§ MR. T. E. ELLIS (Merionethshire)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the dismissal of Police Constable Griffith from the 1357 Merionethshire Police, and to the refusal of the Chief Constable to grant him any testimonial of character; whether one of the causes alleged for his dismissal is that he sympathized with the tithe movement; whether he has served in the police force for over four years with credit; and, whether he will make inquiries as to whether this policeman has received fair treatment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have obtained a Report from the Chief Constable of the county, who informs me that this constable was not dismissed for sympathizing with the tithe movement, but for a gross neglect of duty. He had served in the police for a little over four years, and had borne a fair character. The Chief Constable has, by Statute, the power to dismiss him without notice. In this case he gave the constable a month's notice, and has not refused to give him a good general character, although he has declined to give him such a character as would enable him to enter another police force.