y be effected because of the superior quality of the
individual men, their ability to act separately and upon individual
initiative. They did not require to have mass formation to keep their
courage up to the necessary pitch. And still better they had the
training that would make them reliable in judgment when sudden and
unexpected conditions arose. Perry's policy to have a goodly number of
men always in training at headquarters so that unready recruits should
not have to go out to face emergencies, was being approved by events as
highly statesman-like. But he was right in constantly keeping before the
Government the need for increasing the numbers of the Force, because,
although the men were wonderfully efficient and could be trusted even in
"detachments of one," the fact was that burdens were laid upon one man
that should have been borne by two or three. To many a man the increase
in the number of detachments meant doubling his hours in the saddle and
lessening his hours for recuperation. One wonders that more men did not
break down under the strain. But for their invariable high calibre this
would have been the result. An indication of the way in which the
arduous labours of the Police were appreciated is found in the 1909
report of the Commissioner of Agriculture in Saskatchewan, who speaks of
the "invaluable assistance given by the officers and men in enforcing
the various ordinances of the department. In particular I refer to the
Horse-breeders Ordinance, the Fire and Game Ordinances and the Public
Health Act, the latter calling for vigilant work in patrolling foreign
settlements quarantined for outbreaks of infectious and contagious
diseases. Had it not been for the excellent service rendered to the
department by this hard-working and highly-trained force of men, the
spread of disease would probably have reached epidemic proportions."

Speaking of the kind of men required to keep up the reputation of the
Force, Commissioner Perry has this illuminating statement: "We require
sober, trustworthy men; those who are not, only remain in the Force
until they are found out."

During the year 1910, there were some notable changes in the Force.
Wood, who had served for thirteen years in the Yukon, ten of which as
the highly efficient Officer Commanding, was promoted to be Assistant
Commissioner; Starnes, who had done difficult work in many places,
latterly in the Hudson's Bay district, was promoted to the rank of
Superint