THE POLICE FORGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 3

THE POLICE FORGE.

CRITICISM BY MR ARNOLD

- " 1 consider it to be a public duty to refer to the unsatisfactory state of'the Justice Department, more particularly the police branch." . Mr J. F. Arnold the member, for ■minedm Central, devoted the time allowed.him. t6 speak on-the Finfnce ■Bill to a scathing criticism of the condition^ of th« police force. . He..pfetaced l hls .romju-ks with the above-taen-tioned declaration. +i,*+ lt aS h'6 ? ontin«ed-, :ni\ tipen secret that there was .a #$& dbal of dissatistaction,.ailHj unrest among the general ;publ« h\ connection with the police I iH? 'would not> refer to matters I wiUch had. recently been brought under the .notice of, the-public throueh the nowspapers; v . There could be no doubt also..that, i there was.a great deal, of dissatisfaction. 111^ the police force itsfelf. ij?? + of Justice must know M.l^ '; something xtite. jiot .dohe the result .-would : ,. be very sei-JouSv He had prev^usly had to plcad^ oh behalf ,ol the.; prisons hrtim\ h and it was-wily tliao a small measure of refoHn was SS-'jfh-?^?^ »ofc tho!e i\ SadvA at tbo-present, state of affairs had-been brought about in confeq«eaeo.of: tW inflitence that I°<fd &l^°Ue^ *'°- b'e^':°& MjhSers of nienS n Tn. c? nf '^9» « appoint- » 4 W .^.. He believed that S S$P -Rffn; appointments .as to Si 6 ' a| lt»ster .h^ not been twsiilaant, and it was in consequence comlS r^l^'^ente that the present eoiidrtion Q faffairs had arisen.:., From the .standpoint of ability, the poX force in. New Zealand was equal S that in any of tli©-Australian States

THE QUESTION OF PROMOTION. He knew of one constable who' had been demoted over fifty-five of. his •seniors to a sergeantship. Others had lean promote over 93 others; 100, 108 189, 13b, 140 144, 180, 190, 212 and fdd. Surely there was one of 1233 who iiad a. nnor right h\ the way of ability to promotion.9 He did not believe that len^ of service should be the only aiiallocation for the promotion. He did not know whether the Minister was aware of the condition of things in some of the barracks especially at those in Wellington. He remembered how, in the early days in Canterbury, the worst section of, the . comaumit-v - had spent from Saturday night to Monday morning. It was no worse than what he'; was led to understand took place at the police barracks at Wellington every night. Did members know that con'i, stables in Wellington were not allowed' to remain out after ll p.m. without special permission from the chief offi-i: cer? He: would also draw attention to another regulation that was;in operationin connection with the''police force.; A constable wished to better his posi-; iion.,and was successful, in getting a', position as a bailiff, ' Immediately afterwards, a regulation was issued that in future ;. applications for situations; outside. "the police force ( were hot to be j ma.io \yithout ; the sanction of the' Com-' missioncrhaving been .obtained. Was it likely that hicn of intelligence and' ability woul dreniain in the fortte under those conditions!? Then, again, : there, was the. case of a man who-wished to be married,, but his ypung lady lived in . Australia. He- was entitled to 36, days* leave, which he got, bid; for a por-, tiori'of the time 'his salary wa's stopped. Bu£ another member of the force, required to go to Great Britain to be: married,. and Jve'recen^ed^i^ nionths, leavfe::'oii- full pay.! ' ' '' . _'. '' . A'menitef:. He" belongs to the Finger. Print fobpartment, . - . . Mr Arnold remarked that the person to whom he referred was for all that a member of the fotce. With respectto the question,of wages, he said that labourers could command 8s per day; while constables only rose from 7s 6d to 9& 6d by increases; of 6d every foiir years. If the constables were married they got something for house allowance, but as they.were required to live within a,'snort distance of the,, police barracks-the.extra sum did not help matters.' Then there was the case of detectives, who, when travelling by boat, were stuck in the steerage, and otherwise, had to undergo hardship. ,

"BEST WATCHED MAN IN THE DOMINION." ' There were many other matters which 4 if nril looked into,', would result in serious differences arising. He had hardly known at first how it was possible to bring the matters to which he referred before the public. He knew that if lie spoke as he had done he would be the best watched man in New Zealand by some members of the force. A member: Who told you that? Mr Arnold declared that there would be people on the look-out for those who it was thought gave him information. During the next six months no policeman was likely to speak to him. A voice: You may give him occasion to do so. (Laughter.) Mr Arnold concluded as follows : I have now taken off my gloves to the Police Department and_ its chief.. Unless the Minister looks into these i matters, and provides some remedy, I shall fight the matter to the bitter end. ' . Mr Wilford: I am with you. Mr Arnold: I am satisfied that this: 'is-the-only way to bring about refortfi. The Premier declared that there was 1 only one officer in the Finger Print Department. In order that he could go to England to get married he had received six" months' leave, of absence — one month on full pay and the balance without salary. 1 If Mr Arnold was referring to anyone else he.had been misled. It was young Dinnie. Members: Tell us how he got the appointment in the first place? 1 Sir Joseph: I am not dealing with that matter just now. .. Mr Arnold admitted. that he might, have been misinformed on that point. He had the names of all the persons to, whom he had referred, and had made as.-full'enquiry as was possible. If Sir Joseph wished to got them ho. would give the mto him. . Sir Joseph: I shall be very glad to get the names.—The Dominion, June 16. . . . . . ■■