AUXILIARY POLICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 26 October 1934, Page 2

AUXILIARY POLICE

REFERENCES IN THE HOUSE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. Lively and bitter interruptions of the Prime Minister by Labour members were heard to-day when Rt. Hon. G. W. Eorbes, following their criticism of the proposed auxiliary police force, strongly justified this step on tile ground that assistance was needed for the regular police in emergencies and that the Government were not going to tolerate mob rule in cities which had previously resulted in much disorder and damage. Referring to tho Auckland riot, he declared: “If the citizens had not rallied to tho police in Auckland we would have had a reign of terror and there would have been a great deal more trouble than we had.”

Mr W. E. Parry: There would have been less. Tile Police Force will tell you. Mrs E. R. McCombs interposed that the regular police had to keep the specials in order. Mr F. IV. Schramm: And a sergeant in Auckland sent them away. The Prime Minister: The thing we are determined to do is that we will not have disorder in our cities and destruction of property, which is likely to occur when mobs get oat of hand

Mr Forbes considered that the auxiliaries, with a certain amount of training, would exercise patience in handling crowds and their help would be welcomed by the police. Mr J. O’Brien suggested that there had been a number of excuses for these special police, but the Prime Minister, with his usual bluntness, plainly said they were for the purpose of preventing people demonstrating against legislation which the Government was passing. He was becoming a sort of Hitler and there would be all colours of shirts in the country. Surely the people bad a right to demonstrate against that class of legislation. Mr Forbes: Not that class of demonstration.

The Prime Minister complained that the Labour Party constantly ridiculed the police in their efforts to maintain law and order, though on other occasions they called themselves the friends of the police. “I don’t know whether the Labour Party stands for mob rule. We do not.”

“This lias gone far enough,” shouted Mr M. J. Savage, Leader of the Opposition, in raising a point of order amid a din of interruption. He asked the chairman to take a note of “the Prime Minister’s improper imputation.” Mr S. G. Smith, Chairman of Committees, declared it almost impossible to hear what the speaker was saying as there was a chorus of constant interruption. Mr R. Semple: It ought to be worse. The Prime Minister emphatically retorted that he would make hie point quite clear. The Labour Party, whenever there was any proposal to assist the police to maintain law and order, resisted it with the utmost bitterness. EQUIPMENT OF RESERVE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. When the Police Department Vote was under discussion in Committee m the House of Representatives to-day, Mr W. E. Parry sought information regarding the police reserve. He said the handling of the recent aftair in the Morrinsville district was open to criticism. If the Police Force needed to be augmented it should be done in the regular way, not by the establishment of a reserve force. He contended that such a force would lead to dissatisfaction in the regular force which, if asked for its opinion, would turn the proposal down unanimously. .. . , ■, ~ Hon. J. G. Cobbe, m reply, said the police did particularly gpocl work. The idea of the reserve police was to have 159 at Auckland, 100 at Wellington and 50 each at Christchurch and Dunedin It was not intended that any should be of a higher rank than the ordinary constable. The reserve force would fill the requirements' of the present time and would cost £4200 a year, whereas to increase the regular force to the same extent would cost £105,000. , . A Mr Parry again protested against the innovation, which, he said, was foreign to the Dominions and savoured of Europe. There was_ no for such a force, as crime in New Zealand was becoming less. Mr A. J. Stallworthy thought the Minister would be well advised to reconsider the proposal and bring the regular force up to full strength. There was a considerable ’ weight of public opinion in -the Dominion against the reserve force. Mr W. J. Jordan said the proposal was a move on the part of a certain class of man who desired to reach the officer class in the force, the same as in London, and did not want to do street duty. Every constable should have the top open to him and he was afraid the new force would block promotion for the regular constable. He considered the cost would be considerably more than was provided for. He contended the Minister had not disclosed the full idea, behind its establishment; he thought it was a subtle move and the Minister was not acquainted with it. Mr Cobbe said there was nothing sinister or secret about the new force. It was not a Continental or Japanese idea. A similar force had been in existence in London for some years. Mr M. J. Savage said that means for increasing the regular force could not bo defended for ono minute. It was the foundation of a spy system. He moved that tho item he reduced by £4200. Mr R. Semple said the establishment of the force was an insult to lawabiding people. lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes said he had the greatest admiration for the men, who were doing an unpleasant duty throughout tho country. The people would be thankful, to the men who came forward in times of need to protect lives and property. Every rightthinking person should support the force, as disorder could not be tolerated. If tho reserve force was established a number of steady., level-head-ed men would be available should an outbreak occur. They would be trained to handle crowds in a way that would not be noticeable, and when they were needed they could go into uniform. Ho considered the reserve force would ho welcomed by the regular force. Members had tried to prevent the force carrying out their duties.

Mr Savage rose to a point of order. Ho asked if the Prime Minister was allowed to impute that Labour members had prevented the police from carrying out their duties. Mr Forbes said that whenever anything was done in the House towards assisting the police to carry out their duties it was resisted with the uttermost bitterness. It would be a valuable thing to have available in a time of emergency a partially trained body of men to assist the regular force. Mr Cobbe said the promotion of members of the regular force would not be affected by the establishment of the reserve force. Labour members continued to criticise the reserve force until the House adjourned for lunch.