POINT DUTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24855, 3 March 1942, Page 4

POINT DUTY

EXCHANGE INTERSECTION RETENTION OF POLICE OFFICER The removal of the traffic policeman from point duty at the Stock Exchange caused a mild stir at the meeting of the City Council last night, even Cr J W. Munro. chairman of the committee which had decided to withdraw the subsidy of £l5O to the Police Department for the retention of the officer, agreeing that the committee would be “ very pleased if we can save our old friend Oswald.” The council decided to continue the annual subsidy of £l5O to the department for the retention of a traffic officer’s services.

Cr Munro told the council that the General Committee had decided to withdraw the subsidy following a report by the chief traffic inspector that, owing to the petrol restrictions and the falling off in traffic, he could not find enough work for his own staff. In those circumstances, the committee felt that it could not continue to subsidise the Police Department for the services of a police officer. Mr J. Wilson, who said he thought the step was false economy, moved that the subsidy be continued. Cr W. -B.'Taverner considered that the services rendered by the Police Department for £l5O were well worth the money. The step had been taken at a time when there were indications that petrol supplies were to be given to the public. The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who pointed out that several police officers did point duty at the Stock Exchange, paid a tribute to Constable Oswald as an officer, and said that the Stock Exchange was a complicated intersection. He thought they still required a man there. . After further discussion, during which Cr M C. Henderson said he thought the council was carrying a “sympathy vote” for Constable Oswald. Cr Wilson’s motion was carried.