POLICE PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25129, 16 February 1945, Page 6

POLICE PAY

AUCKLAND CONDITIONS ROYAL COMMISSION SOUGHT Strong dissatisfaction with pay. housing and other conditions in the Police Force was expressed at a special general meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Police Association last night. The meeting lasted for three hours and therp was an attendance ot over 100 constables, detectives and non-commissioned officers. The final resolution passed, urging that, in view of the shortage of staff, excessive overtime, high rents and poor pay, a Royal Commission should be set up immediately to investigate police pay and conditions and that its recommendations be mandatory. At the beginning of the meeting it was announced that advice had been received from Wellington that the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of Police were considering the question of pay and that appropriate discussions were taking place, it was stated that no advice had been received as to whether the Police Force was affected by the Prime Minister's announcement that the pay of all public servants was to be increased.

Housing Accommodation The lack of housing accommodation \ in Auckland was keenly discussed and it was decided to advise the management committee of the association in Wellington that the meeting considered a, Member of the force should not be transferred to Auckland until the slepartment was satisfied that decent accommodation was available for the man and his wife and family at a reasonable rent. It was also decided to ask that men at present in Auckland without accommodation be supplied through the Housing Department immediately. Figures produced showed that a constable's net wage at present was £282 15s a year, inclusive of house allowance. a sergeant's £359 and a seniorsergeant's £375. The net weekly increases since 1919 _ were 14s 6d, 17s and 9s 6d respectively. The schoolteachers, the Public Service Association and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had independently prepared figures showing that the basic wage needed for a man with a wife and two children to live properly was over £8 a week. One speaker suggested that the Government intended to give the police an increase in pay of only lis 6d a week.

Cost o! Living It was decided that the cost-of-living figures prepared by the three organshould be sent to the management committee for their guidance in the forthcoming discissions with the Government on pay. A further motion stated that the meeting considered the lowest scale of gross pay should be £S lis lOd a week, excluding allowances. The state of the barracks at the central station was described by some speakers as disgraceful. The Auckland branch of the association was asked to do everything in its power to have a properly equipped lounge provided. Representations are to be made to the department for single men to have the option of living out of barracks. When the question of leave was dealt with, it was stated that last year 29 men had entered the force and 102 had left. A total of -551 had joined since 19:38, and 460 had gone out. There was one member of the force for every 1123 members of the public at present, compared with one for every 737 in IS7B. Wartime conditions had necessitated some men being diverted to new branches of work, and that reduced the number for ordinary duties. The Prime Minister and Mr Webb had stated that any men who were not satisfied could leave the force. Many had done so, and that meant that those remaining had to work longer hours. Some men had 84 days' accumulated leave due to them, hut they could not take it until extra staff was obtained. The pay, however, had been a deterrent to recruits.

RED CROSS POST JOINT COUNCIL'S APPROVAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The joint council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society approved by 15 votes to 9 at a meeting today the appointment of Major C. Meachen as Rod Cross commissioner in the .Middle East. There was a full muster of the council and discussion on the subject occupied about an hour and a half A unanimous decision was reached that the appointment of a commissioner in the Middle East was a necessity. It was considered that as the statement made by the National Patriotic Fund Board was so full as it met with the approval . of the joint council nothing further need he said hv the council.

AUCKLAND OPPOSITION STATEMENTS BY DELEGATES Statements that they had voted neninst confirming Mr C. Meachen in the appointment of sick and wounded commissioner in the Middle East were made yesterday by two Auckland delegates to the meeting of the National Patriotic Fund Board in Wellington on Wednesday. They were the Mayor o f Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum, and the Mayor of One Tree Hill, Mr T. J. Goldstine.

Mr Allum said he accepted th# opinion of the Joint Council of tha Order of St. John and the .New Zealand Red Cross Society as to the necessity for a commissioner. He thought, however, that a mistake had been made regarding the actual appointment. After five years of war it should have been possible to find a competent man with overseas war service to fill the position. "I do not know Mr Meachen personally, but all T have heard is entirely in his favour," Mr Allum added. "I am actuated by the policy of giving preference to returned servicemen. Tt has been my duty and privilege to farewell large numbers of servicemen, and when I said T would do my best for their interests T meant it." Mr Goldstine said his views coincided with those of Mr Allum and accordingly he had voted against confirming the 'appointment.

AIRMEN RETURN HOME (PA.)- WELLINGTON, Thursday A small draft of Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel has returned to New Zealand from the Middle East., Tndia nnd the United Kingdom. Auckland members of the party are FlyingOfficer R. L. Sommerville, from the Middle East, and Flight-Sorgennt 0. J. Ross, from the United Kingdom.

PERSONAL ITEMS Mr I. J. Goldstine returned from Wellington yesterday. "Mr D Rider has been appointed assistant secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Mr N. R, Chapman, secretary to the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, left for Wellington by air yesterday. Mr W. B. McKenzie is gazetted a member oft the Earthquake and War Damage Commission in succession to Mr G E. Brangwin, who has resigned. Air-Commodore S. Wallingford is gazetted Air Force Member for Supply and a member of'tha Air Board in succession to Air-Commodore F. E. T. Hewlett.

Wing-Commander J Garfield Stewart. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and a well-known Auckland physician, has been mentioned in despatches while serving with the H.A.F in India.

Mr John Barr, chief librarian ot the Auckland city libraries, has been elected president of " the New Zealand Library Association. Miss E. Melville, of Auckland, has been elected a vice-president.