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Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1933, Page 4

“When constabulary’s duty to be, a Policemrn’g lot is not a happy one.” That w. 06 Gilbert’s sympathetic reference to the force, which is .requisite for the public weal. Just at present in parts of New Zealand, their lot is certainly unhappy, for they are endeavouring to unravel most serious orime s against the community with but little or nothing- in the way o.f clues, and it can be well understood their task is a most unenviable one. Where crime is not so prevalent, the police seek for law 'breakers in various quarters, and offences under the gaming and licensing laws tseem to provide plenty of scope for their activities. It is not possibly, to know exactly how the police discriminate ill' certain cases, but a case came before the Magistrate yesterday which disclosed a serious lack of discrimination on the ptii'fc of the zealous constable a n d his superiors who allowed the caise in point to go before the court, A party of energetic young men working voluntarily for the cause of charity were brought up on a charge of being on licensed premises after hours. Their mission there was fully explained and they partook of a cup of tea, after an arduous night’s work. Magistrate Meldrum was as sensible in his decision as Magistrate Hunt in a late .Auckland case, where arother overzealous. constable worried over a team ■of footballers taking beer 'into a nolicense district. In that ease the Magistrate commented on the obvious freedom of .the individual, and though the local Magistrate d'd not so comment, his decision conveyed the impression that the young men were within their rights in seeking refreshment .after homy;. At the game time, in the local case the refreshment was supplied free of charge, the hotel people evidently

showing a complimentary appreciation ■of volunteer work done by the young men for a local benefit. Thev, e is plenty of scope for the pol : ce to do good work in the public interests, arad it is not pleasant to make this comment, but an excels of duty can do more harm than good, and the case under notice

is one where more discretion might, hare been shown, and justice would not have been upset.