ATTITUDE OF THE OTAGO MEN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14665, 14 May 1913, Page 5

ATTITUDE OF THE OTAGO MEN.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TTXECnAM.> DUNEDIN, May 12. Enquiries mado amongst members of tho local police force elicited the information that there is no understanding so far as they aro concerned with tho Auckland men in regard to tho formation of a New Zealand Policemen's Association. It was stated that no communication had been received from Auckland conveying tho idea, of what the aims of tho Association were, and consequently the Otago policemen were quito in the dark as to its real objects. It was pointed out that the Northern men had placed themselves in a false position in the preliminary movement by not waiting until all tho members of the force iv New Zealand had been written to as to tho constitution of an Association, in that, while there might be somo grievances up North which wero heavily felt in Otago, on the other Hand, the local men might not see eye-to-eye on other points being ventilated by the Northerners. It was not denied that tho Dunedin men did have some grievances; neither was it denied that thero waa, no possibility of having theso ultimately remedied. A few of tho pinpricks, as they were termed by ono man, wore illustrated, and it was remarked that, while taken singly, there might not bo a great deal in them, when they wero addod together a state of affairs existed which should not prevail. It was pointed out, however, that representations mado in the proper quarter had already brought about a remedy of ono or two existing grievances. So far ns any suggested understanding with tho Auckland men was concerned, the Inst word was that, until the local men exactly knew what the Association stood for, it could hardly rely on support from men in other centres. "And then, of courso," briefly stated one man, "in the final i.nxxe we-would have to consider the fact that wo are not using constitutional methods to obtain redress."