POLICE RETRENCHMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 7339, 11 October 1887, Page 3

POLICE RETRENCHMENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —One thing the late Government did in making it compulsory for all candidates to pass the Fourth Standard before admission to the police force will always redound to their credit; but they should have gone a step further in making members of all ranks, from inspectors downwards, retire at she age of aijty years. IB the neW regulations I notice the age is -sixty-five for inspectors.' This is not fair to . the juniors seeking ’promotion, and is home but by. Commissioner Gudgeon’s report, where he finds sergeants are out of all’ proportion to the number of constables. Promotion for aptitude and intelligence should never be overlooked, even at the expense of seniority, always bearing in mind the sergeants are the

main stay of any police force. There are several inspectors who must be approaching seventy years of age, long past active duty, and whose salaries for the past twenty-five years have bsen equal to L6OO a-year. Ey their officers' retirement others could be appointed at much lower salaries, thus finding promotion for many worthy sergeants and constables. Our polioy should be as in Amei ica and Great Britain—educate the boys to b?come worthy and law-abiding citizens, so that the police may be reduced to the smallest number possible, and gradually do away with the system of espionage so repugnant to every Br tisher.— I am, etc, Jcstice op the Peace. Dunedin, October 10. P. S.—Since writing the above I notice that Parliament intend reducing on the lines indicated. This can be readily done by making districts laigtr. J-P.