POLICE AS BEACH PATROLS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21718, 27 February 1936, Page 12

POLICE AS BEACH PATROLS

Ministers to Discuss Suggestion POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF PROBLEM v The appointment of police' officers as beach patrols is to be discussed by the Hon. D. G. Sullivan with the Minister in charge of the police force, the Hon. P. Fraser. This possible solution of the long-standing problem of beach patrolling was put before Mr Sullivan by Mr S. K. Bassett, secretary of the New Zealand council of the Royal Life-Saving Society and president of the Sumner Life-Saving Club. Mr Bassett read to the council of the society last evening a reply from Mr Sullivan, in which he agreed to meet Mr Fraser on the matter. Mr Bassett in his letter to the Minister said, “As president of the Sumner Life-Saving Club and with great anxiety for the ■safeguarding of what is just now a dangerous beach, I hope the new Government will be generous towards financing beach patrols. It seemed to me that an efficient patrol officer on the beach during the bathing season was just as much the responsibility of the Police Department as the borough council,- and why should not the patrol be a young policeman trained in life-saving work? “He could always be found at his part on the beach if wanted, with a telephone near at hand. He would definitely have a much better control of the crowd in his capacity as a constable, and in the interest of moral conduct and decency on the beaches would be able to carry out the by-laws which, as a beach inspector myself, I know is hopeless for the ordinary individual. “Another thing, the amount of petty pilfering from clothing that goes on at the beach would be stopped at once if an officer of the law was in charge of the beach and supervising dressing sheds, etc. “This matter, of course, should really come from the Surf Association, but as I believe you know more about life-saving sn our beach than Imy of your colleagues, it seemed only fitting that the suggestion should be made to you, so that if it commends itself you could pass it on to the Minister in charge of the police force.” Mr Bassett’s suggestion was made in a letter to Mr Sullivan congratulating him on behalf of the life-sav-ing society on his appointment to the Ministry. The proposal has also been referred to the council of the New Zealand Surf Association.