POLICE FORCE LEAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 182, 1 August 1923, Page 8

POLICE FORCE LEAVE.

COMPLAINTS OF STOPPAGE. COMMISSIONER'S EXPLANATION. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star."') WELLINGTON, this day. The Commissioner of Police replied to complaints from the police, published in the "Star. -, The Commissioner stated that members of the force were considered in every way, and that in the long run they "always got their leave. At the present time there was a certain amount of sickness, and it was impossible to give everybody leave just when they wanted it. aiid that, no doubt, was the source of the trouble. There had been a number of resignations during the past year, but no more than might have been expected. A number of men had recently been sent out by the training depot to fill vacancies. There was no special shortage in the personnel of the force, and if more men were required they couild be found. In Parliament, Mr. V. H. Potter (Roekill) asked the Minister of Justice whether he would at once take into serious consideration the reviewing at short periods of the pay of the lower ranks of the police force as compared with that of the general labour market, so as to attract suitable recruits io the police force? He added that at present we had a disconsolate force owing to all leave being cancelled on account of the resignations outweighing the supply of new constables. Such a state of affairs was not fair to either the force or the public dependent on its service, and calls for immediate remedy.