THE POLICE CHANGES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2073, 15 October 1880, Page 3

THE POLICE CHANGES.

I>BOM OTJR OWS COBBBSFOlTDBm? :J WELLINGTON, October 14 Alluding to the announcement that the dismissed inspectors of police would be offered the option of serving either in a lower grade of office or in the ranks", the " New Zealand Times" says: —"lntimation that the superior officers of the police force are to be relegated to lower ranks, and the present subordinate officers dismissed to make room for them, has caused some consternation in the force, and a good deal of animadversion outside. The cnrrent opinion is that the efficiency of the Bervice will be imperilled by getting rid of officers really practically acquainted with their duties, to make room for certain curled darlings who were originally foisted upon the department, and who have never been much more than sickly ornamental appendages." In reply to this the "Post" says—" The absurdity of our contemporary's apprehension as to " curled darlings " being favored is manifest in view of the faot that we expressly stated some days ago that seniority would be the sole consideration in deciding as to the dismissal of members of the foroe. This rule is now to be applied to the whole number of the police as one body, instead of their being divided into two classes, officers and privates. The result is that only the junior privates will have to go, and the senior will take a retrograde step, the senior officers remaining in command, and the junior officers either descending in grade or falling into the ranks as oocasion may require. It has been no secret that this was decided on, and our contemporary's misrepresentation of facts is therefore quite gratuitous."