CO129-327 - Individuals - 1904 — Page 16

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becoming depleted I have had no alternative but to take what material was offered to fill locally to numerous gaps.

the too I may state that I never trod on any man who failed to produce first rate reference. and had ups as references sent with good references whose look I did not quite like. In the later Police I always jumped at the chance.

Chance of getting saman but few gord such offers dis who a & those that were often rolling stones did not stop long. A few years ago we used to have no difficulty in getting (for the land force) men with a few years' experience. of the large Scotch & English town forces. This is exactly the material we want.

Recently however the Scotch police men are not coming forward as they used to. Our pay is undoubtedly good.

The Scotch policemen are hardy & sensible, but not infrequently somewhat uncouth in speech & manner sometimes. inclined to be brutal. When he is good he is very good indeed.

I have great liking for Irishmen, though they are usually. They are generally quarrelsome & discontented, though we have exceptions.

Foreigners are rarely much use. The best source of supply of recruits, in my judgment, is the London Metropolitan force. Recruits from that force are always offering which feels like a burst of sunshine after too long an overcast sky.

I picked out a promising looking draft of 5 or 6 men a few weeks ago from Scotland. I think every effort should be made to attract men & to keep them. Even if we have to further increase pay. I agree that the 45 years age pension rule should be relaxed for Europeans. This makes the career too short and the pension too early.