the highest to the lowest.
14268 Do you consider such a state as that—mutual good feeling between the officers—indispensable for the public service?— Most indispensable. I think without harmony and brotherly feeling between each other the public service must suffer.....
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