POLICE AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17324, 25 May 1918, Page 10

POLICE AND THE WAR

WOJiK IN NEW ZEALAND. MINISTER!A L KTA TEAIENT. letters lu the Welr uK l .° 6 c '*l )rAi( -" J opinion that ,m '" b " to take tlio iw' lanied constables, tit lor active ivjix, lovei-seas. This argument was brought under tho noueo of the .Umister of (the Hon. T. M. Wiiiord). J " 1, 19X8, there weie 37 f,_. W or men in tlic l'ulico Xon,e than on April K s tuii _ Minister in h.a ixpiv. Among those doing duty now there aro J-iik.ro arc many 4^' 1 | OVljr lm . luar i' in the Police X-orxxf Oiii»lc Dicn in tne Police Force aro nocessary tor street duty, etc. In cities which tupping; ports young, virile, athletic men in training are requned, as newspapers reports, unfortunately, show. Men ,n,Litarily unlit cannot undertake manv of the duties cast upon tne police nowadays. Sometimes two police constables have to bundle a crowd wiuiout any assutanoe. lhis is regrettable, but it is a fact. Physically weak pohceinon constitute a challenge to the unruly, and people who arc ready to with nu ucf niust 1 30 watched and dealt The fact that the Police Force is be'ow the considered requisite strength to-day is 10 scr - ous - The duties and responsibiliticf. of the Force have been multiplied by the war, for much time is taken up to-day m mak.ng inquiries about enemy subjrets, enemy property, deserters under Mli.tary Service Act, and in Departmontal inquincs uoncerning applications foi pmnits and passports, while days and weeks arc spent at times ascertaining the truth or otherwise of allegations against persons lirnis. or coi-porations, alleged to be trad in-' with the enemy 0 "T he single mon in the Police Force ar: keen to serve their conntry at the tront, but all the enemies of the country are not in Germany mid Northern France, and in the interests of public safety, I intendl ker-pimr some trained-and active men in the dominion. If serious disorder took vou™ ™ . d °™ v and all fit and active young men m the police were out of New ' i P, l!blic wou 'd be entitled to hold the department blameworthy. Ido not intend that such an eventuality shall orcur. I must point out that an untrained and policeman is a danger to the community."