NOT SATISFIED

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 167, 15 July 1915, Page 8

NOT SATISFIED

WITH COMMISSIONER'S REPLY. DETECTIVES STILL DISTRUSTFUL. A fortnight or so ago mention was made in those i-olumm of a. fear that was generally expressed by detectives in Auckland that their branch was being eliminated. A similar statement by Wellington detectives, with a suggestion that the detective 'branch ot the New Zealand police should t>e put on a foot ing akin to that ot New South Wales, ami the following reply was published in a, Wellington paper: — "These grievances were put before the Commissioner of Police, and in reply to question* Mr. Cullcn states that Uiere was no intention ut all to wipe out the detective force. It was also erroneous to say that ordinary detectives were eo,ual to sergeants; that was quite a delusion of some members of the detective force. With regard to the reference to the New South Wales police, he pointed out that in that State there were approximately 2700 police: in New Zealand there were about 800. The full strength of the detectives in New South Wales was only ±1, whereas the New Zealand force, two-thirds less in strength, had nearly .">0 detectives on the stall. In New South Wales they employed plain clothe.-, men of the uniform branch for detective work, and only in the more important cases were the detectives called in. The detectives there were specialists, the petty detective work being done by about 100 plain clothes men, and it was from those plain clothes men that the detectives wor« recruited. Since he had taken charge three chief detectives had been promoted to the rank of sub-inspector; ten detectivos had been promoted to the rank of sub-inspector: eight or nine had been promoted from constables to detectives. From this it would not appear that there was a policy of .sricut strangulation in operation against the detective force. The Commissioner wa- aware that there was such an impression in certain quarters, and it was just as well to have it contradicted." The Commissioner* reply dne.s not appear to have allayed the distrust in Auckland about hie intentions eoiwerning the detectives. "It is entirely negative and non-committal." stated a membci of the force to a "Star" representative, and at least one or two of the statement-; made are entirely misleading. For instance. "It wa.- erroneous to say tl at ordinary detectives were e>111.1! to sergeants.' That is at variance with the ruling of the Minister for .histicc in May, 19111, when it wae laid down in 11 memorandum issued to the Commission, and published In the Gazette, that 'all detectives, so long as they remain in the detective branch of the service. sbould rank as sergvants .... On the completion of live years' service a<s a detective euch officer should be eligible for transfer to the uniform branch as n sergeant, should he so dec-ire it.' Incidentally. Mr. Cullen also states that he has himself 'promoted' eight or nine men from constable to detective. He also vaguely says that there are nearly 50 detectives in New Zenland, when* the actual number on the staff is 30." "The ( ommtssionor'n reply is not at a.l reas>uring. and the fact that he * over-ruling the decision of the Minister for Justice as to status, both in this statement and in the seniority list, he issued some time hack, seems to indicate mi intention to reduce the detective in statue. Contrary to nil previous custom, no separate seniority list was issued for detective*, and they wore included in the li-t with the uniform men, ehoivinp geants. In one case an Auckland detective sergeant was placed below forty uniform isergeantis. some of whom were c< notable- when he was promoted a« 'possessing superior intelligence, tact, and judgment' to the ran* of detective while others of thor-c placed above him vere not even in the force at the time of his promotion to detective after eight years' service. iRe had practically been put back eight, yearn or more in tin promotion liet for being a detective. What more effective way of blocking recruits to the detective branch could lie conceived! Certainly, no young constable of superior intelligence would face that handicap by going into the detective branch. And the Commission wonders why the detectives are uneaev!" "Then plain clothes constables were appointed to take up petty cases, a wi Iconic relief to the detective*, but ti.it> was followed by a demand that a return must be made of all arrests by detectives. Surely that means that n. detective's ability is to be measured by the number of his arrests. If so, the detective detailed for confidential inquiries concerning tires and resident enemy aliens will make short work of it. to" arrests in eiieli eases are rare. It was this system of returns of arrests thnt created the ill-feeling, bickerings, jealousies, and espionage in the eervieiwhich resulted in the Ijet commission of inquiry, by which the system was utterly condemned and banished." "The one hope for the detectives .'s thnt history will repeat itself, and the return* will result in another commission. If not, the only tiling left for them is to transfer at the first opportunity tr the uniform branch, and use their alleged superior intelligence in helping their comrades in uniform to bring their haven of rest .1 day's march nearer home by getting the retiring age reduued from sixty-five years to sixty years.' .

PLAIN CLOTHES POLICEMEN.

A THREATENED SERVICE, (fir Telegraph.—Spoein! to "Star. - ") WELLINGTON", Weanesday. The threatened disappearance of the detective force was hrit'flv discussed in Parliament to-day. Mr. Witty introdueiug thr- subjert by declaring that a great deiil of discontent prevailed in the police force over it. Thp detectives did not know Vhere they stood. He asked the Minister of ./mrtioo if it was Iris intention to do away with the plainclothes men, though they had done really good work. These me.ll in the detective branch were in a far better ))osition than uniformed men in tracing criminals. Mr. Ilanan remarked that tHere was a great deal of talk in the force over I the relative status of detectives and uniformed men, and the position needed clearing up. "This is an old story." replied the Hon. A. v. Herdmaii. "For many years there has been ,i species of vendetta between the two branches of fhe police force." For years back there had been unfortunately differences between the two blanche.-, and he was strongly of opinion that nteps should be taken to make the wiiole force homogenous. He bad come to this conclusion, after ex-

perience of the separate system. His proposal would not mean the abolition of the investigation department. In | Victoria there -were few detectives, but they had over 300 plain-clothes detectives. When the war difficulties were over he ■proposed to deal with this matter, nnd take steps on the lines lie had ■outlined, endeavouring to deal justly and fairly with all men who had acquired rights under the present system.