WELLINGTON'S POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 6

WELLINGTON'S POLICE.

TOO FEW FOR 'NEEDS.

OFFENDERS UNDETECTED.

WOMEN NOT SAFE AT NIGHT

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Welling ton, Saturday. Thkkk is a lot of talk in Wellington about the state of the local police force, which is known to be woefully inadequate for the proper policing of the city. Commissioner Dirmie, when approached, says that all is as it should be, but- there are others who, owing to the positions they hold, cannot speak openly, who know from grim experience that the police force of the city is much under-staffed. This would seem to account for the number of recent petty crimes that have never been sheeted home.

Two or three men concerned in a recent theft of a trunk from a hotel were caught by the hotei people themselve . ' The thiitl is still at large. There have been burglaries at. Whiteombe and Tombs' (booksellers and stationers). Pirard's (jewellers), and Mrs. Rothenberg's-, none of which have so far been traced to the authors, and there is an obnoxious person conducts himself offensively in the Botanical Hardens (not r hundred yards from the Mayor's residence), who is scaring the women folk of Kelburne out of their wit: and who is i still at large. Motor cars are permitted to charge through the city streets at twenty miles an hour, and the traffic is frequently blocked at busy corners through lack of police supervision. Owing to the small I number of competent constables a great j many small cases are' sent on foi elucidation to the detective department, which which prevents them giving their best efforts to more serious matters withi- their province.

Commissioner Dinnie, whose term in that office is up in June, thinks that there arcquite enough policemen in Wellington for present needs, but an old officer states that there were as many 20 years ago, and that then half of them were not probationers as they are now. The whole of the probationers are first in Wellington, and instead of being trained in barracks are sent out on to the streets, not even knowing localities. The chief officials art' pinned down to their desks, to deal with reports and correspondence, instead of being out and about to supervise the police work of the city. "Owing to this state of things," states an officer, " it is only through sheer luck thai there has not been a serious miscarriage of justice in Wellington." The inefficient policing of Wellington prompted a Lady writer in Wellington to make some inquiries' as to how fai women were safe in our streets at night. Jhe following is an extract fiom her article. —

"And to what extent are the Wellington streets safe for women? All sorts of opinions aie hazarded, but 'Dominica' did not want- chance opinions. She repaired to 4 one who knew.' Hi answer was startling. '1 should never,' he said, 'allow my wife or any women relative to go out alone after half-past nine at night.' Halfpast nine! I* seemed a. preposterously early hour. Why, the most timid woman thinks slie is safe at least until 10 or 10.30. After that she does begin to feel alarmed, but tlie ' one who knew' wa« firm. 'Perhaps much later at liighV he said, 'it might be safer than during the comparatively early hours. The people who were then hanging about might have retired to their homes, but it is not good for a woman to be in the quiet streets of the town after half-past nine."' .