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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2394, 12 November 1887, Page 2

Iy our leading article of Thursday we dealt with the subject of retrenchment in the Police Force, and showed in what direction economy in its truest sense should be exercised. Preferring once more to the .supplementary report of Mr Commissioner (dudgeon, wo find he, recommends reducing the strength of the first and second-class constables by forty ; but his idea of effecting a saving takes the same curious shape we noticed before, for lie states that the present excess of the. force will be gradually reduced by the simple expedient of not Idling up the vacancies which will occur in the natural course of events, and that this cannot of course take immediate effect, but will commence more or less from this date. This is a jaunty, free and easy way of treating a serious question that may be eminently pleasing to the Commissioner, but very far from satisfactory to the country in its demands for an immediate cutting down of our entire expenditure, and which expects more administrative ability from responsible well-paid olilcials than is to be found in the report of .Major Gudgeon.

To further elucidate our suggestions for creating a rural police in order to remodel the present quasi-military system on more economical lines we present the following information, bearing on the system in vogue in Pngland. in each parish, justices of the peace have power to appoint constables to act gratuitously and compulsorily : but the vestry has power to resolve that one or more paid constables shall bo appointed, and these paid constables supersede the unpaid constables. The justices also appoint a superintendent constable, for each petty sessional division to settle the fees and allowances which are to be paid to the constables for the service of summonses, and for the execution of warrants incidental to the olheo of justices of the. peace. That is so far as regards one class of constables; but the other, which would he more in harmony with our proposals, is that class established in all boroughs in England which are empowered by the Municipal Corporations Acts to appoint a sullicient number of men to act as constables. By act of Parliament counties are empowered to establish a sufficient police, for each county. Though these constables are paid in great part by each county and borough, and thus by the public at large, it is often requisite for individuals to require the .services of extra constables, in which case such individuals must pay for them at their own expense. The public revenue pays uotliing towards the city of Loudon police. The returns for 188-1 give tie; strength of the. force in England at hj I.OOh dH.-rihuted thus;—oHU

horoiieh police, 11,080 county police, 12, dad metropolitan, and 8% city police. The a.voraee cost per man of all ranks, including special services, was 11)9 (is Id, of which L'j.'l 1 Is Id was for pay.