POLICE FORCE HOURS.

Taranaki Central Press, 19 April 1937, Page 5

POLICE FORCE HOURS.

I SETTLED AT FORTY-EIGHT Public Service Hours Not Practicable. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, April 19. A reduction in the working week f the Police Force from* 56 hours to 18 hours, an advance of ten shilingE' in pay weekly because of the impracticabilty of- adopting the *4qhouir j standard of ithe Pubic Service, and i'he training and employment of 125 ! additional men have, been agreed to I by the Govrnment. The Minis er In Charge of Police, Elon. P Fraser, in announcing the icw conditions on Saturday, said that he question of reducing the hours of the Police Force in accordance wi’h h expressed policy of the Government had been receiving close mention. There wore difficulties in the wtiy of effecting any considerable reI tuction in th< hours of work, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr D. J.’ Cummings, who had given much attention to the matter, had made certain recommendations. These recommendations involved the Training of a large number of men to enable tho working week to be reduced. Alter a close examination of the facts it had been decided that the hours of duty of the members of the force would be reduced from 56 hours a week, which had been in operation hitherto, to IS knurs a week ag soon as a sufficient numb r of men could i be trained. , In order to give effect to this pro- | »osa! it would be necessary to call i'jp 125 men and to put them through i• i course of at leist three months’ i training and instruction in law. The acconimuQat ion at tk Wellington South Depot wat not sufficient to en- ; ible thi s to he done. The CommisI sioner was therefore arranging with | he Defenc Department for the hire |of necessary liutm- n’s. classroom and i • neral < qulpmeni for the lodging and ineEsing of 125 men at Trentham . ( imp. where th. training would be undertaken.