POWELKA V. POLICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 6

POWELKA V. POLICE.

Sir,—lt is pitiful indeed to have .to admit;'-at'this hour, and after so much 'wasted, tiine and expense to the Dominion, that, with such a'simpletest'as'.this, our pplico, force, has proved so' totally in-adequate-and incompetent to effect tho capture .of. this -man. -One , feels,, inclined to stigmatise the whole muddle as a laughing-stock; but, sir, with the loss of one life and the serious ■' condition of another, the matter is of : tog' much , moment to treat of from a ludicrous standpoint. . . • ! Instead of the forco being placed under the control of an experienced officer, wo have it utterly disorganised and full of chaos." Evidently.nobody-kiiows... who is ..who now, ; and the public and police alike are full of panic and excitement, when coolness, tact and'strategy should reign. I was looking forward with great-pleasure to see great and important changes, but, with the exception of a few minor and insignificant changes, nothing has been done where-much -iwae"'-promised. The question has been asked by .the public through'this lamentable bungle as to who is running the show, but echo answers, Who? Are there no practical men_ to Stride or advise Dr. Findlay in reorganisation, or has he bitten off more than he can chew? r :If"so,,Sir Joseph Ward should study the public confidence, and try a hand at it himself. The alarming trouble at present in the Dominion is that we are given too much ear-tickling platitude and airy flapdoodle, instead of sane and firm .administration".'', "Oily persiflage and flippancy .might have been good enough at one time,'- tut'■ we"■■■wont something more solid now than Ministerial shadow soup. The idealist, especially when, so lofty as Dr. Findlay, generally becomes a dreamer, hence possibly. this somnolescenco. Is it not time,, sir, that "the- prase- of. the Dominion 'tobk'C'a'hand'in ' this" business,' and-instilled a-little'*quickening;- | intb this huge,! cumbrous, and ugly Department of State? v . ": '. ■-. ■'■.' I sincerely hope that .Dame Fortune may come 'to • the assistance of the hunters without any more sacrifice of life,, and that a proper and strict inquiry, regardless of the punishment necessary to the matter,' will be held by some disinterested authority, so that'the public confidence in. pur Peace 'Preservation Society may be- at. least, ■partially restored.—l am, etc.,.;. ... ;..:. ■'.'. '~. .. . TO „.■•.■■■■..'••■ '' : • SOMNTJS. Wellington, April 12,: 1910. A NEWCOMER'S VIEWS. Sir,—As a ;new arrival in this country. I have watohed with interest your columns giving particulars of the doings of one, Powelia. What. I cannot understand is ifhy the authorities allow an armed rabble to dominate a town/like Palmerston with, danger of shooting innocent people. The methods adopted to capture a thief in this country seem to , me unique. In other countries a couple of detwtivee and a constable would have arrested this man long before this;Is there any truth in the rumour, that a Cabinet meeting was held yesterday, 'and it was decided to send the Petone Kavals with, a field, gun to watch the fords of the Manawatu River, and work in conjunction with the Amokura, which has been ordered to Foxton?. If this is true the Minister for Justice has left no stone unturned to capture this miscreant. Trusting you will find room in your valuable space, —I am, etc., ... ■ ••'• '.'■'■' . ALKALI .TEXAS.