The Globe SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1582, 15 March 1879, Page 2

The Globe SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1879.

When wo state that in a variety of things, administrative and political, the Cabinet has boon fairly weighed in the balance of public opinion and boon found sadly wanting, we fancy that wo shall not he told that wo are laying ourselves open to tho charge of prejudicially judging those who are at tho present moment at the holm of affairs. Among tho many ludicrous instances, however, of tho remarkable way in which departmental questions are treated by tho Government, the most notorious perhaps is that affecting that all-important branch of tho Civil Service, tho polico force. Much indeed has boon said and written during the last few months in regard to tho singular mode adopted by tho Colonial Secretary, Colonel Whitmore, in “ remodelling” tho department. That gallant officer, it is well-known, has hobbies, several of which ho fondly rides until they scarcely have a log to stand upon. But it is to police matters especially, that, over since he assumed office, the Colonial Secretary has mostly devoted his time and well-worn energies. It may be easily remembered that as soon as Ministerial cares fell to his lot, Colonel Whitmore lost no time but plunged at once into tho vortex of officialism, which this much vexed question of constabulary management has always kept twirling round and round. New regulations were made, radical changes of various kinds were effected, an Under-Secretaryship was created and filled by a worthy colonist, who had once upon a time smolt powder in European antichamhres, and tho uninitiated felt themselves compelled to believe that great must have been the want of restoration in tho polico during tho days of tho Atkinson amd previous administrations. Of course, wo are now speaking of what happened nearly two sessions ago, when one of the first steps taken by him who so vigorously handles tho now broom, was to redistribute the district commands with a view to greater efficiency. In Wellington, where Colonel Whitmore sat as the supremo head of the department, there wore under his immediate supervision, and besides the Under-Secretary already referred to, Mr. Ex-Commissioner Shearman, and the local Superintendent of Polico, Mr. Atchoson. And if popular feeling here and there at a distance ever chanced to doubt tho efficiency or wisdom of organization of tho department, no such fears were entertained in regard to tho capital city, whore the master’s eye was so zealously aided by the assistance of those men of experience whose names we have given. But alas for the frailty of human things ! Not many days ago, the mysterious announcement found its way in the public prints, “ that Sergeant Bevan, from Dunedin, had boon detailed to Wellington to re-organise police matters there.” When first this statement met our eyes we at once set it down as another of the many inventions of the enemy. Sergeant Bevan, wo may hero remark, was furthermore stated to bo of unusually commanding stature, of strong military bearing, and a Crimean hero to boot. While awaiting development, wo read chance paragraphs in the Wellington papers, wherein tho temporary visit of tho Dunedin constable was extolled as one likely to bo productive of singular usefulness. Larrikins had boon driven to good behaviour, or into the colls; wharf rowdies had been made to realize the expediency of turning over now leaves; hot-bods of social deformities had been purified; aud in fact, Sergeaut Bevau, late in tbo day as had been his advent, had proved, according to those Wellington paragraphs, a veritable god-sond to a much suffering and unprotected community. This succession of what most people could scarcely help looking upon but as inexplicable puzzles, seems after all to have been based on a good and solid foundation. Tho Government organ, the New Zealander, previous to the Dunedin police-officer returning from whence ho had come after tho completion of his herculean labours in tho Empire City, has thrown full light upon the whole subject; and, coming as these explanations do from so wellinformed an authority, it is impossible to question their correctness. We feel sure that the public of the colony will boar with unfeigned astonishment and wonder that, hitherto, “ tho Polico Force of Wellington had been allowed to crawl along as best it could. Tho result beiug that it was not as useful as it might bo.” This is indeed a clincher, absolutely closed to argument. “Tho Hon. Col. Whitmore, as head of tho Armed Constabulary”— continues the Ministerial organ —“ knowing how affairs had boon carried on hero, determined to make an effort to improve matters, and therefore lie decided upon placing an efficient officer in charge of the Wellington force. Tho officer chosen for the purpose was Sergeaut-major Bevau, of Dunedin.” After alluding to the “ groat deal of good” effected by the sergeant during his short sojourn in Wellington, whore lie fouud the Force “in a disorganised state,” the “ beneficial improvements” are clearly set out. And,

comprising as they do, the veriest ABC of Polico management, they are indeed deserving of more than mere mention.'- —“ One of tlio first and most important stops lie took wfls to make provision for the guarding of the outskirts of ‘the city.” Our colonial capital, verily, must have been in a dire plight under Messrs. Superintendents Shearman and Acheson's rule. “ When ho took charge of the force, there were only four or five constables on duty each night, and they were not supposed to depart from the main streets; therefore the back streets wore not patrolled at all.” Sergeant Bevan, however, as a kind of modern guardian angel, very soon evolved a golden idea from his fertile Dunedin brains. “Ho arranged matters so that there are no iV eight constables on duty at night, and the back streets and outskirts are frequently visited. Morover, the door of every business establishment is ‘ tried ’ during the night, and if any place is found to be open, the proprietor is at once communicated with.” No wonder that the gratifying announcement is made further on that “ the inhabitants of Tinakori road may now sleep peacefully.” Doctors’ bills in Wellington, thanks to the ingenuity of Sergeant Bevan, will now bo much reduced in the locality, while doubtless house property will greatly rise in price. Hero wo come to departmental details, the novelty of inventing which must have futilely racked the official brains of Colonel Whitmore and his high-class subordinates before Sergeant Bevan’s visit, “The appearance of the police has much improved and at night they now carry lanterns, a lantern under the old system being a thing unknown.” Sergeant Bevan, it is evident, is a brilliant innovator, and no wonder that “ on the eve of his departure from Wellington ho received a letter from the head of the department, complimenting him on the improvement he effected in the Wellington polico force.” Other “ improvements” of a most absurd kind, which for years past—lanterns included —have obtained in every police department in which Mr. Superintendent Shearman has served, are also loudly set forth as noble steps in the advance of civilised officialism. All this is pitiful to a degree, lot alone humiliating to, let us say, every member of the polico in Wellington, from our ox-Commissioner, Mr Shearman, down to the fullest private figuring at the lowest rung of the ladder. The subject is one too important to excite mirth, involving as it does interests of a very serious character. Yet this extraordinary instance of administrative incompetoncy is furnishing ample food for ridicule both in and out of the polico. And more is the pity. Considering the large expenditure spent annually upon the department, and the many attempts at' “ reorganisation” made year after year by successive Ministeries, it is not too much to expect that a comprehensive system should at last be devised —lantern or no lantern —under which protection to persons and property would ho afforded.