LABOUR HOSTILE TO BYNG

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 405, 13 July 1928, Page 9

LABOUR HOSTILE TO BYNG

NEW POLICE CHIEF APPOINTMENT ASSAILED “LOSING PUBLIC SYMPATHY” (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A. —United Service) LONDON, Thursday. When the House of Commons was in Committee on the Home Office vote Mr. Philip Snowden, in the absence of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Labour Party, criticised the appointment of Viscount Byng as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Mr. Snowden objected to the steady policy of appointing military men to chief positions. There were instances throughout the country of the growing militarisation of the police force which destroyed the intimate and confident sympathy between the police and the public.

DIFFICULTY IN FILLING POSITION The Home Secretary, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, admitted that at the beginning of the year there had existed a feeling in the public mind against the police. Fifty, and even 10 years ago, the force had the affection of the people. The present commissioner. Sir W. T. Horwood, had intimated his desire last February to retire, and he (the Horne Secretary) discussed the question of a successor with the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin.^ “STERN CALL TO DUTY" A high police officer still in the service had declined the position. Sir William said he had failed to obtain a suitable man from the Civil Service and had then discussed the position with business men, but had found that no business man capable of controlling 20,000 men would accept £3,000 a year. Finally he had discussed names and qualifications with Lord Byng, who had suggested the appointment of a serving military officer. The latter refused the post and Sir William began to feel that Lord Byng was the right man. The latter had firmly refused the at first on the ground of his age and his desire for retirement. It was then, continued the Home Secretary, that he used a much-dis-cussed remark. He told Lord Byng he was not offering him the appointment, but it was a stern call to duty. That was the only way he could secure Lord Byng. He appealed to the House and to the public for fair play for the police and for Lord Byng. CORRUPTION ALLEGED Mr. T. E. Naylor, Labour member for Southwark, said that by giving the police commissionership to a member of the Upper Chamber the Government had violated all the traditions of the Constitution. He moved to reduee the police vote by £IOO. Sir William said Lord Byng had undertaken not to attend the House of Lords while he was commissioner. Viscountess Astor, Conservative member for Sutton, said she was glad Sir W. T. Horwood was going, because he had done nothing to encourage the appointment of women police.

Mr. T. J. O’Connor, Conservative member for Luton, Bedford, quoted a statement by a provincial chief constable to a judge: “Tbo many receivers of, stolen property escape when Scotland Yard is asked to make arrests.’* Mr. O’Connor suggested that corruption began near the top. The Home Secretary asked the member to supply particulars, and promised to make an inquiry. The motion to reduce the vote was rejected by 231 votes to 106.