THE POLICE FORCE.

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1920, Page 3

THE POLICE FORCE.

WANT BETTER PAY,

REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERN-

AfENT

Iμ common with other trades and professions, the members of the Now Zealand Police Force are applying for increases in pay, and as a result of meetings held in the police districts of Auckland, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin, copies of resolutions passed have, it is said, been forwarded to the Minister-in Charge of Police (the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey),. and Ihe Commissioner of Police (Mr J. O'Donovan).

So far, Wellington members, although in receipt of correspondence from the other three centres, have wA demanded an increase in pay. The Christ church members of the foreo ask tor an all-round increase of 4s per day, 10 bring the wages of the lower-paid iiien up to the pre-war standard of value. The members of the Auckland :>»d Dwacdin forces, however, consider that the ever soaring cost of living necessitates an increase of not less than <>s per day, and also demand that the '' man in blue is entitled to one full day's holiday a week. They point out that, in this respect, they are fully entitled, ia common with the members of the English force, who were granted cue day's rest in seven by Act of Parliament last year. They also point out ihat the existing rates of pay are not ;>ilractmg the best type of recruit.

WHAT THE DEMANDS WOULD -

MEAN.

On this point a "Times" representative has referred to the Parliamentary Estimates for last year, where it was stated that the pay and allowances of a recruit constable was at the rate of ]2s per day, rent allowance £39, and boot allowance £5, which amounted to £263 per annum or £5 Is per week. For the same recruit the additional increases of 6s per day demanded would, it was stated, mean a salary of £377 10s per year, or approximately £1 Os 8d per rlav.

Takiug the request for a six workingday week into consideration, it was explained that the higher-grade constable with long service is rated at 14s 6d per day, his salary and allowances totalling £305 12s 6d a year, at the rate of £5 18s ;>d per week. The iacreament asked for would bring these respective amounts up to £1 7s OJd per day, £8 2s ?.d per week, and £423 2s 6d per anaum.

Before the war, constables received 9s per day on entering the force, but on April 1, 1919, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, M.P., the Minister-in-Charge of Police, granted an increase of 3s per day. The men point out that the 3s rise is by uo means sufficient to meet the iaereascd cost of living. DEMANDS BEING CONSIDERED. A New Zealand Times'' reporter approached the Commissioner of Police with regard to the demaads made by the men. Mr O 'Donovan, beyond stating that copies of the resolutions had beben received, declined to offer any comment on tho subject, remarking that such demands would necessitate a considerable amount of work, and were at the preseat time being considered by the department.

MR MASSEY "KNOWS NOTHING."

Regarding the requests from three districts demanding the increases, which are said to have forwarded copies of resolutions to the Prime Minister. Mr Massey stated to a "Times" reporter that ho "knew nothing" of the demands, and had not received the re-

solutions.