OUR POLICE SYSTEM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 21, Issue 216, 21 March 1872, Page 6

OUR POLICE SYSTEM.

*(To 's* Mditor.) Sib, — A great deal has been said from time to time in praise of our (Otago) Police System, and I am willing to confess, that we have had an . exemplary force and that we still possess many in the ranks, who are quite., up to the high standard of wJaieh we have been for aJong time jjiistlyjproud. 'A, good* thing is worth Steeping, and it is te^afuse xi appears to me that the glory is. departing, that I take the liberty of writing to you. and I:trust that 'you will find space to insert this letter. It appears to me and several others • I have spoken to upon the matter, that our police force is governed by an autocrat, and that his appointment is, brought about " in such a manner as to leave it very much. to chance, whether lie be adapted properly to fulfil the important trust committed to him or not. Since the > present head of the force 7 has been in office, some of the most' extraordinary freaks have been ' played ►. off upon respectable members of the force ever heard jof, and to som» of I shall presently particularly refer. I now wish to ask a few questions, replies to which will, I trust be sought after by our M. P. C.'s at the next session of the Provincial Council. — Ist. How is it that when a constable on travel has to pay out of, his own pocket for everything he consumes, and everything his horse requires, he has oftentimes to wait for months before he is refunded. 2nd. How is it that the pay of the police has been reduced to a figure so small,- that it is impossible for a man occupying a position- of trust and responsibility to, support himself (and in many cases a wife and family) upon it. And how is it that the small pay before their eyes, the authorities have not thought proper to consider woll the subject matter of question number one. 3rd. How is it that those who hold the reins, (Mr. Weldon to wit) have not considered that small pay, bad treatment, and so on, a.-c likely and certain ta drive from the force all the best men and to fill their places with an inferior class, which a small price and bad treatment ever commands. 4fch. Hoiv is it that the Coinmissione? o f Police can travel all over the Province just when he likes, without any of the financial difficulties which so continually beset his subordinates, who, are unfortunately placed under hia command and compelled to go hither and thither as he wills it irrespective of public necessity, and' only to satisfy the abusive whim and caprice of an , incompetent official. .sth. How is \i that -the ipjigrests of. so very, important a branch of, the ..Public, Service is not taken better care of by our legislature. . Very.. many cases have come under my notice the last six months, which fully justify me in asking the above questions. I have known men and married men too— to be removed about from station to station without the slightest cause for so doing, and that in the face of the fact (which must haye been well known to the Commissioner.) that they were utterly unable to meet the necessary outlay for travelling .expenses, and I could recount were 1 requested to do so, numbers of acts of flagrant injustice which have been perpetrated, and which have driven good and trusty men from the force. The pnblic of Tuapeka will doubtless' wonder at the sudden removal of Sergeant Mallard — a zealous and gentlemanlike officer, who was sent here only three months' ago from Tokomairiro, where his rr-, moval was greatly regretted. He has just bgen transferred from Lawrence to Dimedin. Now, why this? If he were to go. there, why not have sent him three months ago from Tokomairiro, instead of committing the palpable injustice of transferring him at great expense and domestic discomfort, from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, and then after three months sojourn putting him to the additional expense and trouble of a move to Dun^din, and the possibility of another removal in a few weeks tim&> AH this is Unjust in- more ways than one. It is a great loss to those who are moved about, and it has a'te'eden- j to lead the public to suppose that the officers a,re removed fpx; in.Qompetency or misconduct,* whereas' the. fact is, it is the result, of having an officer at the head of affiairs, who I am afraid is suffering from a similiar affliction as other officers who were high in command in the Otago Police Force not long since. Trusting this letter may have the effect of drawing the attention of oourr r M. P. Cis, -and cause them to. .i.nqu.ire,.jn£o jthe^ Police pj^tcva as ( it, e^?.-~l.am, .Ac", Peeler, ' Lawrence, March Bjd, 1872.',-

r Memts. ■ Trabue* arid Co . , London, will •shortly ppbliah a catalogue of dictionaries, and grammars of the principal languages I and dialects of the world. There will be upwards of 25ft languages represented in flii^ catalogue. v ,'*.•-- --• -n