POLICE CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 273, 19 February 1941, Page 4

POLICE CONTROL

Sir,—l see the Chamber of Commerce intends asking for an increase in police staff for Whakatane as a certain class of Maori is getting out of hand. I would like out that class of Maori is already out of control in \some of the outlying districts, and has been for some considerable period, to %uch an extent that ladies can not walk through th* villages at night even with escorts, due to the disgusting behaviour and language. Many farmers wives have to spend restless their husbands are at Home Guard meetingg due to the said element. Farmers often have to scour the district for their' young employees, who have had? associations the previous day, with some of the irresponsibles in question. I know of one farmer who has used two months supply of benzine in a fortnight running after his men. At this Chamber meeting Mr Barry states that the behaviour of some Maoris is disgusting. I 1 could take Mr Barry for a walk in one of the outlying districts, and without leaving the highwav, he would see conditions that would revolt him. t feel sure he would urge the Chamber of Commerce to assist these districts. Mr Sullivan said at the same meeting that the Home Guard could be called in. I would like to state that the heads of some Home Guards in these districts are having a very difficult time due to the element in question. If. the Chamber of Commerce is interested in the district as a whole, I trust they will look into these matters more fully as extra polices stationed at the "right place would allow their local men to'spend more time around the town and as the class of person in question brings most fo their disgusting inspirations from the districts most needing police supervision. I would like to add, Sir, that this is not the "howling" of some so called "wowser" but one who thinks there is a limit to every tiling. Yours etc., "IMPROVEMENT."