STRENUOUS TASK

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 6

STRENUOUS TASK

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN POLICE. VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES. SYDNEY, July 13. Rides of hundreds of miles alter native murderers, attacks by savage aborigines, hunger and lack of water —these things are all in the lile of members of the mounted constabulary of Australia, whose duties are centred in mid-Australia and in the Northern Territory. There are five mounted police stationed at the “capital” of Central Australia, Alice Springs, and one ol these, Mounted Constable A. Cameron; who reached Sydney this week on holiday, had some interesting tales to tell of the experiences of himself and h.s comrades.

Constable Cameron has been stationed at Alice Springs lor 21 years and there was a suggestion of the Canadian North-West Mounted Police in his statement: “When we are after a man we go out, and we stop out, until we get him.” Not long a S° Cameron, with two black trackers, chased a maurauding tribe of blacks from west of Alice Springs for months until they finally caught them at Liverpool River, near the Queensland border. The chase was carried on for 860 miles, and during it another tribe ambushed the police party. One of the trackers was wounded, but continuous rifle fire put 'the attackers to flight.

The district that has to he patrolled by the five men at Alice Springs coveys an area of 200 square miles by 300. Horses, some of which arc able to go for three days,without water, are used, and camels, have been the means of transport in some of the desert areas. When going out on patrol, or on a chase, the police usually take enough food for a month, hut it frequently happens that this is. not enough, and the r ood supply is,, them supplemented by shooting wild-turkeys, wallabies and other denizens of the desert. North Australia is alive with fowl of every description.

“I think the worst time I had out there was two years ago,” said Constable Cameron. “Two trackers and myself were out after some natives in desert country when we ran, out of food. For two days, with the temperature 120 degrees in the shade, I had to live on water alone. T have groat faith in the aborigine and. left alone, j am sure be is all right. He will get. on. far better without niissicnar es to put new ideas into his head. Remember; I am speaking after 21 years’ experience among the most uncivilised of them. It is a great li e out there, and I would sooner be at the Springs than, iu all the cities in Australia put together. ’ ’