A POLICEMAN’S LIFE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 93, 26 April 1913, Page 6

A POLICEMAN’S LIFE.

COMMISSIONER’S FIRM HAND,

[Per Press Association.] Auckland, April 26

Over fifty members of the Police Fordo met Commisisoner Cullen and placed before him certain grievances, which were recorded by a Hansard reporter, and these will be placed before the Minister of Justice. In a formal statment, members of the Force submitted that the minimum wages should be 9s per day, to be increased to 9s 6d at the end of the first year’s service; married men to receive an extra 2s 6d day house allowance in the centres and 2s a day elsewhere, but, as they are debarred from travelling at excursion times, that they be granted free railway passes or some commission; that a policeman charged with any breach should have an Appeal Board to go to; and that the midnight-to-2 a.m. beats should be walked by each man alternately and relieved for one hallhour to partake of a meal. The Commissioner intimated that the complaints would bo presented to the proper quarter. Some of the grievances brought before him he could promise immediate attention. In regard to the complaint of an inade- . quate rate of pay, he could promise nothing; the question was' one of pounds, shillings, and pence. The existing financial stringency had a bearing on this as on every other matter of Government expenditure. If tho men were not satisfied, they were at liberty to resign, and he would be prepared to accept their resignations.