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Original Correspondence.
To the Editor of the Maitland Mercury.
Sir-I hope you will give the following a
place in your valuable journal. Some time back
the Maitland police force forwarded a memorial
to his Excellency the Governor General for a
rise of pay, signed by all the magistrates of the
bench, the present pay being so small, and the
price of provisions so high, that it is morally
impossible for them to support their family with
their pay. The pay of the Sydney police has
been increased one shilling per day; they
now expect a further advance of one shilling.
The duties of the Maitland police are as severe
as any in the colony, they having to escort pri-
soners to Sydney and the interior, at very great
expense ; also, to attend Circuit Court, Quarter
Session, Court of Request, and Petty Session ; to
serve summonses for juries, taking down the
crops, and patroling the streets.
I noticed a paragraph in your valuable journal
some time back styling the Maitland police the
" blues," but was the writer of that to speak
impartially, he might have said they were like
Joseph's coat of many colors, and the only way
he could distinguish them from civilians is by
their having a twig of the iron-bark or gum
tree in their hand. The clothing of the Mait-
land police is due to them from the 1st of
January, going on nine mouths. Samson was
a strong man, but could not put on his coat if
he had it not. I do not know where the fault
lies, it does lie somewhere ; but I know who
the sufferers are, for when the police pay comes,
the principal owners are the baker, butcher, and
grocer. Some of these men have grown grey in
the service.
-Yours, obediently,
S. C.
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