The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-01-14 00:00:00

Kr. 0. Eliot mid be believed the gentlemen of the
Connell would agree with him that this matter was one
of emildarelde Importance. He was aware that this
question had been dammed before more then once ; but
aliiiintth not unseat at the time, he knew the opinion
then entertained, which was that no amaigarcation
should take place. But be thought this question should
now be viewed front • point of importance, from whisk*
It bad never before been viewed. The state o'

country at the present moment was snob as to render it
an koperatime ditty to plus our police is the highest
possible state of effisiency. The state of the 004Uktri
had bad no parallel for year., and therefore it woe
impatient we should attend to this matter: He would
say, before mitering Into the details of the ane, WO he
had worried the notice on the paper not with the
intention of bringing forward any distinct motion to-day,
he merely wanted to ventilate the matter and know the
opinion of the Council, and, to use • Parliamentary
phrase, to get leave to put • more distinct motion on
the paper on some early date. There were two ground.
on which be proposed buing his plea that morning.
The first was that by bringing nlin_ut Mit amalgamation
they would aid the end, of justice. He bad it fine
the highest polies authority in this wanly that the
present arrangement of police forma in boroughs and
.uch isolated spots afforded very ear, means to criminals
to moue. For instance, if a felony or robbery was
committed in • borough, and the borough polies were
sent upon the tusk of the criminal, it was oily for him
(the criminal) to slip across the border and be so far out
of their reach, se it would take some little time for
communioation with the County Pollee authorities, end
in these daysof rapid travelling the escsPit of criminals
was thus facilitated. The reverse also held good in
the cane of a robbery being committed in the county,
and the criminal being able to make his runt» into •
borough having its own polio. form. The amalgamation
he Proposed would also improve the efficiency of the
Police. He emuld not have them euppose be was
making any personal remarks ; he ise• op.akiflg On
▪ "nil P. ; It affected not only Wet mouth but
all boroughs where this epitome esa carried out. They
would not require many words front him to remind
them, that when • Nan
"°°
wee placed In •"l of
responsibility, and that responsibility was seldom or
never (i wee amply human nature
for the person to grow lee in his duties he did not
mesa to yii wee more or bare than any other plea,
It wan our nature no to do. When thsre was not a
strict eye kept over the man who held each responaible
office there was great fear of his becoming las. Now
if an amalgamation with the County Constabulary took
place, Weymouth, of • borongh of similar sis,.
would have the beet officer that crould be pieked out of
the whole county to superintend it. But if there eras
not kept over that men every strict hand and 1,04'144
eye of sep-rviaion there was every temptation for
hiin to become I.e in his duties. It that emalgematlon

with the County took place they might bestir.
should always have the best superintendent that
could be found. They well knew when the chief non-
Ntableship of this or any other county became vacant,
there lure always 60, 70, or 80 appliaanta for that office.,
so that the man that is chosen will always he the
best man. Thereinto the county constabulary must
always be in • high state of efficient:7. The borough
police might bean too, bet there was every chance it
wool I not be In no high • state of efilatiency as it is our
duty to see it is. His second plea wee plued on
financial grounds. He had toads • calculatioe of the
pollee accounts for the past year, and had also an
account from the Chief Constable of ;he county naming
the amount of the bill that would be sent in to them
annwilly. He had compared the two and found there
would be a considerable using. The Present ex,enge of
maintninine the borough force was as follows :—Superin-
tendent, £l2O • year; two sergeant., £110; nine
politiernen, £4BO ; cdotbini, Lino ; this, together with
smaller items, made • total of esso. From this amount
the government allowance of one-fourth was to be
deducted, which reduced it to C 650 per annum. The
Chief Constable had made • calculation, and hail told
him the amount for which be would take charge of the
police of this borough wonld be £530 a yea'; thus
effecting • saying of £l3O. He bad estimated as
favourably as possible for the borough police, and be
thought there could be no gainsaying the figures he
had brought forward. Ho was perfectly aware there
existed considerable objections to his motioo ; but if
they viewed and sifted them, the, would not be so
formidable as they now appeared. When first spoken
to on this point, the first objection that •rnee in hi.
mina presented so enone an obstacle, that be hesitated
for some time to bring it forward. If caroled out the
amalgamation would involve the diamiaaal of our
superintendent. He was aware the superintendent of
police was a very faithful and well-deserving offloer,
and the,efore he felt it was • very delicate subject for
him to propose anything that should act harshly or
unjustly towar Is him. But beheld • principle, which
be hopsi would always govern his actions whilst be had
euhlic duties to perform, and that was that when
private or perunal feelings clashed with public duties.
the former should give way, and therefore he thought
that no personal feelings should hinder him from bring.
ing forward that question. He farther felt, that what-
ever might be done in this case—roppnaing they saw
it prudent to dispense with the services of their rupenn-
tendent. he felt come consolation in the thought that
the gentlemen forming this Council would not allow
any injustice to be done towards Mr. Lidlittry. No
beneficial changes ever had or over would take place
without acting in • certain manner unjustly towards
some persona But such • feeling shnnld not bier us I
making change, that must operate beneficially on the
whole community. Another objection. and one which
he believed weighed with many was, that in bringing
about this change they would be throwing up one of
their ancient pristine*. He did not like eihiell
up old privilegea, or throwing away any tonour or
dignity that belonged to the Mayor and Corporation
of this town, if such honours or dignities had any '
value. He would ciente a remark that some time since
fell from their worthy mayor, which was pregnant
with good Renee, and applicable to the present occasion,
•it, that it watt absurd for us to nay titrough the nou
for aty honour or dignity that had no real
va'ne attached to it. He felt they Were raying
dearly for any honour that might be attached to
the maintenanee of the borough pollee foam. The pro-
po-ed change be did not think would affect them in any
material Wenner. The question was not • new one, and
thy would not be esocirementalislng, as it had b on
trial in other towns. He had collated sufficient
evidence to prove lis mint. He had written to the
authorities of other boroughs where the amalgamation
had taken til iee. He had written to Manta. Wilts, and
°wielder Constabularies, end those horowlis in our
own county where the wnalgamation had been tried.
From the replies he found great advantages bad been
derived from the change, lie had put the question of
expense also to the gentlemen ; all had not answered on
this point, but some had and raid it was • saving,
others hal said no saving was effected. But be
thought even this strengthened his argument, for
thou were antiquated boroughs, in which the system
e night watchmen was pt up. They said theexpense
wax inereued. hut no trifling in amount, that supposing
they had had borough police instead of antiquated
policemen they must have effected • great saving. These,
then, were some of the reasons on which he propwed to
b log forward his motion. It was a question of in,
portanco. and be hoped the Council would are it in the
gone Pei as himself, nnti allow him to bring forwards
direst motion on an early date.
The Chairman: You say the cost of the county police
would be £530; can yoa tell what would be the number
of coostahlos and sergeants?
Me. 0. Eliot enid he had asked that question, and
Captain Brown said if the amalgamation took place, he
thought he would be able to manage the police anties of
this borough with • smaller force than the present. He
was not sore, but thong, t by working it with the ea-
ternal parishes it might he effected.
The Chairman aaid that neer years ago this matter
was discussed, and then it was elicited that instead of
having • force of twelve, they would only have Pis
constables and one sergeant That would make all the
dare.. nee.
Mr. Commit', espr seed himself quite satisfied with
the present state of affairs.
Mr. .1. Pothectry said be should oppose the motion
when brought forward.
Mr. J. Drew thought Mr. Ellot should know the feel.
ing of the Council On the 'object. For his part he
looked upon it as one step towards orntraliaation, which
watts stepping-stone to despotism. He should oppose
the motion.
Mr. 8. Webb concurred with Mr. Drew.
Mr. Alderman Ayling spoke is high terms of
the Weymouth police force. It had been held up as •
mu lel to the whole county.
The Chairman said this subject was brought up when
Mr. Dodson was Mayor. He voted •gainst it then,
and hail not since had any resents to alter his opinion.
Mr. G. Eliot replied briefly, and the question
dropped.