South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 1879.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2114, 31 December 1879, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 1879.

In stirring times, like the present, when meetings of Magistrates are the rage, and wise heads are oscillating uneasily on broad shoulders, it may be well to call attention to one of Timaru’s greatest Weaknesses—the want of an adequate police force. The town of late years has grown in material bulk as regards extent of architecture and population, and a glance at the condition of its schools and other public edifices conclusively proves that it is still growing rapidly. But while Timaru has been following the patriarchal advice—increase and multiply—one of its most useful institutions has been practically neglected. The town has grown, but not so the police force. In consequence, we have the absurd spectacle of a giant in charge of a dwarf—a large population without adequate protection. The disturbance that interfered the other day with the tranquility of the town was due, not so much to the inefficiency of the local police but to their insufficiency. Even if there was no likelihood of any exigency aris-

ing in a sea-port town whoso population is constantly undergoing- a change by the influx of immigrants the protection of life and property demands something" better than the miserable skeleton of a police force which Timaru has been favored with.

Not only are the police of Timaru inadequate as regards number, but in case of a public disturbance their hands, to a great extent,arc practically tied. They have their handcuffs and their batons but, beyond these articles, weajions they have none. The fact that they arc unarmed and almost defenceless is an incentive to law-breakers who choose to act in concert. It is well known that the presence of armed constables is as destructive to mobs as is poisoned wheat to sparrows. The street rowdy can no more face the sheen of the rifle than he can the glare of the noonday sun. Of course it is an unfortunate thing that there should be rowdies requiring a resort to extreme measures, but we must deal with things as we hud them. So long as the tide of free and assisted immigration continues in how, so long may we expect the tranquility of the colony to be periodically menaced. True colonists respect the laws by which they are governed ; it is the raw material from which danger is to be apprehended, and it is against the encroachments of this material that we must he amply protected.