The Argus at KellyGang 4/9/1882 (2)
With regard to the police hospital, it has been elicited during the inquiry that it occupies a very anomalous position. Senior constable Biltop, the dispenser in charge of the hospital, deposed that the average number of patients in the institution last year was 15. From the pay of each patient 3s 9d was stopped. Mr Ford was the medical officer, and he paid for the provisions and medicine. The Government paid for a cook. Mr Chomley, when questioned on the subject, said:-
"The present arrangement (of the medical man supplying food and medicines) has been in force since the 15th January, 1855 -that is 27 years. Before 1855 They used to pay a surgeon a salary. Then there was sort of black Wednesday, and they get rid of a lot of officers. Mr Ford was district colonial surgeon at the time and his office was done away with. At that time them were20 men in the hospital, and they paid 4s a day. He (Mr Ford) represented that these men were now without medical attendance, and said, 'Until you each make some other arrangement l will manage the hospital. If you give me the top pages, meaning by the 'stoppages' the money educated from the patient's pay. The Government agreed to this as a temporary measure, and it has been continued ever since. The arrangement is rotten, but I1 do not mean to touch it so long as Mr Ford is there. All the men pay now a 3s 9d a day, and this cannot get medical attendance and their keep for that anywhere else."
Mr Moors, in speaking of the same subject, said:-
“In theory it is a most objectionable arrangement, and under a different man it would certainly not answer, but Mr Ford is a man in whom thorough confidence can be placed. The men are well attended to. The objection to the system is that it is to the interest of the medical man to keep the man in the hospital. When Mr Ford retires and another medical man is appointed a different arrangement will certainly be absolutely necessary."
Mr Ford corroborated Mr Chomley's statement as to the origin of the arrangement, and said: -
"I have repeatedly written to the Government trying to get it altered. The only difference made has been the reduction of the amount of the stoppages from 5s to 3s 9d. The establishing of this hospital had the effect of reducing the dally average of the sick by about 50 per cent. A very small number of the members of the force attempt to malinger. I have frequently had to report men for offering bribes to me. I have sent their letters, with the money in them, to the chief commissioner, and the men very seldom attempt it now."
A glance at the evidence given by the con- stables and senior constables shows that they are pretty unanimous as to what they desire. They want some amendments in the Police Superannuation Act, so as to facilitate matters for the relatives of deceased members of the force. An increase of pay of about Is a day is also asked for by the young members of the force after two years' service. They also urge that the police generally should be able to go to the hospitals in their own districts, and married men to lay up at home rather than be sent to the depot hospital. In the matter of uniform they ask for a marked change. They call for the abolition of the tunic, of the white and black trousers and of the armlet and the gloves, and they desire permission to wear the jumper all the year round, and trousers of colonial tweed. As to the helmet, it is condemned by some and approved of by others, but the majority say they would prefer the old peaked cap or a light felt helmet similar to that worn by the warders at Pentridge. Another request they make is that their annual leave of absence should be increased from a fortnight to three weeks. It was also stated that the majority of the members of the force claimed the franchise, and those witnesses who were opposed to policemen having votes said that they were in a very small minority.
Amongst the sub officers called were Sergeant Dalton and Senior constable Burke, both of whom were examined at length as to notorious hotels and houses of ill fame. They mentioned by name about 20 hotels in the metropolis all of which they said traded in immorality. Efforts had been made to close from of these dens of iniquity, on the ground that they were frequented by thieves and prostitutes, but the police had not been properly supported by the magistrates, and had in consequence generally failed.
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