THE POLICE FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 32, 6 August 1930, Page 10

THE POLICE FORCE

ECONOMY MEASURES

NO NEW ENLISTMENTS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHRISTCHTJBCH, This Day. No immediate big changes in the police system are intended by the new Commissioner, Mr. Wohlmann. Such changes as are proposed, he told a reporter, will bo made gradually and will follow the lines of the strictest economy. ■ ' Mr. Wohlmann passed through Christchureh last evening on his way back to Wellington after a visit to the police centres in the South Island. He took up his appointment as Commissioner on Friday last, and as .it was necessary for him to discuss. certain points of policy with his major officers, he decided to visit.them instead of asking them to go to Wellington for a conference. Mr. Wohlmann said the reduction of the police grant by £15,000 made it necessary that the work -of the Department should be carried on as economically as possible. Nothing drastic, such as reductions in wages or staffing, was intended, but where transfers or promotions were necessary tho costs of transport would have to be considered. One economy measure which had already been decided on. said Mr. Wohlmann, was tho closing for the time being of tho depot at Wellington where recruits were trained for duty. Tho Department was fully staffed at present and no new men would be enlisted for some time. Economy would also forbid for the present the erection in Christchureh of a gymnasium in which the local men could keep fit. However, he would do all he could to encourage the men to take part in sports. He approved of the idea which had led to the formation of a Police Social Club locally and would support tho entry of police .teams in football and cricket competitions ml so far as they did not interfere with the work of the station.