POLICE AND THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2943, 1 December 1916, Page 6

POLICE AND THE BALLOT

EXEMPTION TO BE APPLIED FOR.

A statement concerning the enlistment of members of the Police Force • was made by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister in charge, yesterday. "It is very well known to me as Minister in charge of the police," Baid Mr. Herdman, "that the men who are eligible for service in the army have been.anxious to resign from the Police Force in order that they might serva at the front. It is ridiculous to suggest that the police are shirkers. The responsibility for keeping the police here rests with the Government. Long. 3go I came to the conclusion that itis in the public interest that the police should not be allowed to enlist. It is exceedingly difficult- to keep the Police Force up to its full strength in view of the fact that so many ablebodied men who are of an age which would qualify them to become suitable policemen are required for military service. In every caso in which a member of the Police Force is drawn in a ballot I propose to apply for his exemption. It is with the deepest regret that I feel compelled, for pnblio reasons, to refuse to allow men to leave the force to enlist for active_ service. I know that the men are_ bitterly disappointed, but the public in New Zealand have to be safeguarded. The public, I hope, will clearly understand that the full responsibility for members of the Force being debarred from rendering military service rests with the Government. The men have no choice in' the matter. They are obliged to abide by the decision of the Gov- ' ernment."