POLICE DOGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 18 June 1914, Page 4

POLICE DOGS.

Major Richardson, who is a recognised authority in the Old Country in the matter of police dogs, in answering'an inquiry by Dr. Stopford, of Auckland, said that a country like New Zealand, where there are no very large eentrea of population, if there were one bloodhound kept in each of the cities, and tho police generally, particularly at night, were accompanied on the beat by a police dog, crime would practically be wiped out. This is taking a somewhat optimistic view, but there is no question that the existence of properly trained police dogs would have a strong deterrent effect on the criminal population. It is far better to prevent crime than to punish the authors, and it is extremely likely that the mere knowledge of the fact that dogs were employed in assisting the police would suffice to keep out ol the Dominion those criminals who now find their way here from Australia. and other places. In addition to this, the dogs would be extremely useful in searching for persons lost in the bush or on the mountains. The experiment of utilizing police dogs has been tried on the Continent, where they are now in great use. They are not trained to kill o: savagely bite, but to hold, and this they do most effectually. There is one particular breed that could be utilised for the purpose with great advantage, and that is the Aiivdales, and it lias been urged that the authorities should be appealed to by the kennel authorities to provide the police with dogs of that or »ome equally suitable breed. Those who know the high intelligence and power of the Airedales confidently recommend the adoption of dogs of tliat breed for 'police work. The matter is one that should eomtneml itself to the Minister of Justice and the police officials.