TROUBLES OF POLICEMEN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1917, 16 July 1889, Page 3

TROUBLES OF POLICEMEN.

A Wellington correspondent of the Duhedin Herald says:—Tour readers will remember perhaps that jsqme months ago considerable astonishment was felt all about the country at an extraordinary circular issued under Mi? Fergus' authority which forbade all policemen henceforth to belong to. any political or religious society. *To refuse to allow a policeman to belong to any churah organisation ■■■ or Christian brotherhood seemed somewhat of an extreme step, and though Mr Eergus is what was once called rather a " harbitrary gent," it.was opined he had either never read the circular or failed t© grasp its meaning. A deputation, headed by Mr Allen and Dr Hodgkinson,

accordingly waited upon him recently to suggest that it is at least open to ,f argument, whether a policeman may vnbt.be a Christian without forfeiting \ all claim to be considered an efficient

: public servant. Mr Fergus was in a humour, and promised that the obnoxious circular should be amended so far as church membership of any kind was concerned. It is said that the origin of the prohibition was the.conduct of a policeman who happened to be an Orangeman, and who, getting the "grip" from a brother •■< Orangeman whom he had arrested, let his prisoner quietly escape. Personally, I do not know whether there is such a thing as an Orange " grip." f However, so the story goes.