THE PATROL SQUADRONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1920, 1 December 1913, Page 8

THE PATROL SQUADRONS.

PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN W. H. BOOTH. Members of tlie 15 Squadron (Waira•rapa) mounted' special constables, who have bifen busily engaged of late ill patrol worlc, assembled at the Bucklo Street Barracks on Saturday afternoon to make a presentation to their captain (.Mr. W. Howard Booth), as a token of esteem and in ;y?pogn.ition of the efforts ho lias made to secure them comfort.

Jll asking Captain Booth to accept a case of Darling pipes and a homlsomo pouch, both suitably inscribed, Lieutenant 11, W. Smith sciid that tlio members of the squadron wished to show their ■ appreciation of the .considerate way ill which .Mr. Booth had treated them, and the trouble lie lwd taken as their captain. They hoped that the gift would servo to remind him of many pleasant hours at the Buckle Street Barracks. Captain' Booth, in replying, said that he had not anticipated anything; of tiio kind, lie had merely endeavoured to make their time on and off duty as pleasant- as possible. Like the rest ofi them he was trying to do what lie could to assist in maintaining law and order ami bring about a restoration of noi'mal conditions. Ho thanked them very heartily for their gift, and for tile kind thought that had prompted it, expressed a hopo that they would continue to pull together nr> well as, they had (!Mio ill the past. Before dispersing, the members of the squadron sang, "For He's a Jolly Oood. Fellow," and heartily cheered their captain. Captain Booth has been in eliargo of a squadron of 70 men sineo the begin-; nin.g of tho industrial disorders, and for the last ton days his squadron has been engaged in the work of patrolling tho city from end to cud with a view to suppressing or discouraging intimidation. The whole of the city from Kaiwarra, to Lvall Bay is covered twico daily by the patrols. The work begins at <5 a.m., at"which hour tho squadron is divided up into sninll patrol parties, which traverse the city in all directions, A return is made to the barracks at !) a.m., and tlio patrols are again sent out between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Special attention has been paid to tho various citv stables, patrols'being kept handy at times when the drivers are 'going out isi the morning and returning in tho evening;. Quite a number of cases of intimidation have been reported, and iii some instances they havo boon handed over tu the regular police. Where it has been considered necessary, threatened houses have been guarded, The patrols have not, nt any time come into actual conflict with the strike pickets, but there is no doubt _ tftat their work has tended' to chock intimidation and to diseonrago any attempt to foment disorder.