“JACK OF ALL TRADES”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 March 1935, Page 7

“JACK OF ALL TRADES”

COUNTRY POLICEMAN’S LOT MANIFOLD STATE DUTIES WORK FOR OTHER BRANCHES. The primary function of a policeman is supposed to lie the prevention of crime and the apprehension of criminals—a watchdog over the whole community—hut as a fact he is the agent of any and every. Government department that can foist its work on him. Thus policemen in rural areas' are engaged in compiling agricultural and pastoral statistics required under the Census and Statistics Act, 1926, in acting as pension, probation and maintenance officers, registrars of arms, inspectors of hotels and fisheries, and as general inquiry and collecting agents, all of this work being in addition to their ordinary police duties.

During the past few years, the officers at many country stations, it is stated, have been, compelled to neglect certain police.work, which would have been dune had their duties not been so manifold. To cover the various police districts thoroughly, it is considered there would he very little time left for. any other work, assuming only reasonable hours were required of officers.

In. addition to keeping patrols for the prevention and detection of crime, policemen have often to spend a considerable amount of time in the service of summonser, in making im;m’ries for the holding of inquests, and concerning the movements of ion on probation. Tile inspection of hotels also, falls within their province, including certain work regarding applications for licenses.

MOST BURDENSOME DUTY. Within the past two years the inspection of arms and certificates has increased tenfold. Jn the original Arms Act, 1920, provision was .made for the regular inspection of arms, but tliis. however, was not enforced until 1963.

The most burdensome duty that has been delegated to the country policeman is without doubt, the annual compilation of agricultural and pastoral statistics. Up until about lour years ago this type of work was voluntary in cases where it- was considered by stations that they had sufficient time. In other cases civilians were employed, but either as an economy measure, or owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the returns, their services were dispensed with. With noapparent regard for the circumstance* in which certain stations• were placed, a decree was issued from Wellington that; in future, all. work of this nature would he undertaken by officers of the Police Force.

Country police stations, whether staffed by one man or more, arc now obliged to send circulars each year to all persons in their districts with holdings of one acre or over, and situated outside borough boundaries. This in itself is a task, but it is after the posting of the circulars that the real work begins. The information required from" farmers is a full, description of the land occupied, the area and yield, of field crops for the season, a detailed summary of the total area of the holding, grassland top-dressed, farm machinery, livestock on holding, and .stock slaughtered for human consumption.

COLLECTION OF STATISTICS. information relating to the area and yield of field-crops is divided into grain and root crops, etc., entailing ‘22 questions, and grass-seed, liuy ami ensilage, under which a-' farmer has to state the grasses and clovers harvested, or to be harvested, grasses and clovers to be cut for hay or foi ensilage', and lucerne cut, or to be cut for hay and ensilage. In the summary of the total area ol the holding lie has to give the number of acres of everything growing 01 the land, and also the extent ot fal low and barren areas. The live-stock, returns are just as detailed. .The farmer has also state the number and horse-power of electric motors, internal combustion engines, and'agricultural tractors on liis property, the cow capacity of milking plants, and the number of shearing stands and cream separators. When the circulars are returned the details have to be entered up in a, special book by the constable. In a number of cases farmers have to hi visited in order to secure details, which have been wrongly given or omitted.

Of the inquiries that have to be made those relating to pensions often occupy a .considerable, amount; .of , time. They include widows’"pensions; bldage.r miners’ and war pensions. ,

HOURS OF WOl?Tv UNLIMITED. Most of the country police station: have large areas to patrol, yet no means are provided by the department for transport. Often officers find themselves compelled to purchase motor cars to enable them to do the work. Although there are instances of these vehicles covering as many a 20U0 miles a month, the maximum amount of assistance the owners receive from the department for running expenses is approximately £34 i year. Nothing is allowed for depreciation or repairs. Officers are also obliged to purchase tlieir own typewriters. which are almost a necessity for their work.

The hours of work of country police-'' men, particularly in one-man stations,; are stated to be practically without limit. Frequently officers find it necessary to call, on. members of their families for assistance. In some instances the policeman’s wife is almost as hard worked u's her husband, whose place she lias often to take when lie is absent in other parts of his district.