POLICE PROMOTIONS

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 12

POLICE PROMOTIONS

NEW EXAMINATION SYSTEM

A BOAED SET UP.

So that appointments in the Police Force shall be free from any suggestion of favouritism, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. B. M'llveney, has decided to institute a new system of examination. Since 1913, when the examinations were first held, the candidates' papers have been gone through by the Commissioner and others, and in some cases it has been felt that the examiners might have recognised the handwriting and become slightly prejudiced in awarding the marks. The new system, which will come into force at next month's examinations, will remove any doubt from the minds of candidates.

"In future there will be an examination board, consisting of a Magistrate as chairman and two commissioned officer of police, one of whom has spent his whole life in the uniform branch, and the other having had considerable experience in the detective branch, to deal with examination papers relating to (1) The Police Force Act and Eegulations, and (2) questions ou practical police and detective duties," stated Mr. MMlveney yesterday. "The examination questions will be approved by the Commissioner before the examination takes place, but the Board will deal with the papers afterwards, allot the marks, and report the result."

"This course is intended to allay any suspicion of unfairness in the conducting of examinations. For 1926, the board set up consists of Mr. W. G. Biddoll, senior Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. W. G. "Wohlmann, Superintendent of Police in the Auckland district, as a commissioned officer who has risen through the ranks of the uniform branch of the force, and Mr, 8. Kawle, Inspector of Police at Wellington, who has had experience in. both branches of the force, and who has been for a very considerable number of years a member of the detective branch. The examinations in law subjects will bo taken by Mr. Eiddell, and Mr. B. Darroeh, headmaster of the Wellington Terrace School, will deal with the literary subjects. The results will then be made known to the Commissioner.

Mr. M'llveney added that so far as promotions were concerned, the Police Begulations definitely laid down that although due regard must be paid to seniority of service and good conduct, preference must always be given to those members of the force who possessed superior education, and who displayed superior intelligence, zeal, and integrity in the discharge of their duties. There could Be no hesitation in promoting an efficient officer of less service over a less efficient, though older member of the force.