POLICE RESERVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1934, Page 7

POLICE RESERVE

LABOUR OPPOSITION attack on commissioner [PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, August 31. Tn the House, this afternoon, the financial debate was continued by Mr Parry, who referred to the reduction in wages made by the Government. He said that could not be justified in a country like New Zealand, where there was production in -plenty. It could be justified only when there was scarcity of production. Mr Ransom in stating the Government had set but to save the farmer from rum was perfectly correct. How had it saved the farmer? The answer to that was found in the State Advances Department’s report which showed that 46 per cent of those who held securities were unable to meet the interest obligations. If that was saving the farmers it was an extraordinary way of doing it. The Lands Department had the same ratio who were unable to meet obligations. How then, had the Government’s policy saved the farmers of New Zealand? The Minister had said New Zealand was in the upgrade. He, (Mr Parry) would like to know how that was so. Mr Ransom said that the Government had balanced the budget and reduced taxation. Mr Parry asked if it was because the Government had 23 million sterling in England which it could not bring to New Zealand. The only increase was in the price of wool which was very artificial. The Minister had refererd to immigra-

tion, but what was the use of bringing more people to New Zealand to consume when the policy of the Government would not make the products available to the people already here.

Coming to the Reserve Bank, Mr Parry said the Bank had taken over securities that rightly belonged to the people. The people’s credit had been used to take over these securities.

Mr Parry proceeded to refer to the establishment of the auxiliary police force. He said the Commissioner of Police had been actuated by fear in persuading the Minister of Justice to establish that force. It had been represented to him (Mr Parry) that the recent theft of the machine gun had been committed for the purpose of justifying the Government’s action. The best thing that could happen would be to retire the Commissioner of Police, and send him away to a little island with a revolver in one hand and a club in the other, and let him make .imitations of men in mud. There was no need to recruit the police force. Labour was opposed to, and would fight to the bitter end the turning of the Dominion into a military camp, or to have working people marched to work with bayonets and rifles. He protested strongly against the establishment of such a body. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment.

MINISTER’S EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON. August' 31. The report from Auckland of the formation of a Reserve Police Force in New Zealand wps confirmed by Mr Cobbe to-day. He said that it had been resolved to try out this system on lines which had proved satisfactory in London. The Minister mentioned that the Royal visit, in a few months, would probably render it necessary to augment the regular force, particularly in the principal cities, to deal with crowds in the principal cities. The number of constables available had always been inadequate and the country had practically to be denuded of police to supplement the cities in an emergency or on special occasions. The Reserve Force, Mr Cobbe said, would be a part time force, but when on duty, they would receive the same pay as the regular constables.

A SECRET REVEALED. ' DUNEDIN, August 31. Questioned about the Auckland message regarding the establishment of an auxiliary police force, Superintendent Fraser declined to make any statement. It is understood that the release in Auckland of the plans for a supplementary force is a surprise to police officials since the proposals were considered to be a strict secret. The scheme has been under way here for some time, but so far as is ascertainable no circulars have been issued to those likely to be invited to enrol.