The northern territory police magazine $4 c tat

POLICE IN ENEMY COUNTRY

It is because of outside help rather than any all-conquering personal greatness, that the Kellys and criminals before and since them have had any success however transient — in eluding capture by the Police. In the " zoo Years Ago " section, of its issue of 6th March, 1965, " PIX " Magazine provides a graphic picture of the extent to which public support for public enemies can develop. It is based on reports of the time, and the time was roo years ago; but just look at those present-day headlines and consider whether we have any greater regard for the law to-day, or any greater desire to uphold it or assist in upholding it.

The "PIK " item reads:—

" Difficulties facing the police in apprehending the bushrangers in N.S.W. were discussed sympathetically in the Press. The conclusion was that ' the outrages
that have so long disgraced the colony owe their continued impunity not to the cowardice, or the incompetency, of individual constables, or to the inefficiency of the system. under which they operate, but to the secret support of a resident population '. The Government would be forced to adopt the principle of a local police tax unless there was rapid improvement, one paper suggested, and ' districts with an evil reputation must be made to pay for their character. At present there are districts where we might almost divide the population into two classes, those who give active assistance to the bushrangers and those who Look on with cold and sneering criticism at the laborious toil of the perplexed and unsuccessful police. Referring to recent encounters between the bushrangers and the police a report stated that there were scores of police in the neighbourhood constantly patrolling not only the highways but the byways, yet the bushrangers had been able to thread their way among them with perfect accuracy, to get comfortable beds while the police camped out, to find victuals while the police had to carry rations, and to get information as often as they wanted. The police have practically had to operate in an enemy's country '."

This priceless element of public assistance is a well-accepted part of the Kelly Gang story; and the Police were, only too truly, in enemy country.

For all that, the Kellys' reign was a short one. It was a bare two .years from the awful day of the murders at Stringybark Creek to the day of Ned's fatal drop in Melbourne Gaol. Looking back cold-bloodedly (how fitting) at the storied derring-do of Ned Kelly one is tempted to think of that age-old sling-off at every pug that ever was: " Ar — who did he ever beat? ".

EDITOR BADGERED

When it looked as though the first " Citation" and the new badge issue would coincide — they finally reached Darwin only a day apart! — we cooked up a short item to cover the event. But we're properly sorry, now!

Records are scarce and memories deceptive. We referred to the bronze badge which preceded the Commonwealth Police-type badge, but all we had to work on was an old photograph on which the lettering on the bottom scroll was indecipherable. By the space available and the few marks visible sue scientifically calculated that the lettering must have been " POLICE".

Unfortunately, a copy of " Citation" landed in the Fraud Squad Office in Adelaide and F.C.C. Tony Nowlin instantly detected our false representation. He has one of the old badges and politely intimated that the lettering was simply " N.T.P.", and set along a rubbing to prove it. Other badge owners, or former wearers, confirm this, so should now be able to take the record as having been satisfactorily straightened out. Vic Hall, by the way, designed this particular badge and was given a quid by Commissioner Dudley for his trouble!

On this subject, Gordon Stott drew attention to a still earlier badge which he describes as " brass, oval-shaped, with bars down and across and the words ' N.T. POLICE'."

The_Commonwealth Police-type bade, according to Gordon Stott, was introduced late in 1929. Originally, it was identical iii every way with that worn by Commonwealth Police Officers :.::ally.werAustralia; and there were regular suggestions front the different As Peter Riley has was: o^.:slight.change — in about 5948—by thc ^0,hlifit'ill:::&^-jf,Etkp:::::i0t113^.::::Noitirenv^.::toblvr ^1.1ws,qiii^riA^;i•ifiFif•^-`^..C^.Vitiltiiiiiiealtil'of.e.bastriiiid Police"