MORE POLICE PROTECTION.

Otaki Mail, 8 January 1923, Page 3

MORE POLICE PROTECTION.

To the Editor. Bir,—What is all this stir for more police protection for Otaki, also can you inform your readers whom do the Jive persons represent who interviewed the Commissioner of Police.' They certainly were not deputed by the residents to try and persuade the Commissioner to retain the services of an officer, who, according to their own admission, is physically unlit, and especially when there is insufficient work for more than one man. Mr Brandon stated it was not advisable to leave Constable tfutherley at Otaki without assistance, therefore if the work is beyond him why not give him the change he desires.' -1 am afraid the live friends who made the trip have lost sight of the fact that it costs money to keep two officers in a small district searching for work which is hard to Jind, not to mention the expense that has been incurred for a considerable, time on account of extra constables who have been relieving the local officer. These conscientious men have stated their desire and wish to hold the appointment here on account, mainly, that the work is easy. The Commissioner's files confirm this by the reports of those constables who have been on duty here. With reference to the number of increased buildings erected during the last twelve months, as mentioned by Mr Bavies, most of them were erected at the seaside. The deputation did not present good reasons why two constables should be employed at the country's expense, as it cannot be contradicted that either the present officer or any one man could do the work satisfactory, both in the interest of the Department and the Otaki public generally. Is it not in the general interest that officers should be periodically transferred.—l am, etc., W. H. bowben. Otaki, 8/1723,