The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2786, 8 March 1877, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

An outline of the proposed scheme for the re-organisation of the Constabulary appears in our telegrams, and will, no doubt, afford much amusement to members of the force in this island. The principal features of the scheme are the conversion of the whole force into a semi- military body, and the colonial, instead of local character, which it is intended to confer upon it. With respect to the first proposal, it is certainly some relief to find that this domestic force will not be required to take the field, but none the less it seems absurd that city policemen should be liable, possibly at a moment's notice, "to defend any point of threatened attack until the forces are organised." It is not stated that the attack contemplated is limited to any particular species of foe. It can be readily supposed that the police would be very effective against an outbreak of Otago conventionists, and probably they would be able to repel any invasion of the Colony by the warlike inhabitants of Stewart's Island or the Kawau. It may, however, be seriously doubted whether the magnificent force of seven hundred, though every man were as gallant as the six hundred Balaklava heroes, would be able to cope with Russia, supposing that power were to let loose a few war vessels or privateers in these seas. There are even good reasons for doubting whether the waving of a few batons over a stockade, or even a fusillade of musketry from a force unaccustomed to the use of these weapons, would suffice to frighten a native foe in the event of a new insurrection. A portion of the force would no doubt consist of the men who have heretofore belonged to the Armed Constabulary, and have had much practice at targets, and also been taught how to clear the bush, construct fences, catch eels, and plant potatoes. The remainder would not even be possessed of these meagre accomplishments, and with every wish to do their duty, would simply be a source of constant wonderment and fun to a Maori foe. Imagine six feet or upwards of policeman encountering Te Kooti or Tito in the bush, and with the leisurely dignity, which constitutes the chief attraction of a policeman as a work of art, producing in the one hand a pair of beautiful bracelets, in the other the trusty wooden persuader o£ a thousand white Lushingtons ! Ghosts jof defunct Tomahawks, Makomakos, I and Punches, is not the possibility of such a thing sufficient to recall you to the upper world ? Can you not hear, even in your literary Hades, the mocking mirth of the tattooed rebel, and see the inexpressible astonishment of the artleos blue-coat afc finding that the fetishes of his profession are not reverenced ia tbo wilderness, that tbe mana of the pale-faced policeman is unrecognised by these black and bloodyminded barbarisms ? Seriously, such scenes, or something like them, would be by no means improbable if the policemen of the towns were suddenly called upon to protect the frontiers, as is contemplated by the Government. In the Armed Constabulary we have a trained body of men sufficient for the purpose, the benefit of whose training at a considerable expense during the past fi-.'e years, is now to be almost wholly thrown away. The Colonial Government has determined to uoepecialiae the specialised, by stirring together the military and civil police to the inevitable detriment of both forces.

A\vvw\y.

V\jSTe have spoken only of the effect of ,this -policy from one point of view, tt has also to be considered what would be its effect— supposing a concentration of the force to one point or 'district should take place — in the cities and towns, where the noble form and sublime demeanour of the policeman were no longer seen, nor his earthshaking heels heard upon the pavements, nor any other of those, his world-famous attractions, exhibited for the public benefit. Would cabmen be as orderly, or the streets as quiet ? Would public-houses be closed as punctually? Would incendiarisms, robberies, murders be as few as they are to-day ? If so, a police force is not needed now, and the sooner it ' is abolished the better.