THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 8

THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

"NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE." (By Telegraph — Spccial Correspondent.) Auckland, May 13. Spoken lo on the subject of tho expressed.decision of tho Minister for .lustice regarding the formation of a Police Association, Mr. Arthur Uossor. ventured tho opinion that Mr. Herdman was still labouring under a misapprehension. "TIIO Hon. Mr. Herdman persists in his opinion that tho New Zealand Police Association was formed with the ulterior motive of linking up with other industrial and political organisations," he said. "Moreover, tho Commissioner, Mr. Cullen, "in his individual interviews with the men, declares'.straight out that lie has, information that the whole movement has been engineered by tho Federation of Labour, and I liavo good reason for saying that these interviews liavo not been conducted in the most courteous manner as from a superior otlieer to his subordinates. As I have previously stated, tho association was formed from within the force and not from'without. The Federation of.Labour had nothing to do with it, and tho first intimation that its officers would liavo of the formation of tho association was from tho columns of tho daily press. I am acting as tho buffer between

the Department and the men, jusT; as other labour men aro ready to act in a similar capacity in other contes. As soon as Mr. Herdman and his Commissioner will decide to rccogniso tho association. we, as outsiders, will drop out of it, and the police will run their own organisation just as the railway servants, and the/Post ami Telegraph employees run tlieir respective organisations, under full recognition from their heads of Departments. I naturally feel srievrd at the attitude taken up by the Minister towards myself, but trust ho will vet bo convinced that it if solely in tho interests of the men, and also of his Goverliinent, that this movement lias been initiated. There \ieed be no fear but that the association lias come to stay, like the Scottish Police Association, formed with similar objects, and recognised by the powers that bo. In order that .Sir. Hprdman miftlj-t bo able lo fool convinced that ho has been labouring under a delusion, a copy 'of the. preface to the rules now drawn up for the acceptance of the new association was posted tn liim on Saturday. and for the information of tbo public I give it liere:— '"Foreword— We wish it to be distinctly understood that thr« association is not being farmed in antagonism to the Department, but rather with the idea of as- | sisting to find the real grievances which exist in tho service, and 011 all matters affecting the working nf tho police service; to put members' views before the officers in a concise and concrete form; to urge in a proper and respectful manner the alterations and improvements which should be made to ensure the better working of the service, and the comfort and convenience of those who work it. To the members we would urge tho necessity of doing their duty conscientiously. so that the fact of being a member of the association will be a guarantee to the ■'officers that Ihe duties of. such member will be fulfilled thoroughly and well. It must also be clearly understood that this association is not formed for political -purposes, and has .absolutely no connection with any other organisation, political or industrial.'"