NOTIFICATION OF PROMOTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27107, 1 August 1953, Page 8

NOTIFICATION OF PROMOTIONS

MINISTER’S STATEMENT CONTESTED (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 31. The following further statement about the promotion of three sergeants to the rank of inspector was issued tonight by the executive of the Auckland brancn of the Police Association: — “The Minister in charge of Police (Mr W. H. Fortune) is reported as having said that the association’s telegram was incorrect, in that it said that the association’s first notification of the promotions was through the newspapers. The secretary of the association was notified on Wednesday, Mr Fortune said. “The members state that they have referred this report to their general secretary (Mr J. Meltzer), who says that neither the Commissioner of Police nor anyone else advised them of this rfatter on Wednesday,” the statement concludes. In a statement issued in Wellington tonight, Mr Meltzer referred to a report that Mr Fortune had asked whether he (Mr Meltzer) would deny that he was notified of the promotions by Inspector Scott on Wednesday evening, when Inspector Scott tendered his resignation as president of the Police Association. - “On Wednesday night, I was informed by Mr Scott by telephone to my home of the intended promotions,” Mr Meltzer said. “This was in my private capacity, in strict confidence, and with no authority to repeat it to anyone. This was not given to me as general secretary of the New Zealand Police Association. It was not communicated to me by the Minister. “Mr Scott did not tender his resignation as president on Wednesday evening,” Mr Meltzer said. ‘lndeed, it was not necessary for him to tender his resignation, as promotion to commissioned rank would, ipso facto, disentitle him to continue as a member of the association. “In plain language, the Minister did not and has not yet informed the New Zealand Police Association of the proSotions. Therein we feel there has «n a discourtesy oh his part,” Mr Meltzer concluded.