THE POLICE FORCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 278, 16 April 1913, Page 5

THE POLICE FORCE.

GRAVE DISCONTENT. THE NEW REGULATIONS CRITIC-' ISED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Inquiries among the local police disclose the existence of some measure of discontent, which is regarded so seriously by some parties that thev suggest that it may develop into something serious unless measures are taken to remedy the grievances. The men point to the fact that they are only appointed to their positions after undergoing a lengthy period of training and after fully satisfying the authorities as to their moral, physical and educational qualifications, and that subsequently they are subjected to A scries of what thev claim to be unnecessary pin-pricking. The example set by the Auckland men in forming a, union is appealing to some of the men in Wellington, and though no steps have yet been taken in that direction a large number .of constables consider that strong steps should be taken to remedy their grievances. One grievance is that relating to what the men regard as unnecessary examinations. On this point they feel verv strongly. Headouarters they say. demand that they shall do eight hours' dutv a day, and yet impose upon them the necessity o? passing examinations which have.no actual bearing upon the work on which they arp engaged. These examinations entail a great deal of study, which becomes hard on a man who has just completed what freonentlv' i« an arduous (lav's work on his beat. Promotions general!-.', it is asserted, go bv favour, and the complaint is that men who have had police experience at Home are promoted over the heads of men who have joined in and belong to New Zealand. As to holiday. the men consider that the new regulations eve misleading. Nominallv each man is entitled to fifteen days' Kive per annum. Under the old system thev had' twelve di>vs. Thev point out. however, that the fifteen davs is not in practice given as a matter of right, hilt only when the «»nerior officer is pleased to grant it. With regard to Sunday leave they never know until late on Saturday afternoon whether thev w'fl have th" time off, and ho opportunity is given them fhr making nnv amusements for their .pleasure. or. business ."A policeman's life is not a hannv one," r<> : marVed a constable. The Minister told •is tint he would make it a hippy one. but I cat! safely sav that at the nrcs«nt time there is more discontent in the .Force than at anv previous time in its historv. We a«ked for bread and lie pave us e.stone." A section of the men al«o complain of the treatment thev receive. Th" effect of the above complaints i v as "hieed before the of Police. who stated that he lia'l received "o »omi)laints from the men. There wa= full provision in the regulations for t'>" men to make renrcscn tat ions him in regard to nilv grievance 'her mWit consider thev had. "ml if thev 'node tii»ir representations in primer form they would receive full consideration. THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED. Auckland. Last -Night. The telegram regarding the police disaffection was brought, under the notice of the Hon. A. L. TTerdiiian, Minister of Justice, who emphatically denied the suggestion that he had in any way refused or neglected to meet the men when he was in Auckland, lie inspected the force and communicated with the men. openly stating that if they had any complaints or grievances to bring before'him as Minister of Justice that was the opportunity. TTe went into the Inspector's room where he was interviewed by a number of detectives and some sergeants, and when he left the police station he understood that no other member of the force had any complaint to bring under his notice. As to the discontent in Wellington, no complaints from the pol'ce force had been officially brought under his notice, and he was unaware of anv ground for complaints. When he inspected the Lambton station recently the men had full opportunitr to nut forward anv grievances against the new regulations.' TTe remarked at the time that lie would prefer th» meii to come before h'm in a straightforward manner and t'ranklv state their complaints, lather than make complaints behind his back, to the inspection the Superintendent reported to him that no member of the force had apv matter to brineunder his notice. At Dun n din and niristehureh a number of men had Pome forward with reouests of a general nature. relating chiefly to transfers and other deuartmental matters easy of adjustment. but there were no complaints of a serious character.