Senior Officers Affected

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

Senior Officers Affected

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 31 Fifteep senior police officers may be retired within 12 months from April 1 next year under the provisions of the new Police Bill introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill requires policemen to retire at 60. The Commissioner, Mr W. S. Brpwn, may in the interests of efficiency allow any officer to remain up to December 31, 1961, provided the officer does not reach the age of 65 before this date. This course has been adopted so that the police will not lose many top men overnight.

If the Commissioner believes there are special circumstances he can also let an officer who is a member of the superannuation fund stay in the force for six months after reaching 60. Any officer not a s member of the fund can remain for 12 months. The bill also allows the Minister of Police to retain the. Commissioner dr the Assistant-Commissioner for a year if he thinks fit. The newly appointed AssistantCommissioner, Mr W. Carran, is affected by the bill. He reached the age of 60 this month andcould be retired within 12 months.

Mr W. R. Murray who, following recommendation for promotion to chief superintendent, is likely to become officer in charge of the Auckland police district, may be allowed to remain in the force up to 1961. He is 62. The following officers are affected by the new provisions. Those who will reach the age of 65 in varying stages by the end of 1961 are:—

Superintendents W. R. Murray and W. G. Bennett, Chief Inspectors W. X K. Brown, J. McKie and M. Conway, and Inspector C J. Dwyer. The remainder who will reach the 65 years retirement age after 1961 are:—

Assistant Commissioner W. Carran, Superintendents G. H. L. Holt and M. E. Lines; Chief Inspectors E. M. Thomas, W. R. Miller, J. R. Corston and F. W. Edwards, and Inspectors J. Sutherland and B. W. Wootton.