“Political Skullduggery” In Priorities Of Police Stations

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28983, 26 August 1959, Page 14

“Political Skullduggery” In Priorities Of Police Stations

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. August 25. Allegations of political skullduggery in the priorities and building of police stations were made in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr E. P. Aderman (Opposition, New Plymouth) during discussion of the Police Department estimates. “I want to know what is going on.” said Mr Aderman. “Last year the Minister said a new police station for New Plymouth was on the estimates for this year, but nothing has been done. I regard this as a violation of a promise—another broken promise.” Mr Aderman said that new stations had been awarded to Nelson and Wanganui during the year. “They are of the same political brand. This is political skullduggery,” he said. The Minister of Police (Mr Connolly) said he had not discussed New Plymouth and a new station for that city in the House. “The Police and Works Department decide the order of priorities and what stations will be built. The member’s inference of juggling with priorities is unfair.” Mr L. R. Adams-Schneider (Opposition, Hamilton) said that the Labour candidate in the Hamilton by-election had promised a new police station for the city within three months if he was elected. Mr Connolly said a new police station for Hamilton could not be started before 1961-62. Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Egmont): What about the election promise? Mr Connolly: A lot of election promises are made. Surely I am not responsible for what is said Hamilton is an urgent problem, and will be dealt with in 1961. Mr Aderman: Last year I asked if New Plymouth would be in the estimates for this year, and the Minister said —yes.

Mr Connolly: There is a vote this year. Mr Aderman: Will the Minister tell us when a station can be expected and define the order of priority? Mr Connolly: New stations were listed for Lower Hutt, Timaru, and Nelson. I said Napier and New Plymouth would be next. I gave no promise that tenders for New Plymouth would be let in 1959. The Minister said that £BOOO was down for the New Plymouth station in 1958-59. £5OOO in 195960, £20.000 in 1960-61 and £50.000 in 1961-62. Mr Adams-Schneider asked the Minister if the department would have changed its mind if a Labour candidate had been elected in Hamilton. “Would the police station have been under way?”

The Minister said he knew nothing about a promise for a station at Hamilton. “I just happen to be the Minister. Hamilton is urgent, but not as urgent as some others. The department makes the decisions, and I have never changed any of them. I wish we could build police stations in three months.” Mr Sheat's Challenge Mr Sheat said it was most extraordinary for the Minister to say he knew nothing about the promise by the Hamilton Labour candidate. "The candidate wouldn't have given that clear and definite undertaking without someone’s authority. I believe the candidate was told to make that promise. I believe he made it with the authority of the Prime Minister,” Mr Sheat said. “The Prime Minister should tell us if the promise was made with his authority and if he would have honoured it if the Labour candidate hud been elected. I challenge the Prime Minister to say whether this promise was made with his knowledge and authority, or whether the people of Hamilton are being deprived of a police station because they didn't vote the way the Prime Minister wanted,” he added.