The Argus at KellyGang 16/11/1881
Parliament
Legislative Assembly
PAPERS
The following papers were laid upon the table -Return of land applied for under section 19 of the Land Act 1869 and under section 2 of the Amending Land Act; return showing the acreage of vines destroyed in the Geelong district; statistical register of the colony of Victoria for 1880; law crime interchange and vital statistics; report of the Police Commission.
THE POLICE COMMISSION
Mr LONGMORE asked the Chief Secretary when he intended to deal with the report of the Police Commission, and when the House would have an opportunity of discussing the report?
Mr M KEAN -It will take six months to read the report
Mr KERTERD suggested that it should be bound and given as a Christmas present to hon members to read through the recess.
Mr GRANT said that the report and evidence were very voluminous and it would take some time to master their contents. The Government had also to consider the statements made to them by several members of the police whose conduct had been brought under the notice of the commission. He hoped without any delay to be able to announce the decision of the Government in the matter.
Parliament
Legislative Assembly
The evidence taken by the Police Commission, accompanied by the report of that body and minutes of its proceedings, was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly yesterday. There are 720 pages of printed matter. The first sitting was held on March 15, 1881 , and the last on October 18. The commission met 66 times, 53 meetings being devoted to the taking of evidence, and 13 to considering reports. Mr Longmore, the chairman, attended 65 sittings. The member who was present the smallest number of times was Mr Levey, who attended nine of the sittings for taking evidence, and 11 out of the 13 devoted to considering reports, or 20 in all. Mr Graves, who stands next above Mr Levey, was present at 35 sittings for taking evidence, but gave up attending the commission after being appointed a member of the Ministry in July last.
Sir Charles MacMahon was not in his place yesterday, and consequently his application to the Government for the production of the replies sent in by members of the police force to the findings of the Commission was not made. Since the replies were received by the Chief Secretary, Superintendent Sadleir has obtained leave to amplify his statement by inserting the portions of evidence commented on by him, in place of merely giving reference to the number of the questions. Had Sir Charles McMahon's question been put yesterday, it would not under the circumstances have been fully complied with. Mr Grant stated, in reply to Mr, Longmore that the Government would take an early opportunity of considering the recommendations of the Commission. It was jocosely suggested by Mr Vale that they should let the report stand over until the recess. The commission is not likely to proceed with its inquiry into the general condition of the police force until the Government have taken action in regard to the report now before Parliament.
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