AUXILIARY POLICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 16

AUXILIARY POLICE

STRONG LABOUR PROTEST “AN OUTRAGEOUS ACTION” STOLEN MACHINE GUN (From Ode Fakuamen tabs ItooßTEa.) WELLINGTON, August 31. The suggestion that the recent disappearance of a machine gun from New Lynn, near Auckland, was arranged to justify the establishment of the auxiliary police force was made by Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Parry based the suggestion on a letter he had received from ”a very important person.” Mr Parry said he had always been opposed to any restriction bn the liberties of the people. When certain legislation was before the House recently he had fought it tooth and nail on the ground that there was more in it than met tbe eye. He was satisfied now that the statements he had made then were justified in the light of subsequent events. The Minister of Finance (Mr J. G. Coates): Are you frightened? Mr Parry: No, we are not frightened. I am satisfied of this, that there is a move being made in this country because of fear on the part of the commissioner of police, who is pushing the Minister of Justice along with him, and who is unable to stand up and lake a reasonable view of the country in which we live. One of the best things New Zealand could do, added Mr Parry, would be to retire the commissioner of police and send him to some little island with a revolver in one hand and a club in the other and allow him to play with men made out of mud. It would suit the commissioner. “ There is absolutely no reason in the world for this auxiliary police force,” he said. “I want to say to the Ministers of the Crown that we are just as anxious .to have straight dealing aa they are, but we shall fight to the bitter end against turning our country into a military camp and marching our people to work with bayonets ami guns. We are not going to have that kind of law in New Zealand if the Labour Party can help it. “ What in the name of fortune has happened to little New. Zealand?" he continued. "The commissioner of police is absolutely inconsistent in his report to Parliament. He states that crime, is diminishing and the people are becoming better and better, and now we are to have aa auxiliary police force. Why? I wish to protest as strongly as I can against this outrageous action by the commissioner. Surely the time has arrived for the Minister to stand up on his own feet. If ever we had an exhibition of a department running the country we have it now.” Mr Parry said he was prepared to do his part to help the country, hut not for a single moment would he support a policy that was going to turn the Dominion into a military camp. “ We have been told that a machine gun has been stolen and that a note was left behind,” Mr Parry added. “ Well, I have received a letter from a very important person suggesting strongly that the. gun was removed by someone who was paid to do the job in order to create an excuse for the establishment of an auxiliary police force.” Mr F. Langstone: A frame-up, Mr Parry: la that the kind of gangster methods that are to be adopted in New Zealand? Such a thing is foreign to this country. If that is the best the Government can do for us, well, the sooner the people have a chance to speak on the matter the better for all of us. RESERVE POLICE FORCE MINISTER CONFIRMS REPORT. (Pss United Pbehs Association) WELLINGTON, August SI. The report from Auckland with regard to the formation of a reserve police force in New Zealand was confirmed by the Minister in charge of the Police Department (Mr J. G. Cobb) to-day. He said it had been resolved to try out the system on the lines which had proved satisfactory in London. He mentioned that the royal visit in a few months would probably render it necessary to augment the regular force, particularly in the principal cities, to deal with the crowds. In the bigger cities the number of. constables available had always been inadequate, and the country had practically to he denuded of police to supplement the cities in an emergency or on special occasions. The reserve force, Mr Cobbe said, would be a part-time force, but when on duty would receive the same pay as regular constables.