WOMEN POLICE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 7

WOMEN POLICE

MINISTER OPPOSED TO APPOINTMENT.

WELLINGTON, Se.pt. 20.

Having set his face against the appointment of policewomen, the Minister of Justice is determined that he shall ifnt ho moved on this subject. He said as much in the House to-day. when he announced that a deputation representing the National Council of Women had arranged to wait on him next Wednesday morning. The council had intimated that the matter to bo discussed was the desirability of appointing women police. “I am asked to appoint women police,"'■but I say it cannot be done, because I /jclieve that women cannot take the oath required of a police constable, ’’ said Mr Wilford. He explained that women patrols would be different from women police, but those who wanted women polieo would not '-e satisfied with patrols. In Auckland, when the National Council of Women met tlie Commissioner, it was pointed out that a woman could not take the police oath, whereupon they asked that a modified form of oath be provided for policewomen. It seemed to the Minister that in existing circumstances they were only plavw about with a name.

Mr Fraser (Wellington Central): Could not the Minister appoint women patrols ? The Minister: It would need special regulations.

A Reform member: You could create the machinery.

Mr Wilford admitted that machinery could be created - for the appointment of women patrols, but every one of the women’s societies was asking for the appointment of women police with full powers, and he declined to appoint them.

Mr Coates: I think these women patrols would satisfy the great majority.