The police in colonial N.Z.

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 19

The police in colonial N.Z.

The History of Policing in- New Zealand. Volume I: Policing the Colonial Frontier, Parts 1 and 2. By Richard S. Hill. Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1986. 1163 pp. $77.

(Reviewed by

Angus Ross)

In September, 1886, the New Zealand Parliament legislated to separate the policing and military functions of State, thus setting up the police force as we know it. In consequence, that force has recently been celebrating the centenary of its foundation. But what was done about the policing of the colony prior to 1886? How were law and order maintained in the small towns and in the areas where conflicts between Europeans and Maoris, short of actual warfare, occurred? How were the goldfields, notorious for riotous living in other parts of the world, policed?

The answers to these and related questions are to be found in the comprehensive survey by Richard S. Hill. This first volume in “The History of Policing in New Zealand” is perhaps best described by its sub-title, “Policing the Colonial Frontier. The Theory and Practice of Coercive Social and Racial Control in New Zealand 1767-1867.”

Actually, “Volume One” is really two large volumes, although they are here termed “Part One” and “Part Two.” Presumably the author was originally expected to produce what may reasonably be termed an introduction to the main history in one volume, but his anxiety to tell his story in detail has resulted in nearly 950 pages of text, to which must be added 127 pages of references documenting

the sources, plus another 10 pages listing the references for the "First Appearance of Later-abbreviated Sources.” If the prospective reader doesn’t find this bulk too daunting, he may find some of the author’s language in his “Introductory Interpretation” somewhat discouraging. For example, “The cheapest and most desired mode of control is that located at the passive or hegemonic end of the continuum ...” The words “the hegemonic end of the continuum” are repated in the very next paragraph. But, if the reader can overcome his initial aversion to tackling this State department publication, he will have his reward, since the author has obviously laboured hard to perform his task in considerable depth. After providing the British background to the colonial practice, he goes on to detail the duties of the early Resident Magistrates, who were succeeded by the Police Magistrates and the Armed Police Force. Hill successfully covers the early problems of race relations and of the maintenance of order on the gold fields. He discusses the varying conditions in the different provincial districts and indicates which men dominated the scene in the widely separated areas, men such as Inspector (later Commissioner)- St John Branigan, the Irishman who was so prominent on the Otago gold field. The one problem common to all parts of the colony was drunkenness. South from “the booze-soaked back streets” of Auckland to Taranaki, where in the first half of 1866 of the 92 cases to reach the courts “most were for drunkenness with but a single

case of larceny.” Often insecure in their jobs and illpaid, the police themselves had problems with alcohol. Thus we read of a Chief Constable who by continued agitation got his pay raised to “3s 6d per day.” Thirteen pages, later, not surprisingly, we read of the vicious circle in which the same man was involved: "Financial problems had led to depression, depression to drink, drink to financial problems of greater magnitude, and his wife then left him.” Life on the colonial frontier was tough for policemen as well as for settlers and workers.

In this book, Richard S. Hill not only provides an immense amount of information, but he also tells several interesting stories. Of course, some attention must be paid to the crimes and the criminals if the police contribution to the proper- functioning of the State is to be understood. Thus the activities of the “Garrett gang” of Australian-type bushrangers led directly to the expansion of the Otago force.

The Maungatapu murderers — Thomas Kelly, Joseph Sullivan, Richard Burgess and Philip Levy — have their story told and their photographs in the fine array of illustrations. Hill holds that “it seems likely” that James McKenzie was "framed” by the overseer of The Levels in order to hide the latter’s complicity in the huge “losses” of sheep to rival runholders. Well illustrated with 74 photographs and 16 maps, this book is full of interest, and the author should be commended for his industry, coupled with his determination to have his findings set down in full detail.