POLICE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 19, 18 October 1943, Page 6

POLICE FORCE

Annual Conference In Wellington

REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT

The eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Police Association was held in Wellington last, week. The vice-' piwident.Mr. G. J. Paine,presided. Welcoming the associate Minister in Charge of Poiiee, Mr. Webb, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. I). J. Cummings, he stressed Hie desirability in the public interest of co-operation between the association and the department. One of the main domestic policy matters was the desire for Government recognition of the fact that there were many unusual cireumsanees connected with the life and work of a police officer that justified the claim for retirement after 35 years' service with full superannuation rights as if 40 years had been served, he said. The conference was opened by Air. Webb, in the absence through illness of the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, who is also Minister in Charge of Poiiee. After speaking of the advisability of co-o peration between the association and the commisisoner, the Minister referred to some of the improvements that had been made in police buildings during the past year. “In the future,” he said, “we will see that the accommodation under which you work and live will be the main and first consideration. ’ Building Programme.

The commissioner said that since the last conference they had not been able to make as much headway in the building programme as was expected, because of the lack of manpower and materials, but there was a prospect of being able to do a little more in the future. He hoped that the department would get its share of the manpower and materials available.

It was felt that the time had come to allow men who had reached the retiring age to retire, if it were possible, to make room for others coming on. The department was very short of staff and the men as a consequence had to work longer hours than they should be working. The commissioner paid a tribute to all ranks for the way they had worked in the past twelve months. It was rarely that he heard the men grumble about the hours or the nature of their duties. He also paid a tribute to the women police for the excellent work they were doing in the main 'centres. Pay Increase Sought. The conference waited as a deputation upon Mr. Webb and Mr. Cummings, seeking increases in pay, retirement afier 35 years’ service with full superannuation rights as if for 40 years, and an early decision by the Government on the retirement of members at present being held beyond the retiring age. The'Minister promised to give early consideration to the requests made. The conference discussed the conditions of reinstatement of returned soldier policemen. The conference voted, in favour of disabled returned soldier policemen being given suitable clerical positions in the Police Force. Pleasure at an intimation by the Commissioner that steps were being . taken by the department to acquire additional houses in the main centres was expressed. It was contended by the 'association that the difficulty of obtaining housing, had prevented men from receiving promotion. It was decided to institute a scheme for assisting members who were compelled by sickness to go on half pay. The details of the scheme were left to the management committee for settlement and submission to the next annual conference for confirmation. Use of Cars. The present system under which police officers used their private cars for departmental purposes and received a yearly allowance was discussed. Mention was made of the practice of charging members full retail prices for tyres, Ijnd this was considered a gross injustice. Previously the tyres were supplied at Government contract prices and this concession had always been considered part of the car allowance. The conference recognized the difficulty of obtaining tyres, but felt that when they were available it was most improper for the Consolidated Fund tp make a profit out of police officers in that way. Since the recent overtime allowance was granted on the basis of the average estimated amount of overtime, men who were on night duty were required to attend at Court next day without getting any time off in lieu of that attendance. The conference considered this undesirable from the point of view of the men’s health and decided to make representations to have the position returned to what it was formerly. A number of other remits were discussed and representations on them are to be made to the Minister and the Commissioner.

The. following officers, all of whom by rule must be stationed in Wellington, were elected for the coming year:—President, Mr. T. E. Johnston; vice-pre-sident, Mr. G. J. Paine : management committee. Messrs. IV. H. Andrews. J. C. Fletcher. W. C. Harper, F. H. Healey, A. I. Knapp. R. A. Morris. J. M. Pointon, C. H. Reardon, and M. Rolls.