THE LAW & ORDER MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 8

THE LAW & ORDER MEN.

IMPRESSIVE SCENE. SWE2ARINC IN SPECIAL POLICE, THREE HUNDRED IN HOUR. The civic authorities have not been unmindful of their responsibilities in the present crisis. For the past day or two His Worship tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Lulce)'has been interviewing the heads of all tho leading firms o? the city, industrial, commercial, and proas well as the Government offices, with a view to forming a battalion of special constables for the protection of life and property. The Town Hall was the place and .4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the time fixed for swear-ing-in the special men, and from that hour until well on in the evening the Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr. W. G. Riddell), Mr. D. G. A. Cooper (Registrar of the Supreme Court), and a batch of Justices of tho Peace were busily engaged- in swearing in citizens, some 300 being enrolled during tho first hour. It was rather curious to note the manner of the applicants for enrolment. A proportion oi tho men, particularly the younger ones, took tho whole procedure as something of a joke, and manifested the highest spirits. Others —older, wiser, and more deeply imbued with the seriousness of the situation— betrayed no lightness of spirit, and approached their enrolment in a quiet, business-like way. Most of those who presented themselves were clerks, accountants, lawyers, Victoria College students, heads of firms, etc. Taking tho oath. The procedure of enrolment and administering tho oath was of tho simplest form. After tho clork in attendance fills in tho name and address of tho applicant, ho is asked to read it aloud to one of the Justices of tho Peace, with 13ibio in right hand. Tho form is as follows:— "I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve otir Sovereign Lord the King in the office of special constablo at Wellington and tho neighbourhood thereof, without favour or affection, malice or ill will, and that I will to tho best of my power cause tho peace to bo kept and preserved, and prevent all offences against the persons ami properties of His Majesty's subjects, and that while I continue to hold tho said office 1 will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law. So help mo God." (October 30, 1913.) 'After the Justice of tlio Peace present- attaches his initial as a witness, the applicant is given a broad white ribbon with the words "Special eonfltablo" printed in bkek let Wing.

Organising Units. After tho first rush was over,, most of those who had' enrolled wero asked' to assemble in the Concert Chamber, whore Commissioner Cullen, assisted by Police-Inspector Hendry, asked them to form companies on a residential basis and elect officers. With commendable promptitude the men from the various districts cot together, and, without further ado, took tlio initial stops _ towards what will be a- soundly organised body. Important Step. The first move was made by Mr, A. de B. Brandon (all ox-Mayor of Welling" ton), who proposed Colonel Courtney as tho commanding officer of the Wellington North section, which appointment Colonol Courtney said that -he was willing to accept with pleasure. Other commands arranged were as follow: — Wellington Terrace and Kelburne, Sir. H. 11. Ostler; Oriental Bay and Wellington East, Mr. A. Stua.rt Menteath; Wellington Central and South, Mr. Harry Marshall. Batons Served Out, Whilst this was being • arranged, police officers in privato clotheß came up the stairs ana into t-ho Concert Chamber with several boxes of .batons. These wore American Mckoiry about 30 inches in length, which were doled out to the men who asked for them. Commissioner Cullen ' advised thorn to bore a hole near tho end through, which a thong of leather or rawhide could be passed, and bo attached to tho wrist. In a few moments a oouplo of men 'had, scoured' augurs, and were kept busily employed for some time boring the sticks. "Oh, You Brutesl" Most of tho special constables deemed it prudent not to Bhow tho batons 0,3 they left the Town Hall, but several had other ideas, and sallied forth from tho Town Hall boldly carrying their sticks in their hands or under i their arms. This proved to be rather injudicious, as they were immediately subjected to a good deal of roughlyworded comment on tho part of a snot of striko sympathisers who bad gathered on tho footpath outside the main entrance to tho Town Hall. Oho woman, who had completely lost hear head, and was white and quivering with rage at the, action of tho specials in exhibiting batons, gave several of them a tirade of abuse as they passed her. "Oh, you brutes 1" sh© screamed in a strident voice. "Brutes, that's what .you are, not men I Yes, you with the Bticks —you ought to be ashamed of yourself." Her companion, who was of a happier temperament, also had her say, but the only sympathy she got wbb % shout of laughter from the crowd. "Oh, here comes some more of them I" she Baid. "That's right, take them (the batons) home. They will do to boil the pot— then you can have a nice cup of tea I" There was a good deal of this sort of thing between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., but the special men took little heed, and merely pursued their way, smiling with the satisfying knowledge that they were doing their duty. Contingent that Impressed. During the afternoon a squad of twenty-five mounted police' armed with service revolvers and long batons paraded the streets along tho water* front, and round the Town Hall. They are. a fine hefty lot of men with square chins, and an easy seat in the saddle, and looked quite capable of giving a good account of themselves when occasion calls for action.