PARLIAMENT TRIBUTE TO ABILITY OF POLICE FORCE PAID IN HOUSE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 4

PARLIAMENT TRIBUTE TO ABILITY OF POLICE FORCE PAID IN HOUSE

WELLINGTON, August 12. . Discussion, mainly of a complimentary nature, on the New Zealand Police Force, was the main feature ot today’s proceedings in the House ot Representatives. The bills providing for liquor restoration in the Masterton district were read a second time, Two bills, one with “Royal styles and titles” omits the title Emperor of India from the designations given the King, the other providing for the compilation of a register of the deaths of members of the New Zealand forces who lost their lives overseas were introduced. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) explained that the second bill merely gave statutory effect to what was already- provided for in the regulations about the death •certificates of soldiers who died overseas. di • , The House was still on the second reading of the Police Force<Bill when ■it adjourned at d. 0.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. - Praise for the work of the Police Force in New Zealand from both Government and Opposition benches was the feature of the debate this evening oh the Police Force Bill, which was read a second time. Among the topics discussed were the efficiency of policewomen, the retiring age of members of the force, and the need to keep the Police Gazette from falling into the hands of unauthorised persons. Up-to-date Methods The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), moving the second reading, said New Zealand was fortunate in its Police Force, which had a very capable Commissioner in Mr J. Cummings. The Police Force was adopting the most up-to-date' methods for the detection of crime.

The introduction of policewomen had been an unqualified success, said Mr C. G. Harker (Opposition, Hawke’s Bay). Precipitate action was not required, but he hoped their number would be increased as occasion demanded.

Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, St Albans) said an important feature of the bill was provision for a new appeal authority. This would give valuable protection to those of lower ranks of the force in the event of any threat of their dismissal.

The debate was interrupted by the adjournment. Legislative Council

Mr J. T. Paul (Wellington) gave notice in the Legislative Council today to ask the Leader of the Council (Mr D. Wilson) if, in view of the consideration now being given to the constitution of the Legislature of New Zealand, immediate steps could be taken to have made available all factual records pertaining to alterations in the constitution of second chambers in countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations since the publication of New Zealand Parliamentary Paper, No. 1, Legislative Council, 1913.

Mr Schramm Proposed As Liberal-Labour Candidate

AUCKLAND, August 12.

The suggestion that the Labour and Liberal Parties should unite to contest the Mount Albert by-election and the proposal that Mr F. W. Schramm, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, should be nominated as the parties’ candidate are made in a telegram which was sent from Auckland by Mr J. R. Kennedy, organiser of the New Zealand Liberal Party, to the national executive of the New Zealand Labour’ Party. Mr Scramm, who was the Labour member for Auckland East from 1931 to 1946, was defeated by Mr D. M. Rae in the contest for the Parnell seat at the general election last year.