252
(8)
23. Some witnesses consider that even at the present day the best material East Indians. for the bulk of the force can be drawn from East Indian sources. Mr. Mar, who was the author of the scheme for their introduction, and has paid special attention to its working, on review of the experience of the past ten years, is still of opinion that Indians "are the men fitted for us (p. 89). Mr. DEANE and Mr. DOUGLAS are by no means unfavourably disposed to an Indian, and especially a Sikh force; and SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, who may be said to have almost made the Police force a special study, was strongly impressed with the opinion that an Indian force is a necessity for the safety of the European community.
24. There is, however, considerable weight of evidence on the other side of East Indians. the question. To quote Dr. LEGGE (p. 113):
"It seems absurd to think that foreigners ignorant of Chinese habits and language can form an efficient police. "I think no foreign police can be efficient here, and I think this is especially applicable to the foreigners we have had here, "viz., East and West Indians, because the Chinese have a thorough conteopt for all coloured races."
Inspectors HORSPOOL and GRIMES, whose practical experience gives their opinion much value, speak strongly against the Indian contingent. The former says (p. 105):
"As to the Sikhs and East Indians, I think we should be better without them. Their great disadvantage is their "inability to communicate with the Officers in charge of them, I do not know one single quality possessed by the Sikhs I do not think teaching would have made "fitting them for policemen. They have neither knowledge nor discretion. "good police of them. The Bombay police are better. They are more cuming, but they require well looking after."
The latter says (p. 117):
"The Sikhs are not of much ase as a general rule. Some are good. They are careless and stupid on patrol. I would "get rid of Sikhs and West Inlinus. The Bombay men are not of any good. They have not the making of good constables in them, and they are very open to hribery. Certain qualities are required for police which weither Sikhs nor East Indians **have got."
In estimating the value of the foregoing testimony, weight must be given
to the fact that Mr. GRIMES was put forward as the mouth-piece of the Inspectors.
25. The evidence mentioned in the two preceding paragraphs has not had the East Indians. Conclusions. same effect on the minds of the whole of the Commission. The majority, however, have been greatly impressed with the following considerations:
(a.) That the East Indian element was introduced as a mere expedient
under circumstances most of which no longer exist.
(b) That, regarded in the most favourable light, it is not pretended that any class of East Indians possesses any special qualifications for Police duties.
(c.) That, on the contrary, their natural temperament and habits seem to unfit them for any zealous discharge of duties into the spirit of which they do not enter.
(d.) That their main object naturally is to save as much money as possible with which to return to their native country. To do this, the Sikhs even stint themselves in food to such an extent as to impair their health and efficiency (Dr. YOUNG's evidence, p. 121).
(e.) That their health is apt to break down totally with great suddenness. (f.) That to arrive at any ordinary degree of utility, it is necessary for
them to learn two languages, English and Chinese.
West Indians.
West Indian,
(9)
(.) That the expenses of their passage here and home, the high rate of
pay which has been found necessary to tempt a decent class here at all, and the amount of their pensions are exceedingly heavy, and will burden the resources of the Colony for years after the men have left.
(h.) That when an East Indian turns out unsatisfactorily, without com- mitting any grave offence, the Colony cannot easily get rid of him. (1) That in the detection of crime they are obviously useless, whilst such qualities of intelligence, honesty, and truthfulness as they do possess are not sufficiently marked to furnish any very strong arguments in their favour.
26. The experiment recently tried of recruiting a low class of West Indians for the force has proved an absolute failure in every respect, and they have nearly all been dismissed. It was shewn, however, clearly enough, that the characters of these men afforded no fair criteria of the capacities and fitness of negroes in general for Police duties here, and the Commission accordingly took much pains to obtain evidence as to the desirability or otherwise of introducing this element into the force as one of its permanent constituents.
27. On this as on other points of a similar nature the witnesses held very opposite opinions. The Honourable J. G. AUSTIN, who is in favour of the intro- duction of the negro, says (pp. 52, 53):
"The Jamaica Police is a very fine one, but the specimens of West Judians here are most unfortunate. West Indians are honest, sober, and able to bear the climate. I have been from twelve to fourteen years in the West Indies. I think a West Indian Palice would be very useful for day duty. But they must be recruited in the West Indies. The West Indians "of the towns are drunken, but not those of the country districts. Europeans cannot endure the exposure to the sun that "West Indians can. I think the negro might have a fair trial, but there would be uo economy in employing him. We now "give the West Indians a dollar a day.
"The best force we could have bere would consist of Europeans and Chinese aided by a few Sikhs. But then Europeares "cannot stand the exposure.
"West Indians are as truthful as the average European. If I had to reorganise the Police here I should enlist Jamaica "Creoles as a matter of course. I was averse to the enlistment of the West Indians we have now got, I thought it would give a bad impression. I should not draw much distinction in intelligence between West Indians and Europeaus. I should put Indian Creoles on the same footing as Europeans, except as to messing and living. We could not get West Indians for "less than $20 to $30 a month, but they would be cheaper than Europeans in that they would not require to be replaced so "often. I should aeglect any public opposition to a scheme for a West Indian Police."
Mr. DOUGLAS may be called a strong advocate on the same side.
(pp. 58, 59):
He says
"The West Indians lately introduced into the Police were not the class of tuen I should have chosen to keep. I have always had West Indians in the chain-gang guard. There is a difficulty in keeping them sober, occasionally I have trouble "with those in the conviet guard, but by management it can be done. The messing (of a corps of West Indians) and the
care of the men in Barracks would require great attention.
"If West Indians were introduced here I should say about ten in a hundred should be married, and the rest should be allowed to send for their wives after a year or so if they went ou steadily. West Indians are men of strong passions, especially **as regards sexual passion, but they are not quarrelsome. I never heard of a murder in Bermuda. I think educated West
Indians are truthful and respect an oath.
"I think a force of West Indians could be easily controlled. But I would never have more than three hundred of them "on from $26 to $30 a month. If there were more than two hundred, I would have two negro Inspectors, not on an equality "with Europeans, but set over their fellow-countrymen. I do not think the Negro equal to the average Furopean, but I "do think two of them for $54 a month are worth more in proportion to their cost than two Europeans for $80 a month.
"I have seldom heard of perjury cases against West Indians anywhere. I should much prefer West Indians to Sikhs. "I think a West Indian would speak the truth even against his own colour, although, stick to your colour,' is a great "watchword with them."
and (p. 74):
"I would have (a corps of) 250 Indians, ie. the best of the present Indian staff, whether Sikhs or Houbay men, the
3
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.