, 1875-01-02

GlansCed Cnere are I0und Zoo many pubic
buildings which have become partly SUI
per1uous from the altered circumstances
of the times. 1t was also stated by a
member favourable to Governor Garde's
plan that he found the draft too e~xtrava-
CANT.
The question is now referred to the fur
Their sitting of q Committee, and, to
Judge from the composition of this, the
supposition is a legitimate one, that a
majority will be more or less for o statu
quo. It is to be hoped, however, that the
Committee may succeed in arriving at
some agreement with the Government
whereby such a solution of this question
may be obtained as will at the same time
give the necessary security for life and
property and the no less necessary saw
ings. It has appeared to me and others
that a provisional mean-which | shall
not however call golden-might be found
to reconcile the opposing views. 1t was,
during the discussions in the Council,
intimated that the one station might be
done away with, and the force be divided
between the two towns, where there is
found sufficient accommodation, and when
the Government has laid some stress
on FrederiksfOrt being fitted up as q police
station and sheriff's Office, that certainly
could be done at the same time that room
enough could be found for o suitable mill
tary force under the command of an able
sergeantmaj or, as at Kingshill at present,
or perhaps under the command of the
policemaster, if that be found suitable to
the purpose. La that case the postal SER
vice at least could be done by the military,
without the discipline suffering anything
thereby, whereas there are many reasons
that speak tor the employment of civilians
In the customs department Allusion
was made during the discussions to the
removal from Kingshiil, not only of the
military, but also of the police station
there, an idea which certainly deserves
10 be considered, and which, probably,
would not meet so much opposition.
Before 1913 there was, as every body
knows, neither military nor police station
at that place. Allowing that the altered
relations brought about by the emancipa-
ton required increased police surveillance,
it is to be presumed that the long time
that has elapsed since then has gradually
snoothened the relations between employ
or and labourer, and that this process will
still go on. 1t is even possible that many
petty cases would be amicably adjusted
by the contending parties if we had not
SO many police stations. In this connec-
ton [ might mention that many have
thought it strange that the present militia
ny plan was not made in connection with
the reorganization of the police, which has
been so often on the tapis.
1t is not likely that this matter will be
hurried through the Committee, which is
not even desirable, proyideda satisfactory
arrangement can be A-rived at with the
Government by taking a. little more time.
BY mutual concessions it is to be hoped
that something acceptable will be the
result. In face of the cries for retrench-
ment which have been heard again and
again from the greater portion of the mem
bers of the Council, and in face of the
last report of the Budget Committee of the
Diet, it would look strange, not to
use any other expression, if in future
Government and Council changed
part, the former proposing the
retrenchments, and the latter object
ing to them.
Your Obdt. Serv.
AN OBSERVER.
st. Croix, 28th Dec. 1874.