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Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 174, 10 August 1937, Page 6

MORE POLICEMEN

Recruits Being Trained at Trentham SHORT WEEK FOR FORCE Another draft of recruits for the Police Force is being assembled by the department to be given special training at Trentham in preparation for assignment to various centres througliout New Zealand, and at least four, possibly five, men from Hawke's Bay have been included. The department proposes to increase the personnel of the force so as to reduce the working hours of police officers. A number of recruits are at present at Trentham just completing their three-months 5 training, and within the near future they will be assigned to their posts. No official advice has been received in Hastings of any contemplated increase in the number of officers here, but it is boped that the present force will be increased by one at least, if not two. The Government 5s intention is to reduce the weekly hours of work from 56 to 48 as soon as sufficient men have been trained, the general effect being to give every man regularly a week of only six days. To do this in Hastings it is estimated at least two additional men would have to be appointed. When interviewed recently in Auckland, the Gommissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cummings, was not in a position to state the allocation of the 125 recruits at present in camp and who very shortly would be available to. strength•en tho force numerieally. He is expected, however, to make some announcement this week, for the department is determined to introduce tlie 48-hour week as quiekly as possible. During the past year the force in Hastings has* been increased by two. constables in the uniform branch, bringing the total force up to 14, the strongest it has ever been. In addition, the detective branch, while not numerieally stronger, has . been raised a grade with the appointment of a aetective-sergeant. These changes, however, were" not made to bring about a reduction of hours so as to meet the pressure of work and to brjng the district more into line with others of a similaT nature.