POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 5

POLICE FORCE.

RECENT COMPLAINTS.

STATEMENT BY MR. HERD- . MAN. SERVICE COMMONS DEFENDED. DISCONTENTED MEN NO USE. A comjirchensive statement on the 6til>ei enisling conditions in the police force, complaints which have been advanced recently by some of its members, "'.id the attitude taken up by the Government towards the force in general and towards discontented members in particular, was made io a Dominion reporter last evening by the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister for Justice).

"1 ('.on't. propose to allude to the criticisms that hove appeared recently in the papers respecting tho police," said Mr. Jlenlman. "1 .think that this is unnecessary. 1. shall content myself witll making a plain statement for tho information ot the public. I'irst of all it will be remembered that in the year 1909 Mr. LJishop, fi.M., of Christchurch, investigated the sliite of the force. His report is daled October IS. 1909. It will also be recollected that Mr. Bishop condemned the regulations thou in existence as 'obsolete, iiscfess, and ineffective' and in wmo instance's as positively absurdi as applied to the present day. The Government's Efforts. "The present Government camo into office a little over fen months ago and steps were taken at once to have new rule* issued and up-to-date legislation dealing with the police force prepared. "The new regulations have been gazetted, a new scale of pay has lieen provided, ft new l'olice Force Act will be submitted to Parliament during the coming session, and in our programme for Hie current year I had decided, after consultation with the Commissioner, and before there was any suggestion of discontent, to includo assistance to the men in the matter of the making-up of uniforms.

"Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Chrisfclutrch, Invercargill, Timaru, and tho Wellington stations were visited. There were very few complaints. Everything appeared to be wonting smoothly and tho men appeared to bo contented— at any rate they voiced 110 grievance of any importance. Later on complaints commenced to make their nupearanca chiefly in Auckland, and, so that) there might be no possibility of any misunderstanding, the Commissioner has visited each of tho principal stations with a shortliaud-writer, and has obtained a verbatim account of Hie grievances of the moii. I hove now a report of the meetings. As the men were invited to epcak with the greatest freedom, we may assume that we have now got a substantial account of their.troubles. What tho Men Want. "The following am tho only matters of importance brought under the notice of the Commissioner when he met the men: 1. Increase of pay. 2. Increased house allowance to married constables. 3. Allowance for making-up of uniforms and ullowauco for footwear, i. Sunday leave. 5. Time otf for time spent when attending Court outside of hours of. duty. G. Special tribunal for dealing with breaches of discipline and cases of misconduct. 7. Time, allowance to men 011 night duty to obtain refreshments. 8. Free travelling on railways when oil leave. fl. Extra annual leave of absence. 10. Better accommodation in Wellington. Increase of Pay. "As tho increase ol' pay is 'tlio most important of tho claims made by members of the force 1 think it is well to give some information regarding the various scales of pay that have been in operation in the force during tho last quarter of a century. Up to the timo Mr. Tunbridgc took charge of the force in September, 1898, tho pay of a constable was „ClO per month, out of which 112 had to provide himself with all articles of uuitorm, and if married he had la provide a house for himself as well. "Oil December 1, 1893, a new scale of Vif.y was introduced by Mr. Tunbridgc, which provided that all constables under live , years' service should receive 7s. per day; those over five and under ten years' service, 7s. Gd. per diem; over ten and under fifteen years' service, Bs. per diem; over fifteen and under twenty years' service, Ss. Gd. per diem; and over twenty years' service, 9s. per diem. "The foregoing scale was superseded 011 October 1, IM7, when the pay was raised. It commenced at 7s. Gd. per diem, ana advanced by increments of (id. pet diem every four years up to 9s. Gd. per diem, this'sum being fixed as the maximum pay 'of a constable. Rccent Concessions.

"On January 1 of last year a new scale of pay was introduced by the late Goveminent which fixed the minimum pay oil a constable at Bs. per diem with provision for an advance to 9s. Gd. per diem by increments of Gd. per diem every, three years up to nine .years' service. An additional (3d. per uay is granted aftei fourteen years' service, and a further Cd, per day after twenty years' service, maleins: I he maximum daily pay of constables of over twenty years' service, 10s. Cd.; and this is the scale now in force in tlio service, „ "Up till October 1, 1901, all members' of tho force had to pay out of their own pockets for all articles of uniform worn by them, but after that date they were provided by the Department freo of charge, with one shako, and Biifiicient blue tweed to make a jumper and pair of trousers annually at town stations, ana every two years at country stations; a waterproof coat was also supplied every two years. At die present time non-com-missioned officers and constables are provided, free of charge, with sufficient bluo tweed to make up a frock and two pairs of trousers- every eighteen months. They are also provided with night duly overcoats, waterproof overcoats, and a bluo ami a white helmet at fixed periods, freo "In 'addition to tho foregoing scale of pay, unmarried constables are provided with free quarters, fuel and light, which is at least equal to an additional Is. Gd. per day, and married constables receivo Is. Gd. per day house allowance, tho amount recommended by Mr. Bishop when sitting as a Royal Commissioner. This actually brings the pay of the young, raw, and inexperienced constable immediately upon his admission to tlio forco up lo 9s. fid. per diem. i'"rco medical attendance and medicine is , also provided for all members of tlio force in the four centres, and in other places medical attendance is paid for by (ho Department in all eases wliero a member of tho force has contracted disease or has been injured in tho discharge of his duties. House flllowanco to Married Men. "Married constables received no housa allowance till tlio end of Uio year 189(J, when all those '.vho had over three years' service were granted Is. per diem house allowance, at which rate tlio allowance remained till April 1, 1910, when senior sergeants, sergeants, and chiof-delcctivcs were granted 2s. per day, and detectives and constables Is. Gd. per diem. This is tlio rate now being received. "Tho claims lor inereassd pay nnd house allowance 1 cannot see my way to grant. "Of tho tolal number of constables in tho force, about one-third are married men provided with free quarters, onethird alv married men drawing house allowance, and one-third arc single men liv. ihg in barracks. An effort has born made to compare the position of Ihe wnrkinK luan with the newly-Hedged, inexperi- ' diced policcmali, to the disadvantage of the latter. The are not -imilar. The constable begins his career at what is equal to 9s. Gd. per day and advaive* by increments to what is equal to 12s. per day for seven days in the week. The working man does not. Tho new constable lias to learn his business. The labourer is generally mi experienced worker. The constable receives pay for every day in the venr. The worker does not. The constable Rets a holiday of 15 davs in the year on full pay, and ho can • allow his leave to accumulate. Iho work-

ins man enjoys no such privilege. The constable, if ho proves himself to be capable,'can, after a few years take cliajgo" of a country station. ■ This means a Comfortable house free, a garden and pecuniary perquisites of value. The income of tome constables in country stations, including, of course, thejr pay, is better than a salary of .£250 per annum. No such opportunities are afforded to tho working man. The policeman, can, in time, become a non-commissioned or commissioned officer receiving a comfortable income. Very few workers enjoy such opportunities of advancement in life.

Finally, at the end of his career, the conBtablo can retire upon a reasonable pension. This the working mnu cannot do. Tho caso of the working man and tho case of a policeman cannot bo compared. "Tho rates of pay and house allowance in New Zealand compare favourably with tl|e, rates paid in Australian police forces. ■ In, only one case, West Australia, is the constable's position better tlian in New Zealand. . In tho case of New South Wales tho constable's position is about equal to that of the New Zealand constable. In" every other caso the New Zealand constable "has the advantage, and with the boot and uniform allowance to be granted, the New Zealand policeman V will bo better off than any other policcnian in tho Australasian colonies. Probably hi 9 condition will not be equalled anywhere in tho British Empire. Uniform and Boot Allowance. "As stated by me above," continued tho Minister, "I had agreed, upon the recommendation of the 'Commissioner, before any hint of trouble had been given, to ask tho Government lo grant an allow- / nnc'o for the making up of uniforms, and I think that tho boot allowance should' also conceded. A sum of .£5 per annum will bo granted to each lion-comml*-;eioned officer and constablo .who has to pay for the making up of his uniform, and .provide himself with footwear; tho allowance to bo paid by monthly instalments of 83. 4d. per riionth. The detec- ■' tives will be allowed a grant of <£2 10s. each to cover, the cost of footwear.

- ' Sunday Leave. "The amount of Sunday leave that can bo granted at any sration must bo left .to a great extent to the discretion of the officer in charge, who should see that nil men not actually required for duty 011 Sundays should be given Sunday leave. The custom of granting Sunday leave has been universal throughout the force fo. many years, and such leavo has never been refused to any man so long as his services could be spared.. To grant men two j Sundays per month, as some inexperienced constables ask, would result 111 denuding the streets of the cities, and adequate police protection would not he .given to the public. ' Time Off for Attending Court. "The custom of granting time off duty in lieu of time spent in attending Court In tho men's own time has been followed In all stations that the Commissioner'has had: experience of, and it has also been followed in all important stations. Here, again, the amount of time that can bo allowed off: must depend entirely upon local conditions, such as the station being jhorthanded through vacancies, escort, sickness, leave of absence, relieving duty, etc. The officer in charge must'therefore bo left to exercise his own discretion bs to the.amount of time ho .will'allow Siff in any ono day. Breaches of Discipline.'

"Breaches' of discipline must be dealt ■with by the responsible officers of the Department who are responsiblo for tho discipline and efficiency of the force, but a urorision contained in tho proposed Polico Bill will enable decisions under certain circumstances to bs reviewed. Instructions for the drafting of, this; meagre Woto given during last session, but time . [lid not allow of its completion before the tnd of tho session. Time Allowance at Night. "Here again-the custom of allowing men ' 011 might duty to liavo some time in which, they can have a cup of tea or coffee aud Sandwiches, etc., has been in operation throughout the service, but no official sanction has been given .to it heretofore. The custom referred to is now followed in nil centres with satisfaction to all parties. Definite instructions on this a.nd ether matters will be issued later on to officers in charge of districts.

"Some time ago an effort was made to get the Railway Department to grant tho police the privilege of travelling free by rail when on leave, but the railway authorities could not see. their way to comply with the request, ,

Additional Leave of Absence. "I cannot agree to extend the annual leave of absence beyond the fifteen days now provided for in the regulations. I consider the leave now authorised to be sufficiently liberal. Some members of the forco have asserted that tho civil servants get more leave than the polico do, but this is not so, as tho former only get 14 days' leave until they have over ten years' service, and their leave is not allowed to accumulate as it is in the police. As to gick leave, ninny men have been 011 the sick list for time, six, nine, and twelve months without having their pay stopped t>r their "annual leave curtailed.

; Better Local Accommodation. "The absence of satisfactory accommodation in Wellington was brought under Jny notice by the Commissioner soon after I took"offlce. _ Nothing could b? done dur'ing lost session. Time was limited, and Jvo had many other more important >natters to deal with. I have visited the ■Lamb'ton Quay statiop twice, and I am n agreement with Mr. Bishop, who stated n his report that 'the accommodation renerally is very limited and very poor. The whole place is far too crowded for !ither convenience or proper sanitation.' 'nstructions have already been given to he Public Works Department to report ipon another site, and to furnish an estimate of the cost of a new station.

;' . ' A Friendly Meeting. "These ore to my miiul the only matters i—of importance brought under my notice ' >h.v the men. As a result of my interview with members ot the force in Auckland, and a 9 a result of the report which the Commissioner has furnished to me of Jiis interview with the men in the four centres, a fair- insight into tho working bf the force Ims been gained, awl I am ronvinoed tliat on the whole the men are efficient, trustworthy, and capable. They hre entitled to the respect of the community. The meeting which I hail with . the men in Auckland was distinctly friendly. I believe that the conditions ,now obtaining in the force are as fair as (they aro anywhere in the British Dominions. Every man is given a fair Ichance, a.nd every man with a griev;inco can have it carefully inquired into if he ivill but state it.in writing. The influence riftlm politician has been strictly excluded, and the merit of the individual, together with his length of service, have been given consideration when promotions have been made. lii the history of the - force there never existed a better chance for tho young constable of character and ability.

A Plain Warning. ' "If any man is dissatisfied with his lot," said Jfr. Herdma-n, "I ant quit" prepared to accept his .resignation.. We. do not want discontented men in tho force; they are better outside. It is impossible to allow any Police Association to ,be formal. The police force differs from every other branch of the Public Service. It must always he under strict discipline. The interests of the public and the nature of the work wilier, the police, do demand this. Jlen can always meet in the various stations and discuss matters. Thar representations .can bo forwarded to headquarters, when they will Lu given proper consideration by the Commissioner and the Minister, but the existence in the polico force of any organisation formed upon union principles cannot be * permitted. The police exist for the maintenance of order, the protection, of property, and theenforcemont of tho law. Supposing there happened in.Ncnv Zealand a widely-extended and well-organised attempt to set the law at defiance. In such an event tho Government and • the Com-' missioner must rule, unfettered by any interference from any .association secretary. Any other position would be ridiculous."