POLICE FORCE RECRUITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22269, 18 November 1935, Page 16

POLICE FORCE RECRUITS

MEN IN TRAINING GOOD TYPE OF CANDIDATE All candidates for the New Zealand police force undergo a four months' course at the training depot at Newtown, Wellington, and when they emerge they have a thorough grounding in general police work, a working knowledge of criminal law and an improved physique, states the Dominion. The depot was closed in 1930 as one of the economy measures then deemed necessary, but in August of this year it was again opened and the first 20 candidates are now nearing the com-J pletion of the course. For three months they have been studying police work and have been put through an intensive course of training until they are now in the best of physical condition. Their day begins at 6.30 a.m. Physical training occupies the time until ,breakfast, which is at eight o'clock, and after this there is inspection and roll-call. General instruction and classes in selected subjects occupy the remainder of the morning until noon, with a Bhort brenk at 10.30. Further claßscg are conducted from 1.30 to 3.30 p.m., and these are followed by drill and gymnasium training;. On three nights in the week classes are conducted in first-aid and life-saving from 7 to 9 p.m. The recruits have been selected from all parts of New Zealand, the youngest being 21 years of ago and the oldest 26. The minimum height is sft. 9in. and the normal chest measurement 38in. The men are drawn from all walks of life; there are carpenters, motor mechanics, farmers' and warehousemen. The standard of education is remarkably high. Sport is well represented, and among the trainees are footballers, cricketers, athletes, a champion diver, and a prominent amateur wrestler. Instruction is given on Statute Law, general police work, finger-print classification and the handling of firearms. Examinations are held regularly on police work, first-aid and life-saving, and a very high percentage of passes is obtained. Most of the police officers in New Zealand have passed through the depot and the present instructor, Sergeant G. Paine, was trained there in 1909. The depot was established more than 25 years ago, and the first man in charge was the late Commissioner J. O'Donovan,