The B.S.I. Ceremonial Police.

Revision and Reform of System Called For.

Written specially for The Pacific Islands Monthly by “ Vigilant.’

THE police establishment of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate con sists of armed native constabulary; and the question arises whether a re vision of status and functions is not urgently called for.

The likelihood of these troops being required to quell an armed rebellion is extremely remote. The Group was thoroughly combed for firearms after the murder of two Government officials on Malaita about six years ago; and the only weapons now in the possession of natives are shot-guns issued under li cense to approved men.

To maintain a large body of men drilled to present arms and look pictur esque may appeal to tourists, and gratify the military aspirations of those who revel in ceremonial parades and taking salutes, but the impressive look ing ceremonies are wasted on unemo tional citizens who possess a vivid re collection of what happened during the panic created at Tulagi, when news of the murders on Malaita reached the capital, and rumours of a native rising were afloat. The first act of those in authority was to disarm the head quarters police! That act was eloquent of the lack of confidence reposed in armed native troops by officials and public alike.

The public have a right to demand or

dinary police protection for their per sons and property, and that protection is not given to the extent needed; mainly because the men are not taught the rudiments of civic police duties; and discipline, apart from that displayed on the parade ground, leaves much to be desired.

Tulagi, the seat of Government and headquarters of the police establishment, bears an evil reputation for cases of molestation of white women by natives.

No woman feels safe there; and the dis trict station of Gizo appears to be only a step behind.

At the latter place, according to re cent reports, wholesale robbery had been proceeding for months, and natives fre quently indulged in drinking carousals within a short distance of the barracks, yet the police appear to have been un aware, or discreetly silent, as to what was going on.

The firm which suffered heavy losses by reason of these thefts has a moral, if not a legal, claim upon the Government for failure to afford the protection that taxpayers who maintain the police force have a reason to expect.

Until the police establishment is placed on a civil footing, and trained in civic duties by a competent police in structor, the prevention of crime will re main of secondary importance to farci cal and useless military manoeuvres. It is about time a commission was ap pointed to inquire into the whole stupid business, and public representatives on the Advisory Council should impress that fact upon those in authority.

The long-drawn-out litigation in Port Moresby in connection with the Port Romilly Sawmilling Co. was advanced a further stage recently when Mr. James resigned his office as liquidator of the Company and Mr. Gerald Smith was ap pointed by the court to the position. Mr.

James is the third to hold the position, the first having been Mr. Guinane.