THE NEW POLICE DISTRICT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1920, Page 4

THE NEW POLICE DISTRICT.

The constitution of a new police district, with headquarters at New Plymouth, is certainly a progressive move that should have been made long since. That it will be welcomed throughout Taranaki may be taken for granted, especially as it has been inaugurated under favorable conditions by reason of the peculiar fitness of Inspector Hutton to take charge of the district. Much delay and inconvenience, as well as other serious consequences, have ensued in the past through the necessity for numerous Taranaki matters under police administration having to be referred to Wanganui, but now the new district has been formed an era of prompt attention and decision may be looked for. Taranaki has long since attained sufficient importance to warrant the step that has now been taken, and the authorities may be congratulated on at last recognising this fact. Step by step the province has advanced in wealth-produc-ing power, population, and progress, and every concession received towards its continually improving status has been well justified. On the whole, the district has been well served by its police officers, comparatively very little crime occurring, and scarcely any escaping detection; moreover, the efficiency of the police may be said to act as a preventative of wrong-doing, and it may bo assumed that under the new administration a stimulus will be given to obtain even better results than in the past, for an additional avenue to promotion has been opened up In this connection Inspector Button may be congratulated on obtaining a well-deserved upward step in rank. Taranaki residents should be gratified at the innovation, which undoubtedly raises the status of the province, and tends to facilitate the prompt despatch of all matters in the jurisdiction of the police.