The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1909. POLICE AT BROKEN HILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2410, 27 January 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1909. POLICE AT BROKEN HILL.

I iioscj . who have followed the history of the labor troubles at Broken Hill must have been impressed with the may in which the police did their distasteful work, and the subject is taken ,up by tho Sydney “Morning Herald’’ -which pays the force some well deserved compliments. It was not merely a question of arresting twenty or thirty men, or of perhaps -breaking a few heads. The wholo issue of life and death Irung several times in the balance, and tho police knew it. They Were faced hv a, mob ten times as numerous as themselves, studded with angry ami determined miners, many of whom -were armed, and who were wrought -up to the pitch of violence. Had there been any failure on tho port of the officers in keeping the constables upon safe lines, in directing them at critical moments, ami in supporting them at serious emergen cics—or had film constables under tho sting of taunts or stones got out of band and drawn their -revolvers— Australia -would now probably be deploring many deaths, a town -under martial law, and an industrial turmoil that) should not have arisen embittered by bloodshed and a touch of civil, war. As it was nobody was evon seriously injured. The vindication of the la w was complete, -and the’ jieople of Broken Hill doubtless realised after the event that the police had been their best friends. Following up the subject our contemporary says:—“lt may, perhaps, bo replied that the police are paid to keep order. Their business is to fight, if necessary, and the argument may run that such crises las the. one at Broken Hill are all' in tho day’s work. Why should a posse of constables be extolled for doing their duty? If wo aro to take this line of discussion seriously: we must ibe.prepared to admit that the police force is recruited from the ranks of folk without heart or nerve. Is it reasonable or credible ? Like Shylock, the average constable may plead that he is endowed with feelings as other men. He has eyes and ears -and nerves, and the same sense

of justice: If he is stoned he bleeds, and if ho is kicked ho fails. We al--low that he knows what is expected of him. -But a Broken Hill riot -and j its suppression without bloodsmod against enormous odds call for more ( than silent or cynical acceptance. We are bound in self-respect to admit out obligation. A whole community is indebted for tho preservation of ,peace, and not merely a section oi it; and the calm good temper shown, ■as well as. the vigorous onslaught v;itii list and baton, when foot and mounted constables had to defend themselves or make the ordered ui~ rests, HJiild be recognised as of the highest public service-.” This is ;i handsome tribute rightly paid to a class of men who rarely receive credit for work that is often courageous and heroic. The remarks a-ro specially directed to the force which' served so well at -Broken Hill, but it is no exaggeration- to claim that our own policemen in New Zealand stand on the same high plano and it is well that tho public should occasionally too reminded oL how much they owe to the guardians of the law.