THE CONSTABULARY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1756, 6 October 1879, Page 3

THE CONSTABULARY.

WELLINGTON, October 5. Colonel Whitmore's report on the constabulary forces says:—" The detective branch has been increased and improved, and a Bill prepared for creating a pension fund by deduction from the pay of members, aided by a Government grant. The requirements of the colony render additions to the number and accommodation of the force absolutely necessary, and a further increase of numbora will be proposed to Parliament. Tho Armed Constabulary reserve force at preaent consists of 870 men of all ranks, of which six hundred are on the West Coast, and a hundred in Wellington. All are armed with sliort Snidors, and fully equipped for active service.

Superintendent Shearman reports that tho discipline of tho service is subverted by men being employed as gaolers, bailiffs, clerks to the Bench, poundkeepers, dog registrar?, rent collectors for the Immigration Department, immigration officers, distributors of charitable aid, and inspectors of nuisances. There arc 88 police stations in the colony and one policeman to every 1011 of the population of tho North Island. Tho cost of maintenance is 3s 7d per head of tho population per annum. A number of new stations have been opened In 1877 the number of offences which came to the knowledge of the police was G 059 ; 205 persons were committed for trial; 4853 summarily convicted, 717 discharged, and 5805 prosecuted, leaving 254 offences undetected. In 1878, 6726 offences were reported; 184 persons were committed, 5241 summarily convicted, 910 discharged, 6335 prosecuted, leaving 391 undetected. Thus in 1878, 677 more offences were known to the police, 21 fewer persons were committed for trial, 388 more were, summarily convicted, 163 more were discharged, 530 more were prosecuted, and 137 more undetected. The apparent increase is to be attributed to the additional population, and to the more correct system of recording crime, and is principally confined to minor offences. The oases committed for trial before the Supreme Court were twenty-one less than in the previous year. The Ordinances in force in various provincial districts for managing towns and other populous places are dissimilar, meagre, and ill-adapted for present requirements. Tho provisions of tho Act for preventing tho adulteration of food, drugs, and selling or exhibiting for sale adulterated or unwholesome food or drugs can only under the existing law be enforced by the inspectors of nuisances or inspectors of weights and measures. Where there are no persons holding such appointments the Act ceases to take effect. Wellington and Auckland are tho only places where there are legally appointed analysts. Mr Shearman submits that the Act be amended, and an analyst appointed for each of the large towns, principally to check that nefarious |and growing evil of adulteration of liquors. Superintendent Weldon, of the Middle Island, reports there are 276 mon of all ranks, including district constables, but exclusive .of gaolers. The men are posted at 108 stations. Thus estimating the population of this island to be 270,000, there is one policeman to about every 978 persons. An increase of six stations has taken place. Outof 7431 cases reported 6954 offenders were arrested, leaving only about 6 per cent, of undetected crime. As to number of places licensed in this division for the sale of liquors, irrespective of that sold by wholesale, there is one retail licensed house to about every 210 of the population. As there exists general and detective constabulary to cope with crime, so ought there, in his opinion, to be established another branch of the force, to be known as revenue police, to specially enforce the lioensing law, the law dealing with the adulteration of food and liquor, the prohibition of illicit distillation of spirits, smuggling, &o. With the information derivable By each branch of the service, and the whole working in co-operation, obviously the usefulness of the department could be immensely increased. Fires are of such frequent occurrence, and so little to be gained by inquests thereon, that that mode of investigation is falling into disuse. finis message was not completed.]