MINISTER’S REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 8

MINISTER’S REPLY

“THE FOULEST LIBEL ” The Hon. Mr Herdman, in reply, said that if anything were needed to convince the leader ol the Opposition that tho police should not have an association of their own, it was tho speech of tho member for Grey. bancj a police fore© controlled by the member for Grey! Mr Webb: “They would not have don© what they did at Waihi, controlled by you.” 3fr Herdman said that there would have been two unfortunate tragedies instead of one; there would undoubtedly have been bloodshed. Mr Payne; “Foulest libel you ever uttered in your life!” Cries of “Order! Order!’ Mr Herdman said that no Ministry would tolerate a police association controlled or organised by anybody connected with politics. The man Smythe had been mentioned. Smytho seemed to bo a protege of tho member for Gl Mr Payne: “You couldn’t be fair if you t^ie<L ,, Mr Herdman said that Smytho had been dismissed, “and, in my humble judgment, the force was well rid of him." Smythe’s petition had been unanimously refused by a committee which (had no recommendation. In other words, they “turned down” Constable Smythe. Its decision was that ho had no right to remain in the force. He referred to the fact that the administration was blamed on account of the dismissal of a man at Christchurch who also petitioned Parliament, but not a member would defend that man’s conduct. IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS. Leading articles had been written in connection with the committal of a man to Avondale, and the Commissioner had been abased. But Mr Vigor Brown, who represented the Opposition on tho committee, had voted with the majority that decided that the petition should not be granted. Ho believed this bill would vastly improve the conditions of the police force. For many years past there had been no alteration in the law, and ho had the authority of competent and experienced officers that this bill was a great advance in improving the conditions of the police officers. Despite what had been said about appeals, he believed that th© police of this country were more secure, so far as obtaining justice was concerned, than ever before. They had opportunities of ventilating grievances that they never had before. Reference was made to the fact that the decision of the Board of Appeal could be vetoed by the Minister, but that was the case in the Railway Department at the present time. The idea of a Board of Appeal was to see that no possible injustice was done, and that a man should be given an opportunity of calling his witnesses. He considered that the tribunal proposed would ensure justice being administered. Mr Voitch: “Appointed by the Minister 1” Mr Herdman said he would trust the Minister of Justice to bo fair. Mr Payne: “Depends who he is!” TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE, There was provision in tho regulations, said Mr , Herdman, for a man dissatisfied with his promotion to appeal and be heard. It was exceedingly difficult to deal with the jealousy and differences of opinion between the uniformed and plain-clothes departments in the force. There was a clause, however, which said that th© Minister could appoint a number of officers to investigate and report to the Minister on pay, promotion and general conditions. No one recognised more than he did the valuable work of the police in the past. They could bo trusted to perform their duty with tact and thoroughness, and the country had a force of which it could be proud. It was impossible to do everything that was desirable in six months, but he had given a great deal of attention to conditions in the force. The idea of a six-day week for tho police in New Zealand was impracticable. The hours and pay were different from those ruling in England. He considered that the police were in a better position to-day than ever before. The Commissioner had, said that the conditions had been greatly improved during the last fifteen months.' Mr Webb: “Do the police themselves say that?” Mr Herdman quoted the Commissioner’s report showing how new regni.nc’ons had been brought into force, giving the police more holidays and time off Jhan formerly. Mr Payne called for a division on tho motion for tho third reading, which was carried by 44 notes to 20. The Bill was therefore read a third time and passed.