SOME ANOMALIES REMOVED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 1

SOME ANOMALIES REMOVED

EOLICE. ALLOWANCES HOUSING AND TRAVELLING' PAYMENTS. Substantial increases in the scale of travelling and houso allowances have been made by the Government as part of tho scheme of reform of the Police Department now being carried- out by the Hon. Dr Findlay (Minister of Justice). The Minister explained the new conditions to a ''New Zealand Times" representative. "Hitherto," he stated, "married sergeants who a.re not provided with quarters, ihavc received house allowance of 10s 6d a week, and married constables, who are not provided with quarters, have received 7s a week. The rates, in future, will .be sergeants 14s a week, constables 10s- 6d a week, that is to say an increase in each case of 3s 6d a week. The increase, however, will „be granted only in the four centres. i. have Jiad a return prepa-red showing the rents- paid by all married constables and sergeants, and a comparison of the rents actually paid elto'ws that the rents are higher in the four cities than l in the outside distracts, or, to put it in another way, that, generally speaking, cheaper and- better living accommodation can be found in the out-districts than in the four centres. TUie increases given will fairly equalise the real wage. TBAYELLING ALLOWANCES EQUALISED.

As regards travelling allowances, the principal complaints that hare reached me, aie that sergeants and constables' received only 6s a day, *nhile detectives received 8s a day, also that 63 was not sufficient at tho present day to enahle a man to travel without loss. Both these complaints were fairly well founded. Under the new isoaJe. the rates will 'be as follow: Inspectors and Bub-inspectors 12s 6d (no alteration). ' Station sergeants and sergeants 10s ■ (previously 6s). Chief lCte (previously Bs)t ' J _ . ■ Detectives and acting-detectives 9s (previously 8s). Constables 8s (previously 6s). "I have not been able to make other than an approximate , estimate, of the cost of these alterations," continued tjie Minister, '."bnt.T. have every rea-4ib»i4»,-believe' thaOieiVcost 'will hecounterbalanced by econo-mies-in other directions, which have either been carried out, or are in contemplation. The changes will'. take effect from April Ist next, and I believe that they will give great satisfaction to the force as a whole."