POLICE FORCE RESERVE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21258, 1 September 1934, Page 14

POLICE FORCE RESERVE

: Labour Criticism In House j RECENT DISAPPEARANCE OF MACHINE-GUN '• [Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] , i WELLINGTON. August 31. I A suggestion that the recent disappearance of a machine-gun from I New Lynn. Auckland, was arranged 'to justify the establishment of the (proposed auxiliary police force was made by Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central), speaking in the budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Parry . based his suggestion on a letter hehad received from "a very important person.'' Mr Parry said he had always been opposed to any restriction on the liberties of the people. When certain .legislation was before the , House recently lie bad fought it tooth and nail on the ground, that there was more in it than met, the eye. He was satisfied now that the statements he bad made then were j justified, in the light of subsequent | events. Commissioner Criticised • The lit.. Hon. J. G. Coate.-;: Are you I frightened? Mr Parry: No. We are not J'righ- ! toned. I am satisfied of this, that there is a move being made in this j | country because of l'ear on the part < j of the Commissioner of Police, who lis pushing the Minister for Jusl ice ! I along with him, and who is unable i |to stand up and lake a reasonable) [view of the oountrv in which we j ilive. ' j I One of the best, things New Zea-j ! land could do. added Mr Parry, j j would be to retire the Commissioner | !uf Police and send him to some! , little island with a revolver in one; jhanel and a club m the other, and a)- i ilow him to play with men made out I ; of mud. It would suit, the eommisj sinner. : i "There is absolutely no reason in i Mho world for this auxiliary police! ! hcec," lie .said, "f want to sav to j | Ministers of the Crown thai, we" are j | just as anxious to have straight deal- | jing as they are: but we will fight to 1 ;the bitter end against Imping our; 'country into a military camp and; ; marching our people to wort: with ; j bayonets and guns. We are not go-; ling to have that kind of law in New \ ; Zealand if the 1 .nbotir party can llielp It." Stolen Maehine-gim -•What, in tin' name of lor'mue: ha: i happened to little Nov. Zi aland'.'" lie continued. "The Commissioner,' ol police is absolutely inconsistent in hi;: report !o Parliament. He state.:! ilhat crime i.- diminishing and that : 'the people arc becoming better and ■belter, and now we are to have an ■ auxiliary police force. Why? ] wish j to protest as strongly a. 1 can against this outrageous action by the comin issionrr. Surely the tune has arrived !'")• i Ik.' Minister to stand in nil his own feel. If ever v.e had an exhibit inn oi ;i dopartmen* running thi' counirv we have it now." "We have he m told thai a macii iue-gun has bi a stolen, and t bat a nolo was lefi behind," Mi' Parrv added. "Well. 1 have received a loiter from a very important person sm:;:< sling strongly that the gun war removed by someone who was paid' to do the job iii order to create an excu.-o for Ihe establishment of an, auxiliary police force." Mi- P." Langstnne (Lab.. Waanalimn; A frame-up. Mr Parry: Is that the kind ol gangster methods that are to be adopted in New Zealand? Such a i tiimg is foreign to this country. If, that is the best the.Government cany o'o lor u: : . well the sooner the people 1 have .'i chance to speak on the mat-; ter. the better for all of us. I j MEN NOW BE!N<; ENROLLED ■■ i SI \ I K.MLN I \',\ MIMSTPK .'

l*Yi"i, <j\;r Parliamentary liepurtcr. i WKLLINGTO.W August :'A. Tin' icpnrl from Auckland Ml tin: formation iii a reserve police force in Kvw Zealand was continued bv tin Hon. .1. (.;. Cobbe to-day. The Minister said it had been decided lo try out a system oi' police reserves on lines which had proved satisfactory in London by enrolling a limited number of suitable men vvlie. while continuing in their civilian employment, will be available to augment the regular police when cireumstanec.rccjuire the employment for a short period of additional police. The Royal visit to the Dominion in .1 few months would probably make it necessary to augment the regular force, particularly in the principal cities. "Although efficient, our police force is also much less costly than the police forces of the Commonwealth; il is relatively a much smaller police force than any force in Australia," .said MrCobbe. who quoted figures to show that the proportion of police to population in Now Zealand was 1 1o 1279. and the cost of the police an inhabitant (is GAd, in Victoria 1 to 836 and (is 3d. in New South Wales 1 to 730 and 8s 11.'.d, in Queensland 1 to 747 and 10s l;d. in Soulh Australia 1 to 700 and 8s 10',d. in Western Australia 1 to 7JW and 9s 2',d, and in Tasmania 1 to 803 and 7s Ivd. "To deal with crowds in our principal cities the number of constables tvailable has always been inadequate 'ml (he country has had to be praelieally denuded of police to supplement the cities in an emergency or on special occasions." he said. "This is .mdosirable." The Minister added that the reserve oree will be ,■> part-time force, but .vhen on duty would receive the same lay as regular constables. At present neii were being enrolled in (he four :hief cities. POSITION AT IH'NEDIN I'J.ANS WLIiK CONSJDKKLI) A STIv'M'T SKCRKT DUNUDIN, August 31. Oue.-lioncd about Ihe Auckland nessage regarding auxiliary police, superintendent D. C. Fraser declined o make any statement. Tl is believed that the release in Xuekland of the plans for a supplenentary force is a surprise to police ifficials, since the proposals were couriered to be a strict secret. The scheme has been under way icre for some time, but, so far as is isccrfaiuable. no circular.- have been ssucd to those iikely to be invited to :nroL I