REPORT OF POLICE MEETING CHALLENGED BY SECRETARY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28457, 11 December 1957, Page 16

REPORT OF POLICE MEETING CHALLENGED BY SECRETARY

A report from Christchurch yesterday that the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Police Force Association had registered a vote of no confidence in the promotions policy was untrue, and could impair the relations at present existing between the association and the police administration in New Zealand, said the general secretary of the association (Mr J. Meltzer), in a telephone interview with “The Press” yesterday. “I regret that it has become necessary to indulge in controversy with ‘The Press,’ particularly because it is a paper for which I have the highest possible regard,” said Mr Meltzer.

“When I described the report appearing yesterday as mischievous, irresponsible and incorrect I did not intend to question the good faith of the reporter. I now understand B that ‘The Press* report was based on what is described to me as a ‘supplied statement.’ It is against association rules for any such statement to be supplied to the press unless from national headquarters. I am not aware of the identity of the person who supplied this report, but I understand that it was not supplied officially by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Police Association. ‘ ‘An Interpretation ’ 9 “I have now had the opportunity of hearing the supplied statement read to me by telephone. I am still of the opinion that ‘The Press* report was not factual and

represented to some extent an interpretation of the supplied statement. This is where I think ’The Press’ has shown not bad faith, but bad judgment, particularly in the heading to the report. ‘The Press’ report stated that there had been a vote of no confidence in the present policy of the police administration on promotion and that, according to my information supplied to me by the Christchurch branch, is incorrect.

“The report assumes a more sinister aspect when it states that ‘this decision ... is in line with one from Wellington recently.’ “That again is incorrect. The Wellington resolution was one of no confidence in the administration.

“It is my view that newspapers have a great responsibility in reporting matters concerning the police force and I am anxious to let the public know that although there is concern in the force at present with the manner in which the promotion policy is being interpreted, the force remains never-the-less sound at heart and completely loyal. Much good work has been accomplished by the administration in the last two years. We will get over our present difficulties if relationships between the representatives of the force and the administration are not unduly embittered by public controversy, and I appeal to the press to avoid exacerbating the present situation,” concluded Mr Meltzer.