Untitled

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16507, 7 August 1919, Page 2

The police, strikes in England have revealed the very slight barrier which separates oar civilisation from anarchy. Liverpool has a population of 768,000 Hid in ordinary times a police force of ■v) men suffices to keep order. This force is stronger than is necessary in many towns, because there is a large Irish colony which is not of a particularly law-abiding character, and also much shipping, the sailors from which are apt to find the air of Lancashire

rather stimulating. The opportunity given by the police strike was irame-

lately seized by the rougher elements to loot shops which contained anything that attracted them. Arrests were made and the crowd, excited by drink and generally in rebellion against authority, attacked the police, special constables, and soldiers who were endeavouring to keep order. It is obvious that such occurrences must bo put down with a strong hand, as the taste, for plunder grows and a stateof absolute anarchy is soon produced. The proper people, to keep order are tho police and not soldiers, but if the police refuse to do their duty the State must exert all the power at its disposal to restore order. It if not a ease of the workers against capitalists, but of ‘civilisation against anarchy. For the police to form unions and go out on strike whenever it suits them is a state of affairs which cannot bo tolerated. The policeman is a man apart from the ordinary currents of life, whose business it is to see Dial the law is observed by all quite independent of their social position. In Britain and in this Dominion tho police force, with few exceptions carries out its dillicult duties with remarkable tact and justice, it is to the benefit of all that this should be the case and it would be a grave evil if the force became identified with any particular class. In consideration of the responsibilities of the police it is right that they should bo well paid and work under good conditions. No opinion can bo offered as to the conditions in Britain, where the police are under the local bodies, but in this country, where they arc Stale servants, the public expects them to receive good treatment and ■would certainly support any reasonable claims on their behalf.

A somewhat daring enterprise was completed at 'Wanganui last week when the Dune Hill elevator was Opened for public trafiic. All visitors to 'Wanganui know Dario Hill and many have toiled up the steps leading from the river bank to the top in order to enjoy the view obtainable there. Nearly four years ago Colonel A. E. Wilson and Air. W. J. Poison took up the idea, formulated by Messrs. J. Ball and K. Crow, of installing an elect rie elevator, after the borough had turned it down and an attempt to form a company had failed. The elevator was designed by Mr. E. Crow and the work was started in 1016. The war caused troublesome delays but at last iho work is Completed -and the elevator is engaged in carrying people up and do-.vij. Just opposite the town bridge the hill is pierced by a tunnel 700 ft. long. 10ft. high, and Du. wide, lighted by electricity, and at the end of the tnnncl is a shaft to the top of the hill, terminating in a massive tower 32ft. high. I'p and down this, .shaft the elevator works. This is capable of accomnio-

dating 25 passengers and the ascent is made in less than a minute. It will convey some idea of the enterprise ot the proprietors when we say that the shaft is tho. largest, and deepest of its kind yet constructed, tho seeomHargesl being in America. The elevator, by (he way, was installed by Mr. Moult, who put in tho lift in tho A.MR. buildings in Now Plymouth. Its fail working capacity is 500 passengers per hour both ways. The elevator is not the end of tho. enterprise, for the proprietors are laying out a garden suburb on Dnrie Hill, with an area of 58 acres. Such enterprise deserves success and .should prove an incentive to other towns.