THE POLICEMAN'S LOT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1735, 28 April 1913, Page 5

THE POLICEMAN'S LOT.

AUCKLAND GRIEVANCES. MORE PAY & BETTER HOURS ASKED FOR, COMMISSIONER IN REPLY. (By Teleur&Db.-Frett Aeioointton.) Auckland, ipril 2G. Over fifty members of tho Polico Force met Commissioner Cullon yesterday, aud placed beforo him their grievances, which wero recorded by a Hansard reporter, and will ho placcd beforo tho Minister for Justice.. ' During the parade of tho Polico Force tho men supplied a written list of griev. anccs as follow;— (1) Insufficient pay. (2) Inadequate nllowaiico for married men. (.']) No meal time whilst on night duty. (•)) Improperly constituted tribunal for trial of men. (.'>) Insufficient holidays, both annual and monthly. (fi) Not enough Sunday leave. (7) Necessity for application for lute leave by men in barracks of over a year's service whilst: on first relief. "We respectfully report," continuo tlio men in the written statement, njhieh they supplied to tho Commissioner, "that at the prosen? time wo arc harassed by petty restrictions which wo find hard to have to endure, especially when we feci the absurd inadequacy of tho present rato of pay. We submit that Bs. per day places us all (trained men and tradesmen) on a lower piano than those engaged on the most menial of occupations, and does much to reduce our prestige. This matter of inadequate remuneration for inch required to be 'of intelligence, discretion, active habits, and good temper, wo fort, most keenly. Ordinary labourers can earn 9?. to 10s. per day, li!s. to 18s. if starting at i a.m., and 13s. to 16b. if working tlio night through. The present scale of police pay is quite incommensurate with'the cost of living. "Another phase of the wages question which wo deem needs adjustment is the allowance made to married men for house allowance. Married men must live near ; llie police station or get up at 3.30 a.m. in time for tho early morning shift. In conseqiicnco it is necessary to pay abnormal rentals. Tlio average rental paid by the police is l!ls„ while tho allowance is 10s. (id. We also feel that we have a grievance in that a policeman and his family are compelled io tako his 'holiday, and travel just when train and boat fares ore most expensive, as holiday leave Is never granted when excursion fares aro in operation. We should either liavo tlio advantage of these fares or be assisted by concessions in our travelling expenses. We believe we aro justified in asking for 18 days' holiday per annum in accord with all other Civil Sorvfints. We feel that we liavo a grievance in only getting ono Sunday off per lhonth. Wo feel wo are justified in asking for two Sundays and one week-day off in a month. "We feel that gross injustices have been inflictod on some of the men in this section through the present unfair method of trying men for breaches of regulation or uiflect of duty. There liavo.boon instances where a superior officer has constituted himself complainant, prosecutor, and judge, Wo contend that the men should have a fair and impartial heal'ing before a Justice or a. lioard of hearing. Wo respectfully submit in regard to the wages quest.iou that wo should rpcoive a minimum, of Os. per day. fo be increased to tls. fid. at tho end of tho first year's service; that married men should receive an extra 'Js. fid. per day house allowanco in (he four centres,' mid lis. per day olscwheroi that a policeman charged with nny breach should liavo an appeal board to go to if lie so desires; that from midnight to 2 a.m., the bents be so worked that each man. may alternately bo relieved for ono half-hour to partake of a meal." Tho Commissioner addressed i the wen, and intimated that tho complaints.would be presented in tlio proper quarter. Ho himsol f had not tho power to promise to mako any changes lio desired, though on some of tho personal matters ho could promiso immediate attention, In regard to the complaint of inadequate rates of pay ho eouid promiso nothing. The existing financial stringency had a bearing on this as on every other matter of Goveminent expenditure. "If," added the Commissioner, "tho men aro not satisfied they are at, liberty to resign, and I will be prepared to accept resignations."