Cost Of Police Protection

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 306, 25 September 1945, Page 6

Cost Of Police Protection

Sir, —I am sure most of your readers felt ashamed to read that Mr. Nash in referring to the Police force bad staled that “he had looked into the figures’ and had found “that the very efficient service rendered cost 2sil. a head of population a week” I Also that “he believed that the cost of,2sd. a head a week for such an efficient service was the cheapest in the world I” I have just learned that a policeman has to work 20 years Io receive rises amounting to 25/- a week, and even then, if be does not pass certain examinations, another 20 years of his life —till retirement — will be served without a rise in pay! If he does pass examinations the resultant “Sergeant’’ status means merely £2O to £45 a year for all his “swot”—and there is a restricted number of promotions at that. The time has surely come, I respectfully suggest, when the reproach of “the cheapest” cost a head of population for "the most efficient” police protection in the world should be removed. We can afford to pay married members of our police force much higher remuneration than they are now receiving, and thus attract to the service men of the best type and of high educational standing, who will carry out their duties “without fear or favour” of any section of the community.—l am, etc., PUBLICO. Wellington, September 22.