FAIR PLAY IS BONNY PLAY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 28, 29 May 1896, Page 3

FAIR PLAY IS BONNY PLAY.

[To the Editor.] Sir., —I agree with your correspondent " A Lover of Justice" when he says " that it is unfortunate under the regulations members of the police force are not permitted to answer what may justly bo termed a ' blow below the belt.'" But when he calls the writing of the correspondent of the N.Z. Times a " blow below the belt " we got at log-ger-heads. The 'paragraph referred to a reminder to the police that they have been very negligent in the past with regard to the enforcing of the bye-laws; and if this part of their duty had been carried out the chances are that a horrible accident would have been averted. Moreover, I consider it the duty of the Pre.-s to keep public servants (for the police are such) up to their duty in matters of such vital importance. Are the three cases that were dealt with the other other day a good record for two years from a police point of view '? Only last night between five and six o'clock n, councillor was seen driving through the streets without lights, whilst every cabby and expressmen were obliged to comply with the law. Sir, I say there has been negligence, and the more the Press harp on the matter until a change is made the better it will be for the ratepayers and inhabitants of this borough. I am, lie,, Lights. Hastings, May 29, IS9G. P.S.—The " Fat Contributor " to the New Zsaland Times made scathing attacks on the force in Wellington for several days in succession, and there are higher officials there than here, yet no one dared question the " fair play'' of the action. On the contrary, many grateful citizens wrote him congratulatory letters for having mitigated many evils arising from the dilatoriness of the police. The following are the words used by the local correspondent to the New Zealand Times, and which were termed a " scurrilous, false, and malicious attack on tho police":— " There is no doubt the police are primary responsible for accidents of this kind through not seeing that the byelaws are carried out," Lights.