HIGHER POLICE PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 11

HIGHER POLICE PAY.

SCHEME ATTACKED. EARLIER RETIREMENT SUGGESTED Some "inside information" regarding police salaries and conditions of servicewas reviewed at last night's meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, as a result of a letter from a retired sergeant of the force. Commenting on tho recent increase in wages in the police force, the writer stated that this would cost the country between £20,000 and £23,000. If the further alterations suggested were carried out all members would be forced to retire after serving 35 years. This would mean that within 12 months all Jhe present senior officers but three, would be retired on pensions, and placed on the labour market at a time when it was already overloaded. The extra cost of the pensions would also bo a grave matter, as the fund has to be bolstered up by large grants from the Consolidated Fund. Moreover, by this arrangement, he said, men who started at the age of 20 or 21 would be forced out at 50, while those who joined when they were 30 would remain until they were 05, which would not make for efficiency. Support for the new proposals, he claimed, came from the younger members, who were anxious to supplant their seniors. In reply, the Dominion secretary wrote that he had interviewed the Commissioner of Police in Wellington. The Commissioner, while admitting that the increase in pay would cost about £20,000 per year, stated that it was necessary to attract young men to the force, as he found it difficult to fill vacancies. The age of joining was 21, and there was no promotion for a man over 50. Retirement took place at the age of CO or after 40 years' service. As regards superannuation, it was stated that the police force had commenced a fund of its own in the 'nineties, and had paid in £30,000 to the Government fund. One of the proposed amendments, the Commissioner stated, was that one hour's police duty should count as 1 l-7th in ordinary public service, making 35 years in the force equivalent to 40 years. Legislation is to be introduced this session embodying severe lamendments, but only six or seven officers would be compulaorily retired, and these would have fairly liberal pensions. After brief discussion, the executive decided that no action could be taken, thon ' several members suggested that the i .idnients might make a dangerous precedent which other branches of the public service would try to follow.