SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21162, 20 April 1932, Page 10

SPECIAL CONSTABLES.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. SERVICE FOR THE STATE. PUBLIC THANKS DESERVED. [BX TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The propriety of utilising special constables for quelling tho recent disturbances in Auckland was questioned by Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour— Auckland Central), when speaking on the Public Safety Conservation Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. That and similar comments later drew a retort from Mr. W. J. Poison (Independent—Stratford), who commended those who had rallied to tho causo of law and order. "I want to s;ay quite sincerely that this outbreak is not a strike," said Mr. Parry, "and tho use of batons wielded by the crude and incapable organised body called special constables is not going to deal with tho situation. It is not a question of batoning men back to their jobs, but of batoning them back to their homes, where there are empty cupboards and little or no clothes for the winter." Mr. Parry had remarked earlier in his speech that during a week-end visit to Auckland he had found responsible citizens ready to excuse, but not to approve, of the disturbance, because of their sympathy with the unemployed, and their recognition of the fact that the Government's policy in tho past was responsible for what had occurred. In protesting against the nature of Some of the remarks made by Labour speakers, Mr. Poison said it had been stated that special constables were the cause of some of the trouble. Ho pointed out that the necessity for utilising the special constables aros3 because of tho disturbances. It was not an unworthy thing to come to the service of the State at such a time, and the special constables were deserving of the thanks of the community.

POLICE MAINTAIN WATCH. CITY AND SUBURBS GUARDED. ARRESTS BY DETECTIVES. Although there were no signs of lawlessness in Auckland last evening, the police, special constabulary and other defence forces did not relax their vigilance. A close watch was kept on the city and suburbs, particularly during the evening, when patrol cars traversed suburban streets and uniformed and plainclothes officers were on duty in large numbers. As has been the case during the past few days, a large force of police, special constables, City Council traffic officers and other units was held in reserve. "We have the situation firmly in hand at present and all eventualities have been provided for," said Superintendent S Till last evening. "Our organisation is in full working order and we are ready for any situation that occurs." A number of recruits who handed their names in to the Police Department some time ago to fill positions in the fore* as they occurred have been enrolled as temporary constables. They are not specials, but are equipped with uniforms and are ready to carry out normal police duties. The men, who total 30 and are of splendid physique, include a number of horsemen who have been drafted to serve as mounted constables. The total number of mounted constables in Auckland has been increased considerably sinca the first rioting broke out, and it is considered that in this respect the force is adequately staffed. Throughout yesterday detectives were busy in various parts of the city making arrests. In the afternoon a party visited a house in Newton Road, where they arrested a man on a charge of using indecent language to a member of a naval party on duty in Karangahape Road on Friday evening. A short time later another man was arrested in Vincent Street on a charge of vagrancy. A third man was taken into custody in the evening by detectives who went to a house in Manning Street, Newton, the charge against him being also one of vagrancy. Two otheT arrests made yesterday were of a man alleged to have robbed a jeweller's shop in Queen Street during the riot on TViursdftv evening and a man who is alleged to have stolen ladies' shoes and a pipe from another shop. All the suspects will be brought before the Police Court this morning.