The Southland Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 699, 22 July 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, JULY 22, 1867.

The astonishing and rapid increase of the population of the colony during the past eight years has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the early New ; Zealand settlers ; nor could it have been anticipated that the - great bulk of this increase would' "be drawn ! _" from' the neighboring colonies of AustraJia-^-or very different ' might have been the construction pf. the Police Porce of the colony. But the great i development of our resources, as weir as . the continual strain on the energies of the Colonial Grovernment, arising from the 1 !_:_ o r^v y£ oUyj.^Xaurl. yy.ciir, cCIIO. t/Ue passing of multifarious laws to meet the new order of things brought about by the discovery^ of gold, appears to have occupied the time and attention of our legislators, to the exclusion of minor — but as recent events have shown —^ equally important topics. It was because the GJ-eneral Gfovernrnent allowed the Provincial Grovernment of Otago to assume the control of the Police that led to much of the excitement in- that Province; for, naturally, when the people saw the constables ., .refusing to obey the orders of the -constituted magisterial authority, they concluded that the Provincial Grovernment had- really, the power it assumed — and much more besides. Although there is in existence an. Ordinance for the guidance of the Police Force, called " the New Munsiier Constabulary Foice Ordinance," yet is is such a long time since it was passed — in the year 1846- — that a great many of its provisions have become obsolete,. and the whole Act requires careful revision more adapted to the altered state of society of the present day. The whole management of the Police Force throughout the colony is ■ cumbrous, absurd, and expensive ; neither does it tend towards effij : ciency. Nearly all the nine Provinces maintain a miniature standing army, composed of horse and foot police^each has its separate internal organisation — in some cases quite distinct from each other — and most of the provincial "forces" are superintended by comjmissioners, aided by ..appropriate staff of inspectors, clerks, sergeants, detectives, &c. The expense of maintaining all this unnecessary and foolish paraphanalia falls of course on the Provinces — -whereas if the control was entrusted to the G-eneral Grovernment, the expense would be reduced by a very considerable amount. We have no hesitation in saying that the cost of maintaining the force, as it now exists, greatly exceeds that of most other colonies, possessing nearly .double/ the population of | New Zealand, There is no, recognised

responsible head, and consequently there is no unity of action — each> commissioner is left to manage hra " own force as it may suit his faney — there are too many officers and too few men. ■ Suppjsing a well known -thief or some lawless ruffian- -makes himself notorious in some particular Province — whose . antecedents jare well known to the.police of, that Province^ -it .not, unfrequently occurs — and we have authority for what we advance— that tcr avoid' the trouble of continual espionage, the police have been known to escort /n"m . to. the border- of a "neighboring Province — allowing him freely" -to pursue afresh'- his career of 5 crimeV which often terminates in, murder and .bloodshed. If there was- a well organised Colonial Police l?orce" :; such as exists in Victoria, the Mangatapu murders would never have been committed; It was well known to the police that Burgess, Kelly, Levy, and Sullivan were criminals of the deepest dye, but there was no special law applicable to prevent, their being at large — and. no interest was manifested in, watch-: ing their movements until after they had atrocious ; crimesi The efficiency of a police force depends to a■■ great extent upon' the amount of experience and knowledge possessed by its chief. To obtain the; services of an intelligent and trustworthy officer, a large salary must be offered,; and the same rule applies to all the lesser grades in the service. Now, while we' agree. in the principle of liberal reiauner- : ati'on, we contend that the provinces ;are ; not in a position to keep up a model police force. Nor do we see any occasion; for their so doing.- All the purposes for the preservation of law v and order would ■be obtained by having one commissioner and staff of inspectors for the Middle Island, under the- direct control of the : G-eneral Government. The same rule; would not very well apply to the North : Island, inasmuch . as there a semi-military force would be required to be maintained for some time in order to act when occasion Required' iagainst the Maories. "We find that the people of Canterbury and Aucklandjarereducingthe expenses of the police ' in those provinces, and. the question naturally is suggested "could not a consolidation be effected that won! fi losscn. the. cost, whilst the , general efficiency would not be impaired ?" "We trust that the Colonial Government will see the necessity of relieving the provinces of a burden they cannot well bear, and,that a measure will be introduced into the Assembly having this object in view.