POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19730, 21 September 1929, Page 16

POLITICAL NOTES

£IH» MUSBS Special Serrfce-l WELLINGTON, September 20. Women Police. While firm in bis determination not to appoint women police, the Minister for Justice (the Hon. Mr Wilford) announced in the House of Representatives to-day that he was favourable towards the appointment of women patrols. The Minister pointed out that under the law-women police could not be appointed. They could not take the oath and he had no intention of altering the law on the subject. He had told the women's organisations who had approached him, and he repeated it now, that he had always been prepared to support the appointment of women Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central): Can you appoint women patrols T The Minister: I cannot without regulations, but I can create the machinery necessary for it. I will not, however, appoint women police. Mr Fraser: That is quite clear, but you ean do the other. The Minister: I have told every deputation on the subject that I am prepared to take up the appointment of women patrols, but I have been misrepresented right throughout New Zealand. That does not matter, though. The Minister's intimation terminated any further discussion on the subject. Labour Members Disagree. That birds in the Labour nest do not always agree was revealed by an incident in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) rose while the Prime Minister was still on his feet to suggest that Sir Joseph in appealing to members not to waste time was wasting time himself. The Prime Minister: I thank you for your facetiousness. Mr Fraser: The Prime Minister was putting up a plea to get on with the work and then he does the same thing as he has reprimanded other members for doing. The Prime Minister: I had a perfect right. Mr Fraser: I am not denying the Prime Minister's right to waste time. "Some of our own Party are wasting the time of the House," called Mr W. Lee Martin, Labour member for Baglan. Mr Fraser: What Partyf . Mr Martin: The Labour Party. Mr A. M. Samuel (8., Thames): He's ratted. Mr Fraser (to Mr Martin): I hope the hon. member is speaking for himself. Mr Martin: I am speaking for you. Mr Fraser did not continue speaking much longer, and his next action was to visit Mr Martin's bench for a conference. No smiles were exchanged. Detection of Crime. That the machinations of the master mind criminal had to be taken into account in the assessment of undetected crime in New Zealand was a point made by the Minister in charge of the Police Department (Hon. Mr Wilford), when the police Estimates were under consideration in the House of Representatives to-day.

The Minister said that the new methods of criminals had to be countered, and although more motor-ears were required it was not possible to do much in that regard at the present. He added that it was proposed on the Supplementary Estimates to make provision for the engagement of thirty additional policemen for the Dominion. New Zealand on a population basis had more detectives than Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria combined. In regard to the queries of members as to why more crime was not detected, the Minister said it had to be recognised that many of the offenees reported as not detected in the last year had been unravelled since. Only recently an international - safe-blower had been arrested. There had been forty safe blowing offences, but' none had occurred since the apprehension referred to. Consideration must be taken of the possibility of a number of crimes having been _the work of a "master mind."

Buying British. An announcement that all the new police motor-cars to be bought this year would, with Cabinet's consent, b« of British make, was made by tie Minister in charge of the Police Department (Hon. Mr Wilford) in the House of Representatives to-day. "In the different Departments of State," said the Minister in reply to questions during a discussion on the Estimates, "we give preference to British cars." (Hear, hear.) "For certain purposes we cannot do away with the übc of one particular American car. The name of it I need not mention." (Laughter.) No More Private Members' Days. Action by the Government to accelerate the business of the session was taken by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) in the House of Representatives to-day. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move that on and after Wednesday next Government business will take precedence on Wednesday. The effect of this motion is virtually that there will no more private members' days this session. Hospital Nurses. "This is not merely lip service," said the Minister for Health (the Hpn. Mr Stallworthy) in declaring in the House of Representatives to-day that he intended to do everything in his power to improve the salary and working conditions of nurses. Showing that he had been animated by that desire from the beginning of his Ministerial eareer, Mr Stallworthy said he had countermanded an order so that nurses could secure their pay in good time last Christmas. He had been engaged in constructive methods ever since being m office to secure better conditions for nuraes. Active steps were also being taken in regard to nurses in St. Helenas Hospitals, his object being to secure an eight-hour day, one day a week clear, and such other amenities as were possible having regard to the exigencies of the service.