THE POLICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 5

THE POLICE.

GROWING DISCONTENT. STATEMENT BY MR. HERDMAN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Friday. Mr. Herdman made a statement on the conditions in the police force and the Government's attitude towards the |orce in general and discontented members in particular. He said lie had received the Commissioner's report regarding the recent meetings with the men at Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Christchurch, Timaru and Wellington. The matters brought under the Commissioner's notice included iiicredsed pay and house allowance, allowance for making up uniforms, Sunday leave, time off for time spent attending Court, a special tribunal to deal with breaches of discipline, time for men on night duty to obtain refreshment, free railway passes when on leave, iind extra annual leave. Air. Herdman detailed the various scales of pay and allowance during the past 25 years and stated that lie could not see his way to grant the increases asked for. He compared the New Zealand forces with those of different Australian States, and said that, with the boot and uniform allowance to be granted the New Zealand policeman, he would be better off than any Australian policeman, and probably his condition would not be equalled in the British Empire, ihe sum of £5 a year would be granted tor making up uniforms and the boot allowance would be paid monthly. Detectives would receive £2 10s boot allowance, Sunday leave, and time off for Court work must be granted at the discretion of the officer in charge of the district as previously. Breaches of discipline must be dealt with by the responsible_ officers of the department, but a provision in the forthcoming Police iiill would allow decisions to be reviewed under certain conditions. Time for refreshments was already unofficially allowed and definite instructions on this and other matters would be issued later, ihe railway authorities did not see their way to grant free passes, Mr. Herdman continued that he could not agree to extend the annual leave as he considered the present leave sufficiently liberal. He concluded bv stating that if any man was dissatisfied he would be prepared to accept his resignation. He did not want discontented men in the force, but it is impossible to allow anv police association to be formed. The force must be under strict discipline. The men's representations will always receive the consideration of the Commissioner and the Minister.