THE POLICE INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 550, 3 July 1909, Page 3

THE POLICE INQUIRY.

Sir,—lie/manner, in which tho police of the Dominion carry out their duties is a matter which;, is the consideration of a section of the public at the present; and the Minister for. Justice is to bo complimented on/the, proiriptness with which- he is meeting the , demands for more light, aiid setting up/ a;commission' to inquire into the alleged, irregularities/ v Much will, of;coursp, depend on tho scopqof the inquiry,'which it is to \be./.hoped will be made as wide/as possible; :- ;'-' .".'.' '~"".;■'-.'.'.. ,-"■■.•,.'.

t On the passing of: the amended legislation in reepoct of ; bookmakers! the police, from one end of the. colony to the other, were loud in', its condemnation; • rightly, tob, iri'niy. opinion/ But what. -about other,, forms of gambling than thoseusually found' on racecourses? Several months ago,.the writer;was travelling in tho'Hawke's Bay province, and stayed; for a couple of days in. a rising centre, which; for the purpose of this letter, may be called ''Sawdpst City." It bappened to be race .week, and a .certain religious: denomination had seized ', the opportunity of holding a bazaar, '.and.' had obtained from the- Colonial Secretary' aipermit.' to raffle works' of art. Having nothing better-:to do; I. strolled along; both eve'nings,; and was besieged ;by invitations ,to" take;'tickets in raffles.; for .suits ...of : .clothes)---. gigs;','harness, : bicycles, ■:. saddles,' and .many other, uncon-' sidered trifles, which, it is to bo presumed, comes .under the official ;definition of works of' art.. The .climax was,'- however,' reached when several; one pound; notes, in: cabinet photoframes, were disposed of .ina.like manner. These , were wprks of art that'found much favour, and .good■' business resulted. Where were the police? One of them.was present, but made no ;effort to '. stop /what was'taking place, j :-.. V ■■■: ■ ■.':•' . f Now, sir; if .the occurrences I have referred to above constitu'to' a breach of> the law, why is no action taken, and why do the police, wink at this kind of thing? The canse.is.not farvtospek;-tho fact is, that police, sergeants, many:.o£ them good "men; aro allowed to remain; too long in one plaoe. They are/often actuated by a desire to make themselves as popular: as possible, arid go -??* «. tnelr anything which w, » bring- them into conflict ; with a section of ., the community; ■ : especially an'', organised body/; Ihere would be much ' more iinpari tial duty, and ; much ;;l«ss pandering 'after popularity, ;,if in-'the smallw, centres police sergeants were moved more frequently say every three or four years. Any. official miy be^ allowed to ; remain too:long.in one place, ?, ct . In .™ : a groove,, become careless, and then iv is time for a move. , —l am, ete., j '

. ?almers^pn,North'; June 29,' 1900., • ;.' \^f' :S t°K° { th& ' P^ice Commission of inquiry, has v bcen. announced. It has been restricted in a manner, tKat,is likely to rob the inquiry of muqh.of its Value] ? ™