Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1895. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5088, 27 July 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1895. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

We have received a pamphlet from Tlieo. Wake, of Uhristehurch, entitled "The Police Department, its demoralisation demonstrated." As far as wo are concerned, we want 110 proof of the demoralisation of tbe police, as we have repeatedly through our own columns, supplied evidence of it; still there is much useful and suggestive information in the pamphlet in question. We know not who 'J'lieo. Wake is. but wo are certain from what he writes, that lie is wellinformed as to the general condition of the Police Department, and also that lie "tells many things that are true, and such that the Government would desire to keep hidden or suppressed, We learn from the pamphlet, that tho Police Force consists of 455 men who cost £95,000 per annum, ami that very many duties are imposed upon them—not strictly appertaining to the Polico Department—which make the members of tho forco very frequently mere general agents, instead of constables. The faults of tho system are, unreasonable regulations, unfair promotions, unnecessary transfers,' and persecutions by tyrannical superiors. Great friction exists oyer ' promotion, and tho, political element is afm.ost jgy&r}ably present whou a niopibpt.' is favoured in this way, Favouritism is, the passport to success in tho policeforce, aHdpolitieal wire-pulling tho modus operandi. The consequence is that an intelligentconstable thinks roore pf politics than of duty —the former will butter his bread 011 both sides, the latter' will take thfi bread out of his mouth,' Inspecfors , 4qre not even punish members of the force who pijspess political influence. : Theo. Wake toiihfully .decferes tijafc 1

constables who insist upon compliance with the licensing laws lead llio lives of modern Isliinnelitcs. "We know this old story well enough in the Wairarapa, the incensed publican appeals to Mr Seddon and the offending constable is (packed off to tlie other end of the Colony, The \ wonder is that undi!r such a system, constables are as e;ood as we find thoin, not that they are bud, " If," says Theo. Wake, "at tho very source (Mr Seddon) of the police administration of the Colony there is impurity, what may not happen down stream ?" Again our anther hits the mark when he says," all the leading Magistrates in the Colony privately express this view, that no dependence can be placed in the due administration of justice, or in the proper exercise ofpolice surveillance, while the conditions of service remain as they are." It is also contended that the inefficiency of the police is accompanied by an increase of crime, the offences for 1893 exceeding those of 1892 by no less than 450; the per ccnlnge, too, of convictions was small on the number of informations laid, flieo. Wake, too, complains of the slip-shod way in which Coroner's inquests arc conducted by the police, and he has lo scarcely go outside the Wairarapa for his illustrations. The author of tho pamphlet makes several excellent suggestions for the reform of the police department, but of what use are these if the main difficulty remains.'' All tho regulations in the world won't make the service effective, if Mr Seddon runs it as a political organisation, one which shall aid his party.at general elections and at odd times do such other work as he and his supporters in the Ministry require tobedone. Is, 100, the police department theonly service in the colony which is demoralised by political interference. We Icar that the trail of tho serpent is over llicm all, and that honest administration in New Zealand is a thing of the past. In all departments there are doubtless zealous, honorable men, ivho are keenly alive to a sense of duty, but little encouragement is given to men of this stamp by the Ministry, although it is to their sense of self-respect that the public owe such good AdVice as is yet available in the Government Departments. •