THE INQUISITION IN THE POLICE FORCE.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 554, 10 August 1889, Page 10

THE INQUISITION IN THE POLICE FORCE.

KING ROBERT of New Zealand— we refer to the harmless, necessary policeman — is well looked after by his superiors ; but he can hardly come up to the high standard attained by his brethren in Victoria. The latter beiug a Protective colony may account for the extra protection accorded to the men in blue. The Victorian police regulations number 1130, and it may readily be understood that the Melbourne " bobbies " have no leisure for law studies. Here is a sample article ; it is No. 349 :—

Each man is to provide himself wish a box according to the regulation pattern, and a sufficient supply of underclothing, and the subofficer will be held responsible for the men's underclothing being changed sufficiently often for cleanliness.

It must be a lively sight on inspection morning in the Police Barracks at Melbourne, when the men show their drawers and semmits to the suo-officer, and the bounding " shammies " are forced to move out of their cosy quarters !

In New Zealand, the policemen are supposed to be able to look after their own cleanliness of body ; but in the social and religious spheres they are liable to the strictest supervision. The men here gare forbidden to belong to any secret or religious society, and one man is prepared to take his " davy " that he has got into hot water through making a general confession at the penitent form of the Salvation Army. Men in his position may complain with reason against being singled out for ceDSure, while ".mimbers of the foorce" who make auricular and secret confession to another religious body are allowed to go scot free.

The latest inquisitorial move in the police force of this colony has just come to light, in the form of a demand by the SergeantMajor that every man should give in to him a full, true, and particular account of his financial position — how much he owes to the butcher, baker, and. washerwoman;

how much house property he owns, and how much of his seven bob a day he has invested in Gas Company or Bank of New Zealand shares. This is worse than having to turn out their dirty linen and flannels for the Inspector to smell ; for this implies that the men as a body are corrupt, and cannot be trusted. No doubt there are some men in the force who ought to be expelled — who are in debt to a lot of petty tradespeople, and who therefore cannot be expected to discharge their duties impartially ; but it is insulting to the many good, honest, and solvent policemen to be compelled to submit to this inquisitorial search. * * *

Surely a better way of arriving at the desired knowledge could have been devised. If the only object was to check the career of policemen who are in debt, a quiet intimation to the tradespeople in their district would have been much more efficacious. The man who is deeply iuvolvtd will almost certainly try to conceal the fact, while ..the frugal constable who has accumulated money or property will disclose his affairs. And how will the disclosure be interpreted at headquarters ? Perhaps into an unjust suspicion that the man has been " feathering his nest " by accepting bribes! The Inquisition is quite out of place in the police force ; but it appears to be a relic of the past control of the New Zealand constabulary, which is hard to shake off.