THE RETIRING AGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15524, 26 January 1911, Page 6

THE RETIRING AGE.

The deputation which waited upon the Minister of Justice, in Dunedin yesterday to fcsk thoit Inspector O'Brien should not bo retired from the police service can hrrdly hnve hoped for any other answer than the one it received. Dr Findlay's administration of the Department of Justice has beon

so thoroughly conscientious and painstaking that no one could have imagined that he had come, to a decision on the question of retiring one of the principal officers of the force without giving it the very fullest consideration. While he was able to endorse all that the deputation had to say in praise of the inspector, who could desire no more impressive testimonial than the one which the citizens of Dunedin have accorded him, the Minister made it quite clear that his decision was the outcome of a fixed and definite policy. There can be no question that in opening up the avenues of promotion by retiring officers who have passed their sixtieth year the Department will be conferring a distinct benefit on tho police force as well as on the community. It is of the utmost importance that good men should be attracted to the service, but it is not likely that they will offer themselves in large numbers if their prospects of promotion are uncertain. A cftange of system such as the Department has adopted may inflict some little hardship in individual cases, but this is not to be measured in comparison with the advantage* to be derived by the whole service end the dominion. We have no doubt that in Inspector O'Brien's case and in others that may occur Dr Findlay will see that the retiring officers suffer, as little inconvenience and loss as possible, and with this assured wo have nothing but approval for the new svstem. Its judicious application to some other branches, of the public service would be attended by admirable results.