CO129-152 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [9-10] — Page 322

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20.

My object is not to find fault with this gentleman, who according to his training' and lights, doubtless does his best. Knowledge is power, and at the same time, we are told by "education men become easy to lead, but hard to desire." But I cannot imagine the Superintendent employing his leisure hours in examining the proficiency of his men in Greek or attainments in Mathematics, or on this barren island finding a suitable field for the display of the hunting knowledge of his deputy.

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Appointments like these bring forcibly back to my mind the qualification necessary in former times for applicants for the situation of cook on board a man-of-war. It was that the seaman applying for the situation must needs have a wooden leg. We may sinile at such a qualification, but my authority is MICHAEL SCOTT, the talented author of Tom Cringle's Log, and in this Colony many appointments have been made with as little regard to any ability needed to fulfil the requirements of the several situations.

What I now propose is, that the Government should take immediate steps to rid the Colony of the present Police and officers, and substituting say, 400 Englishmen, including a proportionate number of energetic Sergeants and Inspectors, and one Su- perintendent to command the whole, and invested with full authority.

It has been said that Europeans are open to bribery. This, for the sake of argument, I will grant, but it must be borne in mind that the faults as well as merits of the men are dependent in a measure on the discretion and talent of their officers, and little can be expected from any class unless they have full confidence in their leaders. Take, as an example, the Irish constabulary, living among Fenians, their loyalty is without stain, and for efficiency they are unsurpassed in the whole Empire and our Protectors would and should attain the same high standard if encouragement were given to those who did their duty, and a further reward to those attaining a moderate knowledge of the native tongue.

Let not, however, my idea of encouragement be misunderstood. I do not mean that any of the force possessing a knowledge of Cantonese should be foisted into the posts of Acting Colonial Secretary, Magistrate, Acting Harbor Master or Sheriff or even rewarded by the gift of a waggonette. No, if any man attained through his diligence a knowledge of Chinese, then if his character proved good, let him be made an officer; or if his attainments justified the appointment make him an Interpreter in the Supreme or Magistrate's Court,-posts I may mention formerly intended to be filled by student Interpreters.

The Police in Edinburgh are chiefly recruited from men of some education and sons of small farmers, and are in receipt of £1.3.0 per week, while in Loudon and other principal towns the pay is £1 to £1.5.0.

As the census of this Colony shows little change in the last ten years, I estimate the population at 116,000. Therefore 400 good men and officers would be ample for the service, and their pay might be apportioned thus:-

Superintendent

Assistant

2 Clerks

.$3,840

..$1,920

.$2,160

6 Inspectors-

3 at $8407

3 at $720 (

4,680

20 Sergeants at $372

7,440

$20,040

370 Men---

70 at $336.

.23,520

150 at $312

..46,800

150 at $288

..48,200

113,520

$133,560

but we have to add passage money from England, say:-

4 Officers at £50

6 Inspectors at £35 370 Men

at £20

£200

£210

..£7,400

---£7,810, ex. 4/4

$36,046.15, making a total of $169,606.15 or $32,405.85 less than we are paying at the present time, but in future years in addition to having an efficient force, it will be perceived the retrenchinent would benefit the Colony to the extent of $68,152 per

annum.

My motives in bringing the subject to the notice of the public will not, I trust, be misunderstood. I simply attempt to point out one of the many abuses existing in this hitherto ill-governed Colony. Few, I believe, are aware that at the present time there are 92 officers and 31 coolies to watch over the well doing of 630 Constables,