THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 25 March 1912, Page 4

THE POLICE FORCE.

Sir,—l desire to place a few facts'before you in reference to the bungling actions" of tho so-calk-d "Liberal" party in appointing Mr. Valdegrave "Commissioner of' Police." Ho knefv nothing of police work or discipline; since his appointment he has taken no real interest in the police. He has not even inspected the stations, and men under his control, nnd consequently he knows nothing cf the requirements of the service. The result is that "uiulcr-strappc-rs" were left to run the show, and u lrlcc mess they made of it. "We wonder whether tho Government will make another bungle now that Mr. "U'aldegrave. is retiring, and appoint another untrained man. If so, it is only a matter of time when the country will lie saddled with the expense of another iioynl Commission. To-day tho police force is in n wors? state than ever, as a few minor examples will show. There iire numbers of broad-shouldered and intelligent young men in this fair Dcminian who, for yenrs past, have had applications in for positions in Iho force. Many of tlipse young men are now withdrawing their applications in disgust on seeing new arrivals from Home appointed as soon as they set .foot in the country. Ono new arrival wits, actually given charge of an important country stat'.on n few days after ho landed in Xew Zealand. Other single men, with very short service, have been similarly treated, while men with long and faithful service- ar»

"padding the hoof" on tho streets of Wellington and other centres. During Hie Powolka (by tho way, where is her) scare, a man was suspended for some alleged offonce—this at a time when liis services were most required. He was forgotten for five weeks, till .1 politician mentioned his ■ case. The Department then suddenly remembered that this man had been under suspension fer over a month, and ordered him back to duty— another waste- of public money. Again, a constable was dismissed by tho "understrappers." Luckily for him, he met Mr. "W'aldegrave, and laid his side of tiro case before him, the result being that he Wi»s reinstated. A. nico way to run a police force! ' Referring to promotions, I am finite at a loss fo understand how they are made. Ono thing is certain: they are not made in accordance with (he recognised rule in every other country, viz., seniority and ability. Perhaps the eiviiian clerks will one day explain before a Royal Csramission the manner in which the system of promotions is worked. It is a crying shame that men of long and faithful service should be passed over, and a week or two afterwards, when pressure is brousht to bear, they are promoted, to find themselves in the humiliating position of being junior in rank to upstarts who happen to have had a stronger pull than they. I venture to say, sir, that the Police Force is in a vottcner condition now than ever has been the ease before, and it is no wonder that hundreds of its members were anxious at the last general election to see Mr. Massey in power. ' "With the "Liberal" party in power, I suppose there is little chance, of reform in the Police Force, but there is no doubt that members are now more discontented than ever.—l am, etc.,

ONE WHO KNOWS. [We have had to abbreviate this letter for space reasons, but .should add that our correspondent suggests that Inspector Cullen should Ijo appointed Police Commissioner.]