THE POLICE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 6

THE POLICE FORCE

ATTITUDE TO ENLISTMENT.

In replying to some remarks by Mr. Payne about the Police Force and men who; by enlisting, lost their superannuation, the Hon. A. L. Herdman yesterday said that he desired members of Parliament and the public to understand tho real position of the force. Some comment had beeii made as to the members of the Force not enlisting, but the responsibility for that rested upon himself and upon the Commissioner of Police. It was absolutely necessary that they should maintain an efficient police force. They were refusing, except in special cases, to accept men of military ago in their ranks, and ns a result the Force was graduallybeing depleted, and if permission were given to enlist without loss of superannuation, he would lose at once from the Force 17G men-. Since the war broke out very many extra duties had been cast upon the Police Force. They had to reI supervise all aliens in - New I Zealand, and receive reports from those not interned; to make inquiries respecting allegations of enemy trading; to inquire respecting the enlistment of .aliens and men of alien birth in. the Expeditionary Force; to locate and arrest deserters; to assist in connection with the .Discharged Soldiers' Department; to inquire in reference to permits and passports and also in regard to tho sale of arms and ammunition. All this involved extra work on the police, and as its primary duty was the protection of the p'ublic and property, and the suppression' of crime, a further depletion of their ranks could not bo endured.