INCREASE URGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1945, Page 6

INCREASE URGED

PAY OF POLICEMEN

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM

"In view of the shortage of staff, excessive overtime, high rents and poor pay, a Royal Commission should be set up immediately to investigate police pay and conditions." This opinion was expressed in a resolution passed at a meeting last night of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Police Association. ~ The meeting, which lasted for three hours, was attended by over 100 constables, detectives and noncommissioned officers. Announcement that advice had been received from Wellington that the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police were considering the question of pay and that appropriate discussions were taking place, was made at the beginning of the meeting. It was stated that no advice had been received as to whether the ponce force was affected by the Prime Minister's announcement .that the pay of all public servants was to be increased. It was decided to advise the management committee of the association m Wellington that the meeting considered a member of the force should not be transferred to Auckland until the Department was satisfied that 'decent accommodation' was available for the man and his family at a reasonable rent. It was also decided to ask that men at present in Auckland without accommodation be supplied through the Housing Department immediately. It was resolved that the cost of living figures prepared by the school teachers, the Public Service Association and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants be sent to the management committee for their guidance in the forthcoming discussions with the Government. It was shown that a total of 551 men had joined the force since 1938 and that 460 had gone out. There was 'one member of the force for every 1123 members of the public, compared with one for every 737 in 1878. Wartime conditions had necessitated some being diverted to new branches of work, and that had reduced the number for ordinary duties.