HINT OF STAFF REDUCTIONS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28552, 3 April 1958, Page 19

HINT OF STAFF REDUCTIONS

Army And Air Force Public Relations

The Royal New Zealand Air Force and Army public relations departments are likely to be whittled back by the new Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly). He has called for a report into these branches in all three services—as well as several other departments of the armed forces. Last evening in Christchurch he ticked the numbers off on his fingers: “Army. 4588 on the strength, six public relations officers here and two in Malaya; Air Force, 4400 and eight P.R.O.’s; Navy. 2650 and one P.R.O.—that’s not so bad. A total of 17, plus the staff.

“Yet the Police Department, with 2265 in the force, has just half a P.R.O.—the other half of him works for the Justice Department. It’s obvious that some changes will have to be made,” said the Minister. Police Promotions

The Minister would like to see able policemen promoted earlier. “It’s all right for those constables who like a country station, nice little house, bit of garden and a cow, but what about Mr Peter Munro who has just retired as Assistant Commissioner of Police? “He went overseas in World War I, was commissioned and mentioned in dispatches, yet he had to wait until he was 53 before he reached officer's rank in the force.”

A competent policeman should reach officer rank—be promoted to inspector—by the time he was 45, said the Minister. In an attempt to give younger men the opportunities they deserved about five junior officers and senior sergeants in line for promotion would be sent to the Police Training School at Trentham this year.

Referring to his comments on the armed services. Mr Connolly said he would be quite satisfied if the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve reached a strength of only 300, instead of the establishment of 600 set as a national figure—“provided they are good.” He was surprised to learn that 50 per cent, of the applicants for service with the Canterbury division were being rejected on medical grounds. The national average is only 26 per cent.

“The R.N.Z.N.V.R. costs £60.000 a year. At full strength that is £lOO a man—so they must be good.”