MORE POLIOE WANTED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12379, 1 February 1908, Page 4

MORE POLIOE WANTED.

Somk time ago we referred to the need for police protection for St. John's, and short Iy afterwards a police station was estab lished in that ward. At the same time we pointed out that the strength of the loe'l force was absolutely inadequate even for the business portion of the town, but nothing was done to remedy matters in that direction, consequently the shortage still continues. It is absurd for the Departmental head in Wellington to expect a town the size and population of Wanganui to be properly looked « fter with the few men he allows us. Th« actual town of Wanganui has long since outgrown th«» borough limits and — leaving aside -such suburbs as St. John's and Durietown — the important districts of Gonville, Castlecliff, Aramoho and E'astbrook fthe last of which is now itself -a borough) are not only without police but the sight of a man in blue is so rare that were one to put in an appearance the very dogs would bark at the strangeness of the sight. One result of this cheese-paring policy is that the few police we already possess have so much ,to do in town that, not only can they not be spared for an occasional patrol in the outlying suburbs, but new men have no time to gain even a rough acquaintance with the district. This was shown in a striking manner on Thursday night last, when a fatal accident occurred on the Heads railway. The police were rune up and told to come to Gonville, but the officer who answered the call — probably a newcomerdid not know where one. of the largest sudurbs of Wanganui was and had to be enlightened. The districts we have referred to should be at least fairly well-known by the police, but how can that be expected when there are only enough of them to do the beats on the Avenue, Taupo Quay, and Wicksteed Streets? The population of Wanganui and suburbs at last census was, 12,32], and it has grown considerably since then. Of this total only 3417 dwelt in the lower part of the town — where the police are. There were 4799 in St. John's ward and 663 at Aramoho. There is one constable at St. John 'a and one at Aramoho, so that these two men haws to look after 5462 people, probably, by this time, close on (3000. The remaining 3442 of our population are utterly without police protection" and it is impossible to give them any under present conditions. There should be at least four more suburban constables here, with a 50 per cent, increase of the' town ' etrength. Bearing the above figures in mind, are any further arguments necessary?