The Pahiatua Herald with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1897. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 560, 22 October 1897, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1897. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Most peoplo will have hailed with pleasure tho announcement that a Royal Commission is to bo set up to enquire into the condition of the police force of tho colony. The feeling of unoasinoss that lias prevailed for the past fow years was suddonly accentuated by the notorious South caso in Auckland until it amounted to positive alarm ; and the outspoken utterances in Parliament of Mr T. E. Taylor and Mr Tanner liavo shown that there existed only too good grounds for believing that there was a very sold foundation for that alarm. Unquestionably tho police force has boon steadily deteriorating. No attempt has been made to refute the charges made by Mr Taylor, consequently they must be considered to be truo. And with that stigma resting on tho forco there is little wondor that tho general public has lost all confidence in the integrity of the guardians of tho peace, and in inclined to regard them as something akin to wolves in sheep’s clothing. If tho Commission is composed of men who can command the confidence of the people, and if tho members are given a porfoctly free hand two very important considerations—the result pf tlioir investigations should be invuluablo. What must be avoided in tbo appointment of commissioners is smytiling like the setting up of a purely Departmental Board. Commissioner Tunbridge should undoubtedly be tbo first member appointed and thu proposal to appoint an experienced stipendiary magistrate will also be favorably received. Jn tho case of i other members it is earnestly to bo desired that no question of political color will be allowed to creep in. It is already charged against tho police that all their actions are dominated by political i nil nonce, and that promotion depends not so much on

length of service or ability, or devotion to duty,) as on their adherence (outwardly at all events) to ihe principles of the present Government. That is a serious charge to make. In the police force, above all other branches of the public service, it is desirable, indeed it is imperative, that the way of duty should not be obscured by political exigencies. Once the latter course prevails the usefulness of the force in its legitimate channel is at an end. There is plenty of work for the Commission to do, and it will not be surprising if many grave scandals are exposed. There has been too much clamour for the whole of it to be without reason. The South case alone proves the necessity for the strictest investigation. We hope the commissioners will direct their inquiries particularly in one direction—the conversion of the members of the force into an army of bailiffs and process-servers and civil-service clerks. Constables in country towns are not infrequently clerks of courts, bailiffs, labor bureau officers and clerks of licensing commitees, and the time that should be occupied in police duty is spent in clerical work, for which they receive extra remuneration. The multiplication of these minor offices in the persons of the constables is inconsistent with the thorough discharge of strictly police duty. If the salaries of constables are insufficient then they should be increased ; but on no consideration should they be encouraged to neglect their legitimate duties for the purposes of fulfilling the functions of these outside positions. If the commission puts a stop to this it will have done good work.