THE POLICE IN STRIKE TIME.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 6

THE POLICE IN STRIKE TIME.

WAKMLY DEFENDED. . BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE. Referring to some statements madd ' by tlio Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) ■whila pr.c.siding at thq trial of persona chargca with offences connected with tho recent striko riots, 'the lion. A. L. Ilerdnmn (Minister of Justice) said that "although tlio reports about tho, slackness of the police in Featherston Street iiiid been absurdly exaggerated b.V people, lie was sorry to have to sa> that tftoro appeared to be soir.o foun(lation for the suggestion that some of the men—hut a small number only, ' probably not more than fi.yb or six—had shown a reluctance to do their duty. So far as the Government was concerned, tho police _ were in Fcatherstpn Street with fitrii't instructions : t'o maintaiii order when thero were signs of disorder., and to arrest law-broaltora when tlio law was broken, and when arrosts were practicable; but thero was evidenco that, in tho case of the Featherston Street trouble, this had not been done, and it looked as if a small smattering of the Force sympathised with the strikers. 1 A Mlschlovous Specoh. ' "It will be remembered that for months prior to the strike, indeed, since thei Wailii trO'Bble,:, a strong movement was on foot under the guidance of Mr. Rossor, we'll known as- a Labour ■to form ft police union or association. The movement was steadily supported and encouraged by prominent Opposition politicians, and by the local Opposition organ and other papers opposing the Government; but it was just as steadily and vigorously resisted by tho Government, with tlio result that somo members of the Force at the time of the strike wero disaffected, and sympathised with the law-breakers. this; may. account for the inactivity of some of the men in Featherston Stroet. Here let mo say in passing that 1 havo been informed by the police authorities that, Sir Joseph Ward's s.pee.ch in tho House tipon the Post Office Square incident did not encourage constables on duty '.o display undue activity. "Their Conduct Was Exemplary,'' "As to the. small number of arrests made, I doubt if it was practicable to do Ji;s the Chief Justice suggests, namely, to have arrested 50. Most of tho polico were guarding the wharves, so as ■to enable horses to bo shipped to Christ--church, and comparatively few could be spared for duty in Featherston Street. To arrest a man and escort, him to ■ tho lock-up meant weakening tho force at tho scene of action by, at any rate, two men for every man arrested. ' ''Excepting the Featherston Street trouble, which, :aftsr all, was only ono incident amongst many remarkable incidentSi who can utter an. .unfavourable word about tlio conduct, of the police, in Wellington, and, indeed, through. New' Zealand during tho strike Nobody I Their eottduet was.,, exemplary. They., worked Untiringly .for hours at a stretch. They exhibited pationpe. when patience was nccossaryv They..displayed., courago find firmness and tact, and won tho good opinion of all law-abiding citizens. I know that the Forco in Wellington feit keenly tlio. criticisms that were passed upon some of tlio men in Featherston Street, and I believe, -that, a meeting was .convened to. consider Ih® situation, and efforts'.wore ' made to bring to book anyoile who had brought. < .t(tibii''tiie" ! ,ForM\' v .■ <'i' Vs ■ . "Put Down Without Loss of Ufa," . "It may interest tho public to learn that, when the striko was .iii {progress I received, through a .well-known Wellitigr' I *on business man, a communication signed by a ltirge number of c'itisseiis < and by aji the officers of the mounted specials, on behalf of their men, testifying in strong-terms, to'the excellent •ervice rendered by Ibe permanent police during the striko. ■"Critic's of the police havo little knowledge of tho difficulties that beset Mi em at the. time of the strike; other- - wise, I am -sure, they would hesitpte before condemning .them in sweeping terms. Tii put down lawlessness without loss of life was no easy matter, but. it wfis : done, After providing adequate protection in other parts of New Zealand. every available policoman was got into Wellington, and special constables were sworn m immediately the position became serious. / "Tho attacks that have at different times been made on tho Force are in tho main unfair and unwarranted, and without justification. • Because a. few men. were slack, the. whole Police Force should not bo besmirched,'and a gen-. oral charge of supineness on. the,, part of the authorities I emphatically deny.' People will remember, I am. sure, that if any of the polico failed to. do their duty during the Featherston .Street . iu« cident, they we.ro but few in number,:, andj with the exception of these men, i the whole of the Force:, front the Com- |. missioner down, withdut .a wor'd of ,disi sent, throughout a troiiblcsoine 'time, [ rendered servico which will never be forgotten by tho citizens of Wellington." ,