SUPERANNUATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 322, 8 October 1908, Page 4

SUPERANNUATION.

THE POLICE POINT OF VIEW. (BI TBI. ECU A I'll. — SI'ECIAI. COIIIIESI'ONDENT.) Auckland, October 7. •The members of the Auckland Polico Force have discussed the Superannuation Bill. Strong exception was taken to tho section which provides for an extension of tho polico retiring ago from 60 to (55 years. It was pointed out that in all other branches of tho Government service members joined at an early age, and, on completing forty years' service, wore allowed to retire. This gave them tho opportunity of enjoying their pensions for a comparatively long period. In tlio case of tho polico force, a constable could not join till ho was 21, and tho average joining age was 25, and, therefore, on forty years' servico he would be 65 before ho could retire. It was contended, in view of all the circumstances, that the pulict forco should receive special consideration. Section 56 of tho Bill was considered to bo a contravention of the. spirit of tlio Polico Provident Fund Act, in that in tho caso of a member retiring medically unfit he can be called upon at any timo up to tho ago of 65 years to take any employment in any Government Department which the Civil Servico Board thinks jiroper to offer him. Under the Polico Provident Fund Act it is provided that any member so retiring may not bo called upon to take up such work after tho expiration of one year, and it was contended that an unnecessary hardship is thus inflicted, seeing that such a member may have entered into business, and might be called upon to sacrifice it at any moment. Considerable objection was offered to the clauso which provides for the repeal of the Polico Provident Fund Act, and tho transfer of all assets and liabilities to the Civil Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act. Members held that such a drastic proposal should not have boon brought forward without consulting them.