Correspondence.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1569, 16 November 1867, Page 3

Correspondence.

THE POLICE FORCE. TO THB EDITOR OP THB PEE3S. g IE) —A, f fW days ago I wrote a letter referring to the Police force, and finished it with the promise that if no one else would I ehould ventilate the subject. I now fulfil my promise, and will ask the following queries :— If his Honour the Superintendent be in earnest, will he tolerate for one week that t> c Police forre of this town ehould be composed of a Commissioner, horse, &c\, at £500 a-year ; Inspector, horse, &c, at £300 a-year ; sergeantii.ajor, horse, &c, at £250 a-year ; detective, at 12s per day ; seven or eight sergeants at 10s to 13s per day ; four clerke at 10s to 14a 6d per day, and house, fire, and candles, and men from la upwards ? Also, a man to mind horses ; barracks that represent the sum of £300 per year, and a lock-up or cockatoo se' tlement that represent, at the estimate of Mr Hawkes, at least £500 per annum ; five or six horses worth £50 each ; the full eight uniforms, 4c, paper and telegrams, the uniforms and swords and spurs, &v : and in like proportion all through the country, Lyttelton, Timaru, Akaroa, Kaiapoi, &c, &c. ? I believe the ratio is one sergeant to every manen eighth. Now I ask you, following up my previous remarks, ie it reasonable that such an organization ehould be framed, or is it honest that if they did not do their duty they should be blamed—is it common pense that on the occasion of every fire we should read the stereotyped phrase, "Mr Inspector Pender was on the ground with his men," Ac? I nsk you what would you think were he not; do we pay the police for chow or for use ? I declare to you at once that I am an enemy to humbug nnd wind-bngism, and because a thing comes from Melbourne do not necessarily think it is b&yond censure. I want honest work and honest pay, and when that is the case what do we want with' praise about organization, &c. It has lasted too long. For the last few weeks iie question has been the removal of Inspector Pender, and a petition has been'hawked about to keep him. Well, we can't afford to keep both Mr S. and Mr P.—one must go, aud the question is which. I have not seen much of Mr 8., but I could not expect much work from him. It would not be reasonable, Mr P. has acted as Inspector, and is now to go to Timaru, and Mr S. will come in his place, and I do not know the genius that may be hidden under that gentlemanly exterior, at least let us give him a trial. For my part I think one inspector at 12s per day, one sergeant at 10a, and one clerk at 9s, and constables at 7s—considering that they are found- in clothing, fuel, light, horse, and doctor, and houses can do all the business of the province, and if Mr M. should not think so I will try to enlighten him. You I will observe that I am acquainted with the minutiffi of the business, and feel myself capable of putting the concern on a proper footing, -without being led away by Melbourne extravagances, and in conclusion will subscribe myself, n _^ ÜB.—Any person that objects to my view of the case had better at once State his objections, for I «hall not reat until the wasteful system ie thoroughly exposed and reformed. The idea of his Honour going to the head of the department to be assured that there was no room for retrenchment —it's too good! In the meantime I will just do like old Abe Lincoln, keep " pegging away." N N.