Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1900. The Police.

Manawatu Herald, 12 May 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1900. The Police.

The revelations of the state of lawlessness existing in this town, made at the last Justices Court, prove. that very firm conduct on the part of the Justices is needed to check the rising spirit of rowdism. It was shown that on Saturday night last, as oiir two constables were conducting three men to the lock-up, a crowd, estimated by some at one hundred men, and by others at two hundred men and lads, followed the constable? down the Main street hooting them, and that some cowards, who wisely for-4hemselves kept out ol sight, urged the prisoners to resist the police. A case against one young man was heard this week as having so acted, but the witnesses for the prosecution had allowed their memory to wander when in court to the information they gave the police, so ! that the case was not as plain as was desirable, and it was therefore dismissed. We desire to draw the attention of our readers to the fact that it is imperative that every assistance should be rendered to the police, for their sakes and for the safety of the general public. We have two men given authority to control and keep in order over COO men, who, too many of them, abandon themselves to drink whenever they come into town. From drinking they get to fighting and thence to rioting, and it is a good deal to expect two constables to tackle such a crowd. The order loving public are not asked to use force on behalf of the police but it is unquestionably a pity that some of them who noticed the disorderly crowd following the constables did not take some care to single out the ring-leaders. These outbursts must be checked in the bud, and the bench of Justices informed a very full Court that they were determined to do all they could to protect the police, and noted, for the information of those whom it might concern, that any person obstructing or inciting or encouraging any person to obstruct a constable in the execution of his duty was liable to a penalty of £20, or imprisonment- for three months. They further added that they would punish very severely

anyone against whom suoh a charge | was proved. It is to be hoped ti.ac our citizens will take these re narks to heart and help the police in their any but pleasant . duties, to the bestof their ability. Let the rowdies get but' once an advantage over the representatives of law and order, then* we can bid farewell to comfort and safety until some very unpleasant steps have- been taken. All this trouble can be avoided by respectable men insisting on the y. lice being left unmolested.