THE POLICE. MUST THEY BE BIG MEN?

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1909, Page 9

THE POLICE. MUST THEY BE BIG MEN?

LIFE OF THE COUNTRY CONSTABLE. [BY. TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.J AUCKLAND, This Day. In the opinion of Inspector Cullen, the supposition that a constable must be a tall, imposing man if he is to " fill the bill " successfully is not founded on substantial premises. In giving evidence before -the Police Commission, he stated that he did not regard the regulation minimum height of sft 9in as an indispensable sine qua non. / " Some people," remarked Mr. Bishop, " say that they do not care a pin for a policeman unless he is of imposing appearance." " That is all nonsense," was the inspector's rejoinder. Mr. Dinnie (the Commissioner of Police) endorsed Mr. Bishop's statetneut by saying that "the public like to &cc a good man." He stated, however, that the height standard was not rigidly adhered to, if a candidate for enrolment was suitable in all other respects. In the course of his remarks, Inspector Cullen also emphasised the importance of physical training for the men of the force. He spoke of the good work duJ»> in the Auckland police gymnasium by Constable A. Skinner, m instructing the other men. "Constable Skinner," 5 ' ht said, " if, without doubt, the best man south of the line for such work as that." THE BUCOLIC LIFE The lot of the country constable was pictured in roseate hue by Inspector Cullen. He was remanding that there v ere certain attraction-, in the- polic force, and he observed that "there is no man more looked up to in New Zea 1. nd than tho country constable, provided that he is intelligent and honest, and leads, a cleanly life." It was such a man, he said, who was regarded as quite an encyclopaedia on a number of matters, whilst, in addition to his free house, ho was able to keep a horse. "And sometimes a cow and fowls?" queried Mr. Bishop. " Yes, in some cases," was the reply.