The Argus at KellyGang 9/4/1883 (5)
ROYAL COMMISSION
XXIII - POLITICAL AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCE
Final Report - continued
Where political influence is exercised to the extent of overriding the regulations, and materially interfering with the ordinary procedure of any Government department, the results cannot fail to prove disastrous. Much has been urged upon this head in relation to the management of the police, but judging from the evidence an a whole, your commissioners have a difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that members of Parliament, or public men generally are chargeable with intermeddling on behalf of members of the force, or as regards police arrangements generally, to an extent detrimental to the service. Many of the witnesses were emphatic in declaring that the principal cause of the deterioration of the force was political influence, but when closely interrogated and facts demanded, the answers given almost invariably were that there could be no other possible explanation of the promotion of certain individuals. The chief commissioner himself lays special stress upon external interference with the affairs of the department, both in the report which, in April last, he submitted to the Government and in his first examination before the commission. In support of his allegations he referred to the efforts made to prevent the withdrawal of constables from various localities but nothing seems to have been attempted by the parties interested beyond forwarding petitions and attending as deputations upon the Chief Secretary; to do which in relation to all grievances real and imaginary, is the constitutional right of every citizen. The chief commissioner when more recently interrogated upon this point, and when from his experience gained in the meantime he could speak with more authority, states ( 9,780) - "As to politicians, I have found that a number of members of Parliament have come to me before going to the Chief Secretary, and said, "I want to know whether it is opposed to your ideas? I have not been un ?pressed by members of Parliament sin? have been chief commissioner. I consider there is more made of political influence than there really is. It is the feeling in the force that I want to get rid of rather than the actual fact. Much that has been urged respecting the mischievous effects of political influence in relation to the force seems exaggerated. It has also been alleged that constables punished for offences were enabled by the assistance of friends to have their cases reopened. Two instances of external influence being exercised came before your commissioners namely, one in which Superintendent Hare acknowledged to having asked His Excellency Sir George Bowen to assist in having him retained at the depot when he was ordered to Beechworth, and the other that of Constable Thompson who was promised the position of powder magazine keeper by the Hon Major Smith when Minister of Mines at the instance of the mayor and council of Ballarat East, but who was afterwards deprived of that position by the appointment of Constable Parsons, apparently at the solicitation of Mr Towers, the editor of the Ballarat Evening Post. Where political influence may have worked mischievously was where the Government of the day have interfered with the recommendations of the chief commissioner and this in the past may have been unavoidable, but will be materially checked by the appointment of a board of three commissioners to administer the affairs of the police.
XXIV - OFFICERING THE FORCE
Considerable diversity of opinion prevails as to the best method of officering the force. While the delegates are unanimously agreed that promotions to the higher grades should be made from the ranks the officers examined with the exception of the chief commissioner, declare in favour of a system of cadets, who, possessing the necessary qualifications, and having undergone a period of at least five years training should serve to recruit the ranks of the superior officers. In some instances this latter proposal is modified to the extent that no absolute bar to preferment should thereby be raised to the subordinate members of the police, who should be open to receive the promotions due to distinguished services and meritorious conduct. The chief commissioner asserts that there are materials in the force at present from which creditable and efficient officers can be obtained by a system of educational tests, ie, competitive examinations for admission and successive grades. Seniority at present is supposed to be the principal qualification for promotion, but it has not been invariably adhered to. Some modification of the present system is requisite. Upon this point the witnesses agree. The sergeants and constables think that it is only by holding out the prospect of promotion to the higher ranks that a superior class of men can be induced to join the force. In the absence of such a stimulus, the men would no longer strive to maintain individually or collectively a high standard of excellence. The advocates for the appointment of cadets are confessedly aware that the official recognition of such a method of officering the force would be at variance with the democratic spirit of our institutions, and they seek to evade the difficulty by urging that cadetships should be given to the sons of police officers and of subordinate members of the force who distinguish themselves in their studies and pass through the University with honour. It is suggested that cadets should undergo a period of probation for at least five years. During that time they should receive practical instruction in the duties of the several grades of the force including beat, escort, and office routine. Their pay should be the same as an ordinary constable and in matters of discipline, when undergoing instruction or engaged on duty, they should rank as such. An argument put forward in support of those views is that, while in the majority of instances ordinary members of the notice make excellent sergeants, it is a positive cruelty to advance them to the higher grades for which they are unfitted by education, training and associations. It is stated that social status, no less than professional knowledge and experience, is requisite to qualify a man to hold the position of an officer. No doubt such a qualification is useful, if not essential, and might weigh if it influenced beneficially the character of young cadets; but, unfortunately, no guarantee of this nature can be given, and experience serves to allow that young men with limited means and dubious prospects are not always found the most reliable when placed in positions of trust and responsibility. Your commissioners consider that it would be highly inexpedient to accept any novel principle in relation to the officering of the force, and they believe that the suggestions made relative to the application of test examinations at certain stages of preferment cannot fail to secure ultimately officers possessed of the requisite qualifications for the purposes of the police.
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