POLICE FORCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 6

POLICE FORCE.

SCOPE OF COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 30. Mucli interest is evidenced in police circles in the decision of the Minister of Justice to set up a' Committee of Enquiry into the pay and general conditions of the force. The question as to who will constitute the personnel is concerning the minds of the men, practically the whole of whom consider that in order to ensure an absolutely impartial investigation, no police officers should be appointed, but that members. should be drawn from 'men prominent in legal or business circles with a Magistrate such as Mr W. G.j Riddell or Mr D. G. Cooper as president. The matters which the committee will be required to examine are various. One of the most important is the relation of the detective branch to the uniform branch. The problem hore presented is regarded as an extremely complex one,. the solution of which -will prove in no way easy. Whether the status of detectives should be considered bieber than that of uniformed and plain-clothes constables who may possess as long or even longer service is one of the points at issue. The relative values of the services rendered by each, taking into account hours and other conditions of work, constitute one of the subjects of the order of reference for the Committee of Enquiry. Some of the men hold to the viejv that the best way to get over the trouble between the two branches is to grade all detectives as plain-clothes constables, nnd let then tnke their chance of promotion alone with the rest. Under existing conditions, the hiahest rank a detective may obtain in that branch of the service is ebief-detective.- which corresponds to the position of senior-sergeant on the uniform side. A man may enter the police as a constable and work liis war right through to the hichest post in the force without entering the detective branch, but if a detective is to receive promotion bevond the rank of chief-detective, he has to re-enter Uniform branch, and in some c&6es this means a financial loss. PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS. (PRKSS ASSOPTATtOV TET/EOIUM.) WELLINGTON, January 30. The Commissioner of Police has announced the following promotions, transfers, and appointments among members of the force:— Senior-Sergeant W. Eccles (Te KuftJ) is transferred to Invercargill, to replace Senior-Sergeant Burrows (deceased). / Sergeant J. A. Matthew (Mount Eden station) is transferred to Te Kuiti. Sergeant A. E. Rowel 1 (Newton) to be in charge of Parnell (Auckland) station, to replace Sergeant Taylor (deceased). . '' Sergeant B. J. Parsons (Newton) to be in charge of Mt. Eden station. Constable J. W. M. Holcm (Carterton), promoted to sergeantr and transferred to Wellington. Constables T. Fitzcibbons (New 7»lvmonth), C. A. Lambert {"Auckland) and J. B. Youn,g (Ponsonby), have been appointed detectives.