MISTAKEN LENIENCY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1911, 20 November 1913, Page 6

MISTAKEN LENIENCY.

Ir seems necessary to once more impress upon the. authorities the urgency at the present •- time of prompt and strict suppression of all forms of disorderly behaviour' and acts of lawlessness, and the pursu* . ance of a consistent practice of bringing offenders to book. With the absence for a few days of any ' serious outbreaks of mob. violence . there have been signs of a tendency . to somewhat relax tho vigilance which proved so efficacious at a critical time. Tho result has been seen ' in fresh outbreaks of violence, softie cowardly attempts at intimidation, ' and threats and mutterings which , mean further trouble unless .firm, ] and if necessary drastic, measures , are resorted to. Wc have again had i complaints made _ to us concerning i tho seeming indifference of indi- i vitlun.l members of the uniformed J police to the use of offensive aftd. < obscene language under circitm- j stances likely to stir up trouble and ' occasion breaches af the peace. It is • with some reluctance that we direct attention to the matter because we • are aware that the great bulk of tho j police are doing their duty faith- ) ■fully and well. If those members of t the "public who witness instances of 1 laxity or neglect of duty on the part i of any ftieniber of the Force would i take tho numbers of the men con- * corned, and report the circumstances { to Sui'ER.iNTENDKN'T Ellison they ? would be doing the Police Force as a , whole, as well as the community ' generally, a very teal service, It is just as well that citizens should clear- j; ly recognise that, it is as necessary as ever tbnt the regular police and. \. special constables should be en con r- ,] aged to actively pursue .their re- j, ffpmi.«il»t* t.'uik t>f .prfiwrvinn order n in the city, and enabling the business} c

and trade of the community to be carriedon without molestation from the wild and lawless element amongst the strikers. Some of tho less responsible of the strike leaders have been hinting at farther acts of violence. In the event of any happenings -of that nature, the police : and special constables should be in- < structed to take such measures as, will act as a wholesome deterrent for ; a long time to come. Leniency with , rioters and law-breakers at the present time would be a grave mistake. The law-abiding striker has no occasion to fear those who uphold the law, but the reckless and criminal element should be made to realise" that they are going to be brought to account for every act of lawlessness they may be guilty of, and that the price they will be called on to pay will be the utmost that the law permits.