Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2597, 4 May 1877, Page 2

One of the results of Abolition has been the assumption by the General Government of the control of the Police force throughout New Zealand, aud its reconstitutibn under the Armed Constabulary Act; This has occasioned some amount of grumbling and discontent, chiefly at the instance of those who were opposed to the abolition of Provinces, but it is likely that in a short time the system will be found to be much better than the old plan of an independent force for each Province. If any argument were needed in favor of this system it could be found in the Provincial district of Auckland, where for some years past the police have been under the control of the General Government; and no one will deny that the force has been much more effective in every respect than it was under the old regime. Repeated attempts were made to revert to the old system—the last being under Sir George Grey's term as Superintendent. In his case a majority oE the Provincial Council favored the scheme, but the Government refused to acquiesce, and the force remained as it was, subject to the control of the General Government. Since Abolition became law the Government have matured a scheme for consolidating the Police junder one head, and the change has recently been broughtabout. It does not appear that the force bas suffered any sensible depreciation. The best officers have been retained; the best men seem to have elected to remain ; and the Police Force of the Colony is not affected in its personnel to any appre* ciable extenti The system is but a c^rp of that now in force in the Home Cour. =.'.

The Colony is divided into districts, . i men apportioned to the requirements" of each; while the main body is so organised that if any extraordinary circumstances should arise requiring the concentration of a force at any: one point, it would be a simple'matter-to-move vie men from any district from which ( y could be. spared. under \3 Armed Constabulary Act. the n: a ' bers of the force will be subjected to a. course of training not exacted •from the Ideal.policemen?by; which -ihey will be prepared for work outside the ordinary routine of police duty.;, and we presume thaft a feature new to the police arrangements will be carried out, namely,, the promotion of deserving officers, without respect to the particular district in which they ma 7 have served. This should be an incentive to the men to faithfully perform their duties by holding out the prospect of reward for meritorious services; "The force wilbbe, we presume, semi-militarised, and be able to thus furnish a contingent if required for operations in of internal disorder. -Pn the whole we think the action of the Government in making the change is wise, and in accordance with advanced, notions as to the administration of police affairs, and as such is more, deserving -of; commendation than condemnation, although it will remove the control from the local to- the central authorities.