THE POLICE FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 560, 15 July 1909, Page 6

THE POLICE FORCE.

MORE PROTECTION WANTED. PAY, HOLIDAYS, AND ALLOWANCES. (By Telegraph.—Press 'Association;) ■•■'■ • : ';'.'■-. ' ■ Dunedln, July 14;, , ; Tho.Polico Commission resumed its sittings here this morning. ~ The first witness was James ,Neil, a. ohemist, who ventilated, his grievances in regard to streot-preaching. Ho stated; that; tho police wore not sufficiently zealous in protecting the liberty of tho peoplo in and out of doors. Regarding, public speaking, he said ho had been glad to get out of some political meetings. He had a right to life; and he thought-the'polico should more protection to people m halls, and to himself in the streets, where ho had, boon interfered, with, by "roughs," :who feared neither God nor man, but feared a policeman. 'Mr.: Bishop said half• tho force would bo required' to watch street-preaching in Christ-, church. He would ask Commissioner Dinnie to instruct policemen to watch such meetings- "■"•■" , / .'',.-' William Luby, bookmaker, complained that Constable M'Holm used mean and. despicable means to obtain ' a conviction against him, and committed perjury. ! _' Mr. Bishop replied that it was not his province to review decisions of a Court! If a policeman had committed pbrjury_ Luby ought to have laid an information against him. for,that; offence. ■, ■ Frederick Matthews' complained that he had been ; refused-'a-license for a billiardroom owing to'a rojttrt of the police,-yet ho bad been unable to discover what had been alleged a-gainst him".-•'.">.; ■;'.- Chief Detective Herbert said the police report to the City Council was on the file: Mr. Bishop said ho,. would have the file produced. ~•■•;■ Constable.,, Mason submitted. several questions, which had. been agreed upon at a meeting of tho police recently: They proposed that'ithe rate of pay should be increased by sixpence, a .day; that the house allowance, which is £18 ss.' annually, as compared with £3.0 in the Prisons Department, should be increased by sirponco a day; also that there, should be, an increased allowance for hoiiso rent, : which • cost about 14s. 6d. for, married men'in Dunedin, whereas only 7s. weekly was allowed;: '■' They suggested .that free uniform/ and-q,boU't two pairs of boots should 'be'•given-' every ■ year—such were free in the Prisons .Department.-'..As Tegards holidays, •■ the- Prison ■Department 'employees got eighteen days yearly, as against the policeman's twelve'days' annual leave. Three-or four days ."-more each year would give great satisfaction. Free passes on the railways were 'also desired; 7 Dissatisfaction • existed among the'junior member's of the force regarding promotion.' • Witness ' had no grievance. ■'''.- ■/:'■' ''''',;'■;;' ;*■' .'-.'•■'' ■'■•■■• ■Several members,-of the .force' 'gave''evidence,.: nearly, all of them expressing the opinion that the'pay was too low. Complaint was also v made .about the' matter ;of promotions, and the-opinion 1 was expressed 'that holiday leave should be extended and that free railway passes sliould' be ''granted.''",' One constable complained, that when _adetective. and constable travelled: by train together, the former went first-class and; the latter':second.,';. •'< ■-. : '."'.'■'