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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4200, 5 September 1874, Page 2

The annual report of the Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary Force, and those of the Inspectors, Instructors, and Sub-Inspectors, deserve a little more consideration than a document of so purely formal a character may probably obtain. The force is one the functions of which it is rather difficult to understand without consulting authorities on the subject. New-cobrers to the Colony are struck with the soldierly appearance and martial bearing of men who it is evident are not soldiers, but something more than policemen. They are observed to be on guard at Government House whilst His Excellency is in Wellington, 'and at Parliament House whilst the Legislature is in session. But, as the report shows, this is but the play part of the duties they perform. They act as detectives, and assist the xmiice in various ways. They form escorts and guards when these are required. They carry despatches when these cannot' be forwarded with sufficient regularity or speed by the .ordinary mails. They erect redoubts and stockades, and construct roads, drains, bridges and culverts in the vicinities of their camps. They do all the labor on farms and paddocks required for supplying their horses with fodder and corn. They assist -telegraphists by acting as linesmen and in other capacities. If the Mail Service break down their assistance is available. And their services would appear to bo especially valuable in districts where the Natives are numerous. Tiio force, wo perceive, consisted at the commencement of tho year ending June, 1874, of 709 men of all ranks, but it had fallen to 008, which is lifty-six under the authorised strength. This was accounted for by the Commissioner as being in consequence of the demand for labor, and tho high ratos.paid for it, which had tempted the men to leave tho force. The Commissioner, however, whilst compelled to make this acknowledgment, which is really a tribute to the prosperity of the Colony, was able to say that the men were well acquainted with their drill, smart in appearance, and had their arms, accoutrements, and clothing in good order. The horses and tho saddlery were in good condition. The conduct of tho whole force had been exemplary, and tho health of the men good; and much had been done in the way of forming libraries, gymnasiums, and gardens for their comfort, well-being, and recreation. Tho above is satisfactory, but it scarcely touches upon tho matter of tho greatest interest in tho report. One upon tho Armed Constabulary force of the Colony is not tho place in which we should expect to find evidence respecting tho advisability or* otherwise of continuing Provincialism in tho Northern Island : but there is some of a most important description in that before us. Tho force, it will bo understood, is located in tho Northern Island. Notwithstanding tho assertions made that tho Premier, if he meditated the abolition of Provincialism, should have struck a blow at it in tho Middle as well ns tho Northern

Island; the circumstances of the two are so entirely different that a force of nearly 700 men has to be‘maintained in the one, at the expense of the General Government, very ranch for the purpose of supplementing the inefficient police force provided by the Provinces. We shall scarcely surprise anyone when wo say that 'Auckland, whore the loudest howl will be heard at the downfall of Provincial institutions, affords the most striking instance of the desirability of a change. During the year 1873, the armed constabulary force of that Province brought 2385 persons, of whom 2108 were convicted, before the Police Courts, and this without including the Waikato, Taurauga, and Poverty Bay districts. We take it this is as strong evidence as- it is possible to adduce that the Auckland Provincial Council is unable to provide an adequate Police Force. Perhaps it may bo pleaded that the Council is not in funds to maintain such an one. The reply is obvious. If the Council cannot uphold a proper system of local government, the time has come when it should be swept away. The friends of Provincialism have hero a distinct issue •raised before them. Either the institution does supply the proper local government required or it does not. If it does not, there is no excuse for it being upheld. If the General Government has to advance it money for public works, to supplement its police force, and to patch it up on every side lost the rents in the structure should bo observable, it ought to bo done away with. The same remark applies with more or less force to every Province in the North Island—perhaps with less force to 'Wellington than to any other. Hero there is a drill parade every day, orderlies, escorts and pickets are supplied as these may be required, there is much practice in musketry, but we do not gather from the report that tho force is employed upon what might be looked upon as purely the work of the Provincial Government. As might be expected under such circumstances, tho report of the Auckland Inspector is of the piost consequence and interest amongst those presented. So much is this tho case that the Commissioner has directed especial attention to it. The force had arrested 2385 persona and caused 683 persons to bo summonsed, and the arrests were then 321 less numerous than during the previous year. This is attributed to there being fewer drunkards, and the ooivtinuocl efforts to suppress vagrancy. Thelnspeotor reported that for “ many years past Auckland has been infested with a number of idle vagrants, who have lived by begging in the public streets, and wont to swell the criminal lists of drunkards and vagrants. These, I, am' happy to say, are no longer an eyesore to tye public, having been forced by the operation of tho Yagrant Act to turn to some other moans of obtaining a livelihood. Formerly, such offenders, having perhaps a list of fifty previous convictions against them for drunkenness, vagrancy, and petty larceny, received sentences of one month or so ; but latterly, the Bench ha’s thought fit to increase the terra to twelve months’ imprisonment, and the change has been in every way beneficial, havingtended already to clear the town of vagrants and beggars.” Another paragraph in the Inspector’s Report, which we have already noticed, is worthy of perusal. He said: “The number of lunatics taken in charge during the year is worthy of note. The majority, perhaps, of the fifty-three arrested were suffering from delirium tremens , arising from the effects of drunkenness are adulterated liquors. It is well known that most of the spirits sold here and elsewhere throughout New Zealand, are highly adulterated, and if taken in large quantities are a dangerous poison. ‘ Tho Adulteration of Food Act, 1866,’ could, with a few amendments, bo made effective in the prevention of the sale of such spirits ; but in its present form it must remain a nullity, as it compels tho purchaser of food or drink to deposit a sum not exceeding five pounds, with the view of having the article analysed by the Colonial Analyst. If the Act were left to the police to enforce, a vast improvement would soon be effected in the quality of liquors sold in public houses.” Thelnspeotor directed attention to the want of a proper Education Act, the one in force, although producing good effects, not being sufficiently thorough. A reformatory was also necessary for young and petty thieves, but the Provincial Council, which Mr. Swanson lauded So highly, seems to be unable to supply either of these great ■requirements. Again, tho Inspector said the vote for tho police in tho Province was totally insufficient. His own words were : “ I have so often brought under your notice tho insufficiency of ’the police force of this district, that I must apologise for again reverting to it ; but to furnish an annual report without noting what - is a pressing want, would be to omit the most important part of it.” The report, which was compiled in June, before the question of the abolition of Provincialism had been brought before Parliament by the Premier, seems to us to show that the Provincial Council of Auckland is not equal to the time. It cannot and docs not fulfil the duties which the members of the community are entitled to expect at its- hands. Unless tho facts we have given can bo disputed or explained away, and wo do not see how this is possible,,The cry from Auckland in favor of existing institutions can only be regarded as a product of ignorance or prejudice.