THE POLICE FORCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1923, Page 8

THE POLICE FORCE

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. ‘‘The police in New Zealand aie paid lor seven days a week, and 1 am not aware that tney would preier to work only on six days and be paid, fur six, stated the Minister ot Justice (tne non. C. J. Panj m the House oi Representatives in reply to a suggestion luat tne working week of tne policeman should be reduced so as to bring it into line with the practice in Aus tr.ilia and Britain. He added that they were allowed Sunday leave as often as they could be spared, but they were paid for that day whether they worked or not. Ihe questionei, i i W. J. Jordan (Manakau) also entered a plea for lighter uniforms and helmets for summer wear, to which the Minister replied that lighter uniforms had been tried, but had not proved satisfactory; white helmets were supplied to all members for summer use. Other questions affecting the police Force were asked by Mr T. M thord (Leader of the Opposition). He asked the Minister to revise the whole of the “leave” question; to arrange that leave which police officers are entitled to is granted without question; and to save police officers a great deal ot extra work and time by handing over the work required under the Arms Act to crinpled returned soldiers. Mr Parr' said he would be pleased to look into the question of leave He was advised that if leave were applied for within the prescribed, period and dutv prevented it being granted, it. would be granted at a later period, and not forfeited. Under the regulations members of the Force were only entitled to leave when they could be spared, and it was not practicable to grant leave without question, but every effort was made to grant it to suit the applicants—sometimes at great inconvenience to the Department. Returned soldiers who were crippled were not suitable for the Police Force, members of which might be called upon at any time for ordinary duty in cases of emergency. Ihe officers of the Force no doubt work loim hours,” he stated, “but I am not aware of any complaints in that direction, nor am I aware of any senior sergeant who has recently broken down through over-work.