POLICE PAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

POLICE PAY

INCREASES BEiiiG GIVEN

MORE MEN NEEDED

A GRAVE POSITION

Owing to the serious depletion of flic Police Gorce the Government has decided > to give a further increase in pay tu constables and sergeants in the force, while a permanent scale of increases of pay to all officers is being prepared for submission to the Government consequent on these increases to the rank and file of the force. An announcement was mndo by the Minister in charge of Police (the Hon. T. M. Wilfovd) on the subject yesterday.

Recently, stated tho Minister to a reporter, he submitted to Cabinet a scale of further increases to bo provided for constables and sergeants, being satisfied that tho recent increase of Is. fid. a day made to these officers was not sufficient. Cabinet duly referred the recommendation of tho Minister to the Attorney-General, tho Acting-Minister of Finance,, and tho Minister of Justice for investigation and report. Tho report agreed on by these Ministers had been submitted to Cabinet and approved. Such report is in tho following words:— "Cabinet directed us to consider and report upon tho question submitted by tho Minister in charge of the Polico Force relating to tho status and pay of constables and sergeants. Tho report of the Commissioner (■!' Police, to tho Minister in charge indicates that the present condition is really serious, and requires immediate action by Cabinet.

"Quite recently Cabinet authorised an increase of Is. Hd. per day in (he pay of constables after completion of their term of probation, and consequent enrolment in tho force, and in the pay of sergeants. But it appears, from iho report of the Commissioner, that Hie increase has not been sufficient to induce eligible men to join the force. A considerable number have resigned sine* the armistice, and since tlio increase of pay above referred to, only nine permanent men have been required. The force, which numbered about JfllW of .ill rsnlcs before tho war, is now reduced to 800, not counting 82 temporary constables, some of whom may become permanent, and there appears to be, danger of further reduction, and no immediate prospect of any substantial recruitiug. Wo arc impressed witli tho gravity of the position this discloses. It has been suggested that an increase in the pay of members of tho police force will produco a corresponding demand for increases in a. Lite proper, tion of the wages of skilled workmen in other branches of the Government service. Hut if such n. domain! be made it can be met by insistence upon the special qualifications required for service in the force. I'hysical strength and endurance arc no doubt essential, but they,are not the only, nor even Hie first (nullifications. Policemen must bo men of good character, and specially trustworthy and callable of exercising a cool judgment in difficult and even dangerous circumstances, and the force as a Mholp must possess the confidence of the nublic both in respect (o the exercise of the men's duly and in Iho evidence which, they are constantly called upon to Hive in the courts of justice. Public order cannot bo preservod unless a sufficient number of, men so qualified and trained for Hie special services is maintained in the Dominion in n slate of contentment and completo discipline, and we think it necessary, whatever within reason be the cost, to now endeavour to face Iho position in such n manner as: firstly, to leave no causes of discontent which may exist among men nlready enrolled in the force; and secondly, to afford sufficient inducement:; to men of tlio required class to recruit. For that purpose wo advise that the Government should deliberately iix tha pay of the police uiion a high scale. ' Wo advise that tho rate bo increased by a further Is. fid. per day to all constables and sergeants, especially in view of the fact that the present bonuses of ,£ls paid to married men and i.7 10s. paid to nimrlo men 'ceased on March 31 last. This change will involvo a consequent increase among nil men of higher rank. The additional annual charge under theso beads to tho Consolidated Fund if this increase bu made is estimated to bo about .£22,000. • To married men an additional house allowance beyond the scale of pnv fixed is at present granted of „E27 7s. Cd. a year. Wo think that this allowance to married men, in addition to the increnso of pay, should bo increased from .£27 7s. 6(1. to 15s. per week, or .£39 per annum. "(Signed) F. 11. D. BELL, ARTHUR M. MYERS, TITOS. JL WILTOUD." Tho Cabinet, said Mr. Wilford, has adopted this report, and the increase at tho rales mentioned will be granted to nil constables and sergeants from April J. 1919, while tho nllownnco to married sergeants and constables will bo .£!)9 per . tear, or 15s. a week. This ullowaucc is, of courso, above and beyond tho rates of pay referred to. "I hope," said the Minister, "that there will be no difficulty in the futuro in obtaining Hie necessary recruits for this very important; branch of the public, service. 1 will announce the increases to the other officers as soon as the same hive been considered by Cabinet. All these increases will dato from April 1, 1919. "The increase is a fair thing, and there is one thing in tho police force that, all should remember, that a substantial increase, of pay comes to men after fourteen years of service, and in tho police force a man is not put to one side after he is 50 years old, but. from 50 to 05, if his conduct is good, he leans the reward by further increased remuneration in his old age."