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"(“Daily Fress” of 3rd December, 1870.)
THE COST OF THE POLICE.
320
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To the Editor of the "DAILY PRESS." SIR-The late general complaints regarding the increasing charge for the Police, combined with their admitted inefficiency, has induced me to gather a few facts regard- ing them, and I trust you will grant sufficient space in your Journal for the insertion of
ny remarks.
It is both curious and interesting to note the increased requirements for Police purpose since 1859, and how dangerous it is to allow Amateurs to hold positions of trust that their antecedents did not warrant.
In may, 1859, Sir JOHN BOWRING left the Colony, and at the date of his departure the Police Force consisted of 316 officers and men, kept up at a cost of £12,965.10s. Od., ex. 4/2=$62,234.40.
During his residence in the Colony, Sir J. BOWRING took matters easily, his mind possibly being occupied with calculations of profit made from investments in the Creek Loan, and attempts to appropriate and obtain credit for translations of Chinese works, yet the protection offered by the Police during his rule could hardly be termed useless. His successor, Sir H. ROBINSON, arrived in September, 1859, and to signalize his advent and expend some surplus energy, commenced to show the weak points on the Police of his predecessor, and new broom like, determined on wholesale reforms. With these I have little to do saving with those bearing on the Police.
In December, 1861, authority was given to an officer of the Bombay Fusileers to engage a number of men for the Police service, (the officer, if my memory serves mo correctly, receiving £1,200 for this little job, although not mentioned in the estimates), so that in 1862 the force was increased by 238, making to end of year 1865, a total of 594 men, costing $147,938 per annum.
On the arrival of Sir R. MACDONNELL. Sanguine hopes were held that his clear judgment would be brought to bear, and the notorious abuses in the force remedied, but these were soon blasted, and instead of curtailment a large increase was declared necessary. Men from the Bombay presidency were voted as useless, and Sikhs decided on as useful in warlike affairs, as well as most capable to act as guardians of the peace. How far they have merited this character, residents in the Colony are well able to judge, rendering it superfluous on my part to sing their praise! The result is that Sir R. MACDONNELL has left the Colony saddled with a force of 717 men and officers, at an annual cost of $202,012, being an increase since 1859 of 401 men and $139,777.60 without adequate advantage or increase of the population.
On the 17th August last, incompetence of the Police was the subject of a debate by the members of the Legislative Council, and our worthy Lieut.-Governor, after admitting all that was said against them, suggested the remedy by ridding us of the Asiatic portion of the force, and the introduction in their place of West Indians, at a cost. of $180 per man.
Every one, I believe, has his particular hobby, and as long as he rides it at his own expense, it is generally comparatively harmless, but having tried the sons of Shem, it would be wise betore engaging the descendents of Ham to consider if from the members of Japhet's family we cannot satisfy our wants; the more so, as men from England can be brought out to this Colony via the Suez Canal at an average cost of £20 each, or $84 less than the estimate for colored men from the West Indies."
My next object is to endeavour to point out a few of the causes of the uselessness of the present so called guardians of the Peace.
In former years, when Mr. Mar, now Senior Police Magistrate, was Superintendent, owing to his energy this ill assorted body of men was brought into some shape, and made in a measure serviceable; and his successor (Captain QUIN) might also have shown. the same result, had not his ill advised friends continually lauded his talents, while his detractors (among whom I must class Sir R. MACDONNELL) could or would not see ' any merit in his rule; the well known result being that he resigned his post and is now in receipt of a pension from the Colony of £200 a year.
Having got quit of an incompetent servant, it might have been expected that our Governor would have carefully selected the best man, or if no suitable one was to be found in the Colony, to have endeavoured to secure the services of a clever London Inspector to fill the vacant post.
Owing however to overweening confidence in his own judgment, combined with obstinacy, he did neither, although it was fully believed by many that the present Governor of the Gaol, a man of great experience, and in every way fitted for the post, would have received the appointment, but his independent manners could not be appreciated by one accustomed to the adulation and flattery of the Mild Africans of the slave coast and Australian Blacks; and, ignoring the requirements and good of the service, and, caring little for public disapproval, he without due consideration, appointed. as Superintendent of Police no less a man than an M.A. of Cambridge.
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