POLICE! POLICE!

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 May 1916, Page 2

POLICE! POLICE!

QUITE a little excitement, accompanied by much discontent, and criticism on the Auckland Police Department, occurred in the quiet village of Helensville on Tuesday last, when it was given out that Constable Hill (who was relieving Constable Driscoll, now invalided at Rotorua Sanatorium) had to report himself at headquarters next morning, and that another relieving constable would take his place. The public here took it as rather harsh proceedings by the Department as against Constable Hill, who, though only six years in the service (we believe), conducted his " first Court " last week on lines quite satisfactory to the Bench and the legal profession present, and there were five of them. It was a big day's Court at that, winding up at ten at night. By shifting this man so suddenly, without complaint, and putting a new man just out from Ireland (say three years), is conducive to make a good man resign and retire from the service, and goodness knows the Justice Department cannot afford to lose good men. Nor is it complimentary to the man, Hill, who was assidious in his duties, courteous and obliging, not to say energetic.