THE POLICE AND THE VAGRANCY CLASS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10289, 21 February 1895, Page 5

THE POLICE AND THE VAGRANCY CLASS.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sib, —Every right-minded citizen will approve your strictures re the vagrancy ease last Monday. Those whose business it ia to conserve the peace and good order of tho city are decidedly "between the devil and tbe derp sea." On the one hand, according to certain members of the Social Reform .Association, they are hand and glove with Dunwdiu's most abominable characters; on the other hand, according to a Police Court legal light, they are guilty of "flagrant misconduct" because they take action against one of these social pests, and evince their determination to bring before the court male creatures who live in brothels and on the proceeds of female prostitution. As you fifty, a counsel is bound to do his best for his clients, but he can surely do so ■without outraging decency—without trying to make ib appear that the police and detectives are the essence of all badness and the dirty defended characters injured muocsDce and purity itself. Of course, it is all bluff, but it is very foolish and very disgusting, and the extent to which some level-headed J.P.s are influenced by it is very mirprising. Scarcely a week passes without offensive cases of the kind being obtruded on one's notice. The trilling sentences passed lsßt Monday in the cases of vagrancy and assault respectively are a fair sample of the farcical decisions that too frequently characterise fee Police Court bench. In both cases the cat-o'-aine tails would have been more to the purpose. Indeed, the growing ruffianism— as witness the brutal and serious assault by larrikins on old Mr Hodgkinson the other night < —calls aloud to the Legislature to ensct more stringent measures —punishment that such miscre&nts will feel. —I am, &c,

Danedio, February 20,

Kepbession.