POLICE PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 176, 26 July 1940, Page 9

POLICE PAY.

INCREASES URGED.

HOUSE ALLOWANCE DEBATED. AUCKLAND PATROL LAUNCH. (By Telegraph.---Parliamentary Heporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The opinion that members of the police force are shockingly underpaid for their services was expressed by Mr. Holland (Opposition. C'liiistchurch North) in the House of Representatives last night during discussion of the Police Department estimates. He said that the salaries of the commissioner and officers did not compare favourably | with paid in other State Departments. In his opinion, if other Departments were taken as a guide, the polica force would not be overpaid if their 'salaries were increased 13 or 20 per cent.

Mr. Poison (Opposition, Stratford), advocated the installation of radio on patrol cars, which he said, would assist in the recovery of stolen cars.

The suggestion was made by Mr. Wilkinson" (Indt.. Egmont), that the police house allowance should be reviewed with a view to increasing it.

Mr. Coatcs (Opposition, Kaipara), said he understood a patrol launch had •been asked for Auckland and that so far it had not been obtained.

Replying, the Prime Minister, Mr. Flaser, said that the pay of the rank and file of the police force compared favourably with anything in the world. He would look into the comparison of salaries, but the member for Christchurch North would realise that this was not an opportune time to do it.

Mr. Holland: Well, I asked for it two years ago, you know. Mr. Fraser said that this was not two years ago now, but he added that no one would say that the higher officers were overpaid. Mr. Holland said that other State officers received increases.

Referring to the installation of radio equipment, -Mr. Fraser said that was an important question and the installation was costly. Experiments were still being carried out to get an installation that would be efficient. He would look into the question of increases in house allowance. The question of a launch for Auckland was receiving close attention.