NEW POLICE STATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1946, Page 8

NEW POLICE STATION

CRITICISM OF FURTHER DELAYS

PHOTOGRAPHS PROPOSED

The displeasure and disappointment of the Westland District Progress League at the failure of the Minister-in-charge of the Police Department, Mr Fraser, to complete arrange-

ments for the construction of a new police station in the town, were recorded at last evening's meeting of the council of the league.

Qualifying the resolution, the league, adopting the recommendation'' of the Public Utilities and Amenities Commitee, set out the following reasons for its actions: — Protracted Represenstations

(1) On October 11, 1944, a comprehensive report on the disgraceful and insanitary condition of the Greymouth Police Station was forwarded to the Minister.

(2) After numerous letters and telegrams the Minister replied on September 13, 1945, that “calling of tenders for the work is being considered.”

(3) On February 7, 1946, Mr Webb accompanied league representatives, on an inspection of the premises when Mr Webb gave an assurance that all posible urgency would be accorded a new building.' (4) On March 6, 1946, the league requested a reply to its letter of February 7 to which Mr A. G. Osborne, for the Minister, replied: “I am arranging for the matter to.be looked into.” (5) On March 20, 1946, Mr J. O’Brien was telegraphed by the league offering the league’s assistance in any way possible in the selection of a site. (6) On April 3, 1946, Mr O’Brien replied: “Now that Cabinet has approved of the erection of the station you can rest assured that every effort will be made to have the same started as early as possible.” More Central Site (7) On May 7, 1946, Mr Fraser wrote that, “the site of the present police station is not the most suitable and a site in a more central and convenient position should be acquired. This aspect of the matter is- now being looked into.” (8) During May, 1946, Mr J. Cummings, Commissioner of Police, visited Greymouth and is believed then to have taken some steps to investigate the position, but no attempt was made by that officer to contact the league in pursuance of the league’s offer of assistance towards obtaining a suitable site:

(9) On July 3, 1946, Mr Fraser, Minister-in-charge, was written to enquiring whether a site had definitely been acquired. (10) On July 11, 1946, Mr Osborne, for the Minister, wrote: “I am

having enquiries made into the present position and a further reply will be sent to you shortly.” (11) No ~ answer having come to hand an urgent telegram was sent to Mr Fraser on August 1, 1946, lor a definite reply. (12) 'On August 2, 1946, Mr Fraser replied: “Have received your telegram and am arranging for reply to be expedited.” The following recommendation, made by the commitee was adopted: —That the report be conveyed to the Minister-in-charge of the Police Department and that he be requested to give the league permission to take a photographer through the present premises to obtain a series of photographs so that they may be published to enable the people, of the Dominion to be made aware of the conditions under which the police force of Greymouth has to carry out its duties. Letter from Mr Fraser

A letter on the subject was received from the Minister-in-charge, Mr Fraser, who informed the league that negotiations for the acquisition of a more suitable and central site for the new station were now being carried on, and it was expected that they would be concluded at an early date. The plans would be revised to suit the new site. The calling of tenders for police stations at Karamea, Millerton and Dobson, which were urgently required, he added, had not in any way delayed progress in respect of the Greymouth station.

The chairman, Mr W. D. Taylor, said that the league had been making representations on the matter for over two years. A new station had been sought 40 years ago.

Mr J. M, Bunt suggested that the league had to do something drastic to get the Government to do anything. He did not imagine that the Government would allow a photographer through- the police station, but the resolution would draw the ‘alent ion of the public to the matter.