Police Retiring Age Reduced To 60

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 12

Police Retiring Age Reduced To 60

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 31. Provision for members of the police to retire at 60, except in special circumstances, is a major change proposed in the Police Bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week. The present retirement age is 65.

The Minister in charge of Police (Mr Connolly), who introduced the bill, said it did not depart to any large extent from a measure prepared in draft form last year, during the term of the National Government. The bill is a consolidation of the Police Force Act, 1947, and its amendments. It provides for the term “police force” to be dropped and members will, it is proposed, be known as members of the police.

The provisions of the police superannuation fund will be compulsory for all joining the policy 'in future and the bill sets a “dead-line” for present members desiring to become contributors. Any member who is not now a contributor may elect to become a contributor before July 1 next year and any member who does not become a contributor by that date will not be entitled to do so while he is a member of the police. Medical Grounds As well as providing for retirement of members on reaching 60, the bill provides for the retirement of, members on medical grounds A new provision is that where a member appeals against his compulsory retirement, his medical fitness will be referred to a panel of doctors.

The bill provides for any appointment to the rank of commissioner, assistant-commissioner or chief superintendent to be made by the Governor-General and for the holder of these ranks to hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General. All other appointments to commissioned rank will be made by the Minister. At present, all appointments to commissioned rank are made by the Governor-General, but only the commissioner holds office during the pleasure of the Gov-ernor-General. Appointments to non-commis-sioned rank and of constables will be made by the commissioner, instead of by the commissioner with the approval of the Minister.

Constables will be appointed on probation for two years and during this time will hold office at the will of the commissioner. One clause lays it down that no appointment or promotion of a member of the police shall be made except on the recommendation of the promotion board, but this clause will not apply to the appointment of any officer ap-. pointed by the Governor-General, any constable, any cadet, or any member going to acting or temporary non-commissioned rank. At present the promotion board is required to recommend for promotion the member of the force who in l the opinion of the board is, ? the most efficient and suitable for appointment to the rank or grade of rank. ( The bill proposes that the board shall recommend for appointment the person who, “having regard to the duties of the position to be filled,” is in the opinion of the board the most efficient and suitable for the appointment. A provision, now in the regulations, to the effect that promotions will be made only from the next lower rank is included in thq clause. Appeal Board Appeals against recommendations of the promotion board are ■provided for. The bill provides for establishment of the police appeal board. A member of the boarff may be appointed by the commissioner whether or not he is a member of the policy. At present a commissioned officer is appointed to the board by the Minister. Another new provision is that no member of a lower rank than the appellant shall sit on an appeal board. , The police appeal board will exercise the functions at present exercised by the board of appeal and the promotion appeal board, which are established under the Police Force Act, 1947.

Appointment to the appeal board of members to represent the Police Officers’ Guild and the Police Association is authorised in the bill. i

In the case of the alleged misconduct or neglect of duty by a nqp-commissioned officer or constable, the person holding an inquiry may be appointed from outside the police.