LONDON POLICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 115, 12 November 1919, Page 2

LONDON POLICE

A LIFT UP IN THE SOCIAL SCALE.

„A\f rosult of the abortive strike among tho Metropolitan Police, the force has received a lift up in the social scale. This is <iuo to the fact that many of the .new recruits who are replacing- "the twelve hundred men dismissed for going on strike beJong to higher social strata than the recruits of other days. Sir Neville Macreadv thief Commissioner of the London Police, states:—"We havn got sons of men representing every social class among our new recruits. I am constantly receiving letters trom fathers who are clergymen, doctors, and successful businessmen, who want M"eir sons to become policemen. Publicschool boys, who perhaps were.not overgood at their books, instead of entering one of thot poorly paid professions, at about £2 per week, want to become policemen and. start with £3 10s a, week as an ordinary constable. With uniform and lodging1 that is worth at least £4 10s. And there is tho possibility of rising to be a chief constable at £1000 a year. Pay and prospects in tho police force are a great deal better than in many of the professions. We-have several "men among tho new recruits who held commissioned vahk' m tho services during tho war, includingmajors, captains, assistant provost marshals, and a commander tI.N.A 7.U." | , Sir Neviilo Macreadv lays on the roseato | hues with a la visit brush in presenting tin) ! police, force aa a rival of the professions (cays tho London correspondent of 'Melbourne Age). ;No doubt many of the.new recruits are of a superior class, but it is doubtful if a.ny of them .ire da2z!ed Uv the prospects of promotion that the police' force olFei-s. Tho real explanation of tho desire of those- men. to fill tho vacancies created by tho dismissal of strikers''is' that they woro out of work. There are many men demobilised front" , the army who are out of work just now. There are no dazzling- prospects in the fried-fish trade, for instance, but demobilised- officers aro bo found among the proprietors of ■London's"" 2000 fried-fish shops. - Others havo opened laundries, confectionery shops, and greengrocery shops.

A> meeting of. 'the AVellington 'Master' Painters' Assoeihtion will be hold at 8 o'clock to-mght, as advertised A bazaar, in aid of ths Church of England funds, at Upjwr Hutt; wil^be held in. the local Independent Hall, to-morrow ahd Friday afternoons and evenings. Amongst other"attractions, tho patriotic stalls.for the exhibition and sale of goods made by wounded, soldiers should substantially benefit tho»e* whoso handicraft will'be thusdisposed of' sui)arately and in their ownaid. ' *.'■ '■ ' '■ .