POLICE FORCE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24983, 18 September 1946, Page 5

POLICE FORCE

EFFICIENCY PRAISED DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. Speaking to the police. vote in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) said there was no more efficient police force in the world than New Zealand’s. Mr Bodkin inquired if the police force were up to strength, and whether fuL facilities to rejoin the force were being given to officers who insisted on leaving during the war to join the armed forces. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), supporting praise of the police force expressed by Mr Bodkin and others, said if there had been any doubt about the efficiency of the police at had been quickly dispelled by the way -he police force had coped with lawlessness recently experienced in New Zealand. There had been instances of outstanding work in the prompt arrest of criminals. Mr Fraser said a friendly view had been taßeh of the action of young men who left the police force to join the armed forces. Nearly all had been reinstated. These men had erred from a desire to risk their lives, and were entitled to sympathetic consideration. Mr Fraser said that many police stations and residences were built early in the development of the Dominion, and thus many of them required repair at the same time. He knew that some police stations were really disgraceful. The Commissioner wished to see the best possible conditions for the men. The police force was still about 100 below strength, but recruits were now coming forward at a better rate.

Mr E. L. Cullen (Government. Hawke’s Bay) suggested that as the police force was below strength to the extent of 100 members, recruits be drawn from the Maori race.

Mr C. M. Bowden (Opposition. Wellington West) said there was probably difficulty in obtaining recruits for the police force because working conditions were more attractive in other employments. Mr E. B. Corbett (Opposition, Egmont) wanted to know what steps were being taken to build the force up to its maximum state of efficiency Mr C. G. Harker (Opposition. Waipawa) said there were widespread cases of unlawful possession of firearms in the country, and suggested that there was a link between that and the number of murders committed. He thought the police should do less work for other departments and concentrate on firearms offences.

The Rt. Hon. 'W. Nash, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister, said that pakeha and Maori appointments to the force were treated equally, according to qualifications.

Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition. Waitomo) asked what stations were linked by teleprinter, and would radio communication be extended to country stations? , Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) pleaded for an increased police force n Auckland, where the city population had grown between 30,000 and 40,000 in the last three years. The existing strength of the force was below pre-war strength.