THE SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 4

THE SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

■.Though the tumult and oxcitcmont which prevailed along the Wellington ■waterfront during tho first week or two of the strike hare now died away, thc_ special constables aro still doing their duty in an unostentatious, but most effective manner. After the outbreak of violence which took place almost about the end. of October it rcquircd_ a strong display of force to re-establish the reign of law in the City, and during that critical period both the town and country "specials" did their work in a way that, is deserving of the highest praise. Lawlessness was repressed ' with a firm hand, and the manner in which order has since been maintained has been an impressive, proof of the fact that the community is well able to protect itself against any attempt to substitute mob rule for the law of the land. The ''specials" soon made it perfectly plain that no law-abiding person had anything to fear from their presence, and that their business was not to attack, but to protect life and property. The efforts of some of the strike sympathisers to make the publie believe that the "specials" had been too free in their use of their horses and batons failed ignoniiniously, and citizens wore not slow in showing their .resentment of any offensive references, to tlwso men who came forward to perform a necessary public duty- in a serious emergency. Their action has been a most useful and timely object-lesson in citizenship, and a practical recognition of the fact that a citizen has duties as well as privileges. The City Council, the Defence Committee, and other ' bodies have placed on record their high appreciation of the services the special constables, both mounted and foot, have rendered to the community during the industrial crisis which is now coming to an end, and the general public will certainly very heartily endorse the votes of thanks which have been passed. The public-spirit-ed way in which so manv able-bodied men responded to the call of tho authorities when it was found that the ordinary police were utiablc to cope with the trouble . will stand out as 011 c of the few redeeming features of the present industrial upheaval. We would suggest that Parliament should place on record its appreciation of what the country owes to these public-spirited - citizens.