THE POLICE FORCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 November 1913, Page 3

THE POLICE FORCE.

' (To the Editor) Sir, —To-day's issue of the Age lias a subleader on the Police Force, commenting on the "apparent indifference" of the regular force in connection with the rioting and unlawful behaviour in Wellington on the part of the strikers and their sympathisers. The writer of .the article referred to appears to consider that the regular police force should have arrested a. greater number of those who offended in throwing bricks and stones at the men actively opposing the strike; that the police have* not been preserving law and order well enough; and that they allowed hooligans to take charge of the city. He further comments on the fact that the police were cheered by the mob. We should remember that it is not always expedient to effect numerous arrests in the presence of a large and excited mob, especially in such critical times as ours, and that no doubt often constables would he called upon to exercise 1 self-control 111 the presence Of, and to endure, in- ! suits and injuries temporarily in >order that the main purposes of those in charge could be effected. We are asked what have the regular police done in the way of preserving.; law and order. . We believe that j ■chov have done all that could, be ex-»j poctod and that was possible, when j we remember that after all our regular police. are only human, and .not possessed of unlimited power. and , we also believe that they have beep exhibiting courage, self-control, tact, and endurance in "the carrying "put ortheir instructions. As to ''what were they doing when the hooligans took charge of the city?" are not aware that they ever M take charge. We are asked w;Jiy were the police cheered by the niob—probably, we think, because the mobs or crowds in Wellington usually comprise numbers of honest and h£\rd-working citizens, who would approve of and admire the attitude and conduct of the constables. —I am- etc., ONE WHO WAS THERE.

Masterton November 8, 1913. [The statements made by our correspondent are no answer whatever to the charge of neglect of duty made nrraiw«t members of the police force. On the contrary, tliey are an attempt to excuse those constables who failed, to do crcdjfc to their uniform*. The matter is.too senoiis to be lightly brushed a.-ide. and the "Citizens Committee of, Wellington is not likely to allow it to be so treat-, ed.—Ed. .Age.] '