POLICE SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1928, Page 3

POLICE SERVICE.

DUTY AlfD PENSIONS. (COMMISSIONER ADDRESSES FORCE. Addressing the members s of the Auckland Police Force, assembled over 200 strong, at an inspection parade yesterday, the Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. B. Mcllveney) referred to a statement made by a police officer who retired recently, in a letter, which was read at the last meeting of the local executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The ex-officer had criticised the proposed amendments in the scheme under which the police officers retire and are pensioned. Mr- Mcllveney drew special attention to an extract from the report of Lord Desborough's commission into the police service in Great Britain, dated 1920. "We have endeavoured," said the report, "to appraise aa well as we can the services rendered by the police to the community, the standard of qualifications required, and the rate of remuneration, which seems to us reasonable and proper in all the circumstances likely to attract recruits of the right stamp. In view of the evidence which we haw heard, as to the work of the police and the high standard of the qualifications required, we are satisfied that a policeman has responsibilities and obligations which are peculiar to his calling, and distinguished him from other public servants and municipal employees, and we consider the police entitled thereby to special consideration in regard to rates of pay and pensions." Mr. Mcllveney also pointed out that a constable, in 35 years, pays into the superannuation fund the same amount as a civil servant pays in 40 years, the reason being that a civil servant commenced work at the age of fifteen, whereas a could not enter the fore® till he had reached the age of 21. A civil servant retired at the age of 53, whereas the earliest age at which a constable could retire was 61. Thereby a civil servant obtains at ksst 6 years longer from the benefits of the fund. Mr. Mcllveney also made reference to a policeman's hours of duty, as compared with those of a civil servant. A constable, he said, worked eight hours a day, and these hours included Sunday duty, night duty, and duty on public holidays. The hours worked by a constable during the course of a year wers 2520, as compared with 1900 by other officers in the public service.