POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16023, 15 September 1915, Page 9

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

WOMEN POLICE.

ADOPTION BEING CONSIDERED.

Wellington, Tuesday. "Has the Government given any attention to the question 'of employing women as police officers or patrols," asked Mr. R. A. Wright in the House of Representatives to-night. The experiment, Mr. Wright said, had been tried in other parts of the world . with success.

The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister for Justice, said that the matter of employing women police had been considered by the Department, which was collecting information. As soon as he was satisfied that by employing women in the capacity suggested the efficiency of the police force would be increased, the necessary arrangements would be made.

DEVONPORT POLICE STATION.

In reply to a question asked this evening by Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), the Attorney-General, the Hon. A L. Herdman, stated that none of the sites suggested for the purposes of a new police station at Devonport had been considered suitable. The prices asked had been too high. The matter had not been lost sight of, and would be kept in view, but, owing to the present financial conditions, it was possible that the purchase of a site would be held over for some time.

ALLEGED WRONGFUL ARREST. William Johnston, of 43. Nelson Street, Auckland, is petitioning Parliament for a grant of £70 as compensation for alleged wrongful arrest in March last on charges of vagrancy and using obscene language. Petitioner says he -was twice arrested, but was not convicted of either charge.

IMPORTATIONS OF COAL. A return showing the amount of coal imported into New Zealand during the year 1914. and during the eight months of 1915. was laid on the table of the House to-day. During 1914. 518,070 ten*, valued at £558,564. were imported, and the weight during 1915, up to August 31 last, was 242,880 tons, valued at £258