RETRENCHMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18468, 1 February 1922, Page 5

RETRENCHMENT

POLICE AND THE C.S.A QUESTION OF SECESSION. (Psn United Pass* Association.) WELLINGTON, January 3L Some time ago the police force as a body decided by ballot to become members of the Civil Service Association, and was represented on the executive of that body by three delegates. It was considerd by a number of members of the fore© at the time, including responsible officers, that the decision was not in the best interests of the force. It was felt that the working of the police force was so distinct from other brandies of the civil service that they would not be understood outside the force itself; therefore its aims and aspirations could not ho adequately fostered by those unacquainted with its workings. Bearing in mind that the State police force in Australia have unions of their own it was decided to obtain an_ expression of opinion from the members of the New Zealand force on the matter. With that object in view a representative meeting was held on Monday night, when it was resolved to withdraw from the Civil Service Association and to approach the authorities in regard to forming a union of their own. It was mentioned at the meeting that the alleged suggestion put forward by one branch of the C.S.A. that direct action should be resorted to if cut wages took place, was repugnant to the members of the force. It was also stated that when retrenchment was mooted by the Government the published statements said that members of the police force wore to be placed in the same category os judges of the Supreme Court in so far as salaries and wages were concerned, and no reduction was to be made. It was alleged, however, although the police have not received official information concerning the allegation that the C.S.A. advocated that if a reduction in salaries was to be insisted on it should be uniform, and affected all departments. The police department was included in the Retrenchment Bill.

RAILWAY SERVANTS’ BALLOT. WELLINGTON, January 31. The various committees of the Thomdon branch of the A.S.R.S. to-night passed a resolution calling upon the > executive to take a ballot immediately with a view to deciding -yhat action to take should the proposed reduction be forced upon them.