The Globe. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 927, 14 June 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1877.

It appears from all we can learn that the recent changes in the working of the police force —especially the detective branch of it —are not likely to conduce to its efficiency. The branch of the police to which we have referred is one which has most important and responsible duties to perforin—duties requiring ability of no ordinary degree. It is therefore of the first importance that its members should be assisted by thosein authority, and that care should be taken not to impair their efficiency by that bugbear of progress —red tape. But this is not so here. On the contrary, by the circumlocutory process adopted, it appears that considerable facility is afforded for criminals to evade justice. Under the Provincial regime the detective department was under one head whose authority extended over all the province. But now this is altered. The chief detective being junior in rank to the Inspector in charge of the Christen urch district would, in case of the flight of a criminal, have to report in writing to him, who, in his turn, would report to the Commissioner. Orders would then be issued for the capture of the absconder, who in the meanwhile, perhaps, has managed to get far away. But supposing the criminal has gone, say to Timaru, communication would have to be made to the Inspector in charge of that district, instead of the detectives going direct from here. The same process would have to be gone through if the flight had been towards Lyttelton. Thus it will be seen that so far from concentrating the force in Christchurch, and from that centre, commanding the whole country, the detective branch is split up into what we may call independent sections. The one important feature, viz., promptitude of action, is thus lost altogether. But besides this, under the new regulations, Christchurch, instead of having three detectives, as formerly, has now only one besides the chief. If there was work sufficient for three men to do some time buck, how much more necessary have their services become now ? Increased population means, as a natural consequence, increase of crime, and it therefore follows that the means of repression must also be increased. Instead, however, of this, we are diminishing our force, in addition to placing obstacles in the way of the efficient discharge of their duties.

Once move railway communication, with the Northern and Southern parts of the province is interrupted. It is true that the stoppage of traffic is only partial, but even this is a matter of serious inconvenience to the public. Now that avo have completed the links in the chain of connection, at a very large >cost, it does seem somewhat absurd, that no effectual means have been taken to protect the lines from periodical damage such as that of yesterday. It must be remembered that the flood which has caused the obstruction to the traffic is not an extraordinary one, nor one against which

ordinary precautions would be unavailing. It is simply what may happen any day, and, whenever it does, unless some means are taken to protect the line, we shall have a repetition of the state of things now existing. Under these circumstances it becomes the duty of the Government, in the interests of the public, to carry out such works as shall be sufficient to put our lines beyond the reach of ordinary danger, even should the cost be very considerable.