GENERAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1356, 23 June 1885, Page 2

GENERAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Since the time when the Temuka Police force was first organised the members of that body have been distinguished for the high character which, individually and collectively, they have borne. AraoDg the qualifications which go to make an efficient constable are sobriety, honesty, intelligence and discrimination. It is not, as some people imagine, the duty of a policeman to strain.the law in its literal interpretation, but to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the spirit of it, and to use tact and discretion in seeing that its provisions are carried out. The csostable who, in order to " work up cases, " enacts the part of a Paul Pry and pokes hia nose into affairs which do not concern him, becomes a public nuisance. The petty tyrauny of an over-officious policeman is unbearable. The people of TVmuka have, at the present time, an officer stationed amongst them who, in many respects, is a disgrace to the police force, and he seems to have an unfortunate knack of overdoing things. This constable has taken upon himself to make a sweeping assertion reflecting on the male portion of the residents of Temuka, by going into neighbors house 3 and scandalising them, and if he is wanted in the town when anything happens he cannot be found, unless it is about midnight, juat when he rolls out of some of his friends' house* after he hag done all the mischiei he can possibly do. lum very sorry for trespassing on so much of your valuable space.—lam, etc., C. H. Reid.