AND REPORTER AN" ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1885.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1109, 10 January 1885, Page 2

AND REPORTER AN" ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1885.

"measures, not men."

The recent burglary and attempted burglary in Lawrence point to tbe imperative necessity for an additional resident constable in this community. Now that Inspector Moore has bad his field of duties very much enlarged, it is next to impossible for him to perform the duties of a resident constable, besides fulfilling those of Police Inspector over the whole County of Tuapeka, and part of Bruce and Clutha into the bargain. It is now necessary for him to be absent from Lawrence a great part of his time, and thus the supervision of the town is left, in great part, to Constable Daubney, who has, at the same time, to look after a large country district. That a large and important district like ours should be left at the mercy of thieves and robbers for the want of adequate police protection is not quite the correct thing. The Government are bent upon cutting down the Civil Service, and, no doubt, in some departments there is ample room for material reduction ; but if the sudden parsimony of the powers that be cripples the efliciency of the police force, nothing but harm can follow, and in most places the results will be nothing short of disastrous. It is now made plain that there are ruffians in our midst who have no respect for property, and we have no guarantee that, if they are to be allowed to get off with their nefarious practices, they will have any respect for person or life. That the residents of a small, up-country town should walk the streets after dark in fear and trembling is a state of matters which should not be tolerated by the community for a single day. Inspector Moore is an able officer, and while he was almost constantly in Lawrence and the neighborhood, under the protection of two constables, the people felt that their welfare would be attended to. But no sooner is the Inspector compelled to relax his wonted attention, by reason of other duties, than crime stalks forth at midnight. On former occasions the gaoler, when there were no prisoners under his charge, assisted the constables in police duty, and that, we consider, would be a very good arrangement at the present time. We presume if the gaoler's pay were increased he would have no objections to perform the double duties of gaoler and constable; for during a great part of his time there are no prisoners in the Lawrence gaol. We know that, under the present economical policy of the G-overnment, the question of expense will offer the only material barrier to the appointment of another constable in Lawrence ; but in tho direction which we have indicated a reasonable solution of the difficulty is afforded. We hope, therefore, to see representations made to the authorities in this direction, as, until Lawrence is better supplied in the way of police protection, there is no guarantee that property will be safe from the bands of thieves. The request, we opine, must come from the public; and if the Borough Council would take the matter in hand there would be some chance of having the request granted. However it may be brought about, in view of recent occurrences, there can no longer be any doubt that another constable is, required for Lawrence. The men we have already attend to their duties faithfully and well; but it is quite beyond their power to have an eye to all that is going on both by night and by day, and it is absolutely necessary that a constable should be ou duty in the town during the night. In order to admit of this, Inspector Moore must have the assistance of two resident constables. We trust the matter will be taken up in earnest, and that the authorities will be urged to grant what is only a reasonable request.