H—l6

2

The following are the losses in personnel for the year ended 31st March, 1950 : retired on superannuation, 21 ; retired medically unfit, 4 ; died, 7 ; resigned voluntarily or given opportunity to resign, 60 ; discharged, 1 ; dismissed, 5 : total, 98. New stations were established at Coal Creek, Tamaki, Corstorphine, Ikamatua, and Ngatea, and the stations at Kerepehi and Waiuta were closed. During the year considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining recruits with the result that the Police Force was not kept up to an adequate strength and sufficient suitable candidates were not forthcoming to fill the vacancies caused by retirements, resignations, and deaths, with the consequence that as at 31st March, 1950, the Force was 60 below the authorized strength. It is realized that there is keen competition for the services of young men of integrity, good character, education, and physique, who would be suitable as recruits for the Police Force, but it is clear that the Force has not attracted its proportion of the young men available. The matter of carrying out a recruiting campaign and the forms it should take are at present receiving consideration. The rate of pay and emoluments and the certainty of tenure and advancement, depending entirely upon the fitness, conduct, and efficiency of the member concerned, offer an attractive career to suitable young men to carry out, as members of the Police Force, interesting and varied duties of prime importance to the community. The training received by the recruits during the period of three months at the Training School fits them to perform, confidently, practical police duties and includes instruction in law and practical police work, the methods of furnishing reports and of giving evidence, the preparation of statements, and Court procedure. In addition lectures are given on specialized subjects, including ballistics, finger-printing and first aid, while their physical fitness also receives attention. The conduct of members as a whole has been quite good and a satisfactory standard of discipline and efficiency has been maintained. The remuneration of members of the Force of all ranks was increased by £l3 per annum (with a few exceptions of junior members, who received £8 per annum) as from Ist June, 1949. On a number of occasions during the year members of the Force have shown courage, commendable devotion to duty, and a total disregard for their personal safety in the face of dangers arising in the execution of their duty. Their conduct has been in accord with the best traditions of the New Zealand Police Force, and appropriate monetary rewards and records of merit have been made where the circumstances clearly called for a mark of recognition for outstanding service. Women Police. —During the year 9 women were appointed to the Women's Division and 4 resigned. As at 31st March, 1950, there were 37 members of whom 16 are stationed at Auckland, 15 at Wellington, 4at Christchurch, and 2at Dunedin. It is hoped to keep the Division at least at this strength and, if possible, to increase it numerically, as it is found that there are many duties for which the women are eminently suited. The practice of addressing meetings of women's organizations to bring under their notice the type of duties performed by the women police and seeking their co-operation and assistance in furthering the work of the Division has been continued, and much good work has been done by the members of the Division in carrying out duties concerning women and children, as well as in office and patrol work. Retirements. —After forty-four years' service, Commissioner J. Cummings retired on superannuation. His Majesty the King was graciously pleased to confer on Mr. Cummings the decoration of C.B.E. in recognition of his long and outstanding service, which was marked, especially during his term of nearly six years as Commissioner of Police, by a substantial improvement in the pay and conditions of all members of the Force and by the provision of up-to-date equipment, transport, and means of communication, secured by his untiring efforts in these directions.