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Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 84, 31 July 1878, Page 2

Wiiex Mr Inspector Atctiison" paid his last official visit to Palmerston we took especial care to bring prominently under his notice the disgraceful state of the police station and lock-up, and we were given to understand that he was fully impressed with the necessity that some immediate steps should be takon m the matter. Months have passed by since then, and the den which did duty as an office remain* m exactly the same condition. We question if m the whole of the North Island there is another town so sadly neglected m this particular, and that such a standing disgrace to the Department should be permitted to remain unnoticed, is anything at all but creditable to Mr Commissioner Shetima.x. "We feol bound to say that such a condition o£ things would not be permitted to remain m the South Island for twenty-four hours. When the Police Force was reorganised wo were led to believe that the change would be for the better ; but experience has proved the falsity of such a statement. With the reduction of pa/, and other grievances which the meu were called upon to accept, discontent naturally arose, and one by one drilled and tried officers of efficiency and reliability quitted the ranks m disgust. As m other walks of life, there is an especial adaptability necessary to qualify a man for discharging the onerous duties of a police officer His character must be unimpeachable, his courage staunch and true, while he must not be wanting m discretion and discrimination. In the country districts especially he has a power and responsibility placed m his hands which it requires no small degree of tact to wield with discretion ; while very often the c >nduet of cases are left; to his charge which call for more than an ordinary amount of intelligence. Under those circumstances, then, we think that when the Police Department succeed m securing men who prove themselves to be efficient oificcrs, some small consideration should bo shown m the treatment to which they are subjected. In a previous article we referred to the manner m which the officer m charge of this district has been treated, and we pointed out the manifest injustice which was being perpetrated against him — both m the matter of housing and horsing. We stated that while the old tramway stables adjoining the PoliceJPaddock were allowed to rot uselessly away, there was sufficient timber and material m the building to not only build a lock-up and station, but also a residence for the Constable. But a masterly state of inactivity seems to be the order of the day, and an insane and total disregard to the wants of the men is the feeling dominant with the authorities. That the Police Department is not by any means on a similar footing of efficiency to what it was three years since, the blundering m O'Connor's and many other recent cases has unfortunately made too clear; and if we were to seek for the reasons, one, and a very strong one, might readily be found m the unwise policy pursued toward subordinate officers. If men are to be treated with studied contempt or systematic neglect, can it be expected for one moment that their hearts will be m their work — or that a spirit of emulation or an esprit de corps will be fostered or encouraged ? On the contrary, does it not stand to reason that they will — as so many have done — take the first opportunity of escaping from a service where their efforts are not appreciated, or their merits recognised?