THE POLICE AGITATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1726, 18 April 1913, Page 5

THE POLICE AGITATION.

•-.."'' MEN PARADED. ■'-•.''■ SLUMP IN GRIEVANCES. A good deal of interest was taken'in Yesterday's parade ■ of' members of the Police" Forco called by Commissioner Cullen in consequenco of the recent allegatioiis i that tho men have serious grievances.' Tho proceedings were not public, and no official statement has been made, but from an unofficial but reliable source a, Dohimioh reporter has gathered that there were 50 constables and 13 sergeants The Commissioner addressed the gathering, arid said that tho parado was called for the purpose of ascertaining what grievances, ft any, the men had. He invited every man with, a grievance to step out, and ho assured all present.that they had nothing whatever to be afraid of. Ho ■could.do nothing for them unless tliey > made him aware of what grievances exTen men stepped out and spoke for themselves. Nine of these had no positive grievance, but merely made suggestions as to improving conditions. . borne thought that they should got free iini- ; form, others more Sunday leave, and that overtime should be taken into consideration. Tho suggestion was made that from ten minutes to half an hour in which to pet supper'might bo allowed mm on night duty. This is done in England. Only one man made a complaint, lie said that ho had applied for a position as mounted constable, and a man con j jsiderably his junior had got it. . Speaking generally, Mr. Cullen told the men that they had no better friend than the present Minister'for Justice (the Hon. A. L. Herdraan), who was prepared to assist them in every way possible, but the Whole tiling was a matter of ways and means-a .matter of money. _ ._ • Someone had mentioned that they considered the police barracks unsanitary to live in, and the. Commissioner reminded them that when the Minister had visited the place a.while: ago he had (without any complaint being made)) noticed the state-of things and said then that new quarters were an absolute necessity, and that he intended to do all he possibly could to get a now barracks. _ : A number of men stayed away because they had no grievance. One was heard to sav in reply to a question as to whether ho was going: "No; I have no.grievance, and if I had I could put.it on paper." This is Tjy no menus an isolated attitude. ...