BAN ON OUTSIDE WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25384, 16 November 1943, Page 6

BAN ON OUTSIDE WORK

COMMISSIONER’S VIEWPOINT (Special) AUCKLAND, Nov. 15. The attitude of the Commissioner of Police, Mr D. J. Cummings, towards members of the force who have been working in sheds and stores during their spare time is expressed in his answers to Auckland policemen who applied for permission to engage m *uch work. The replies were in two categories, one for constables and another for detectives. To constables, the commissioner said he regretted that he could not grant germission. He Jiad instances before im of men coming off duty at 9 p.m. and 10.30 p.m., working for the United States Joint Purchasing Board, until 6 and 7 a.m., and then reporting for duty at 9 a.m. Men on night duty worked in stores during the day, and men on day duty worked during the night, and in consequence their efficiency was greatly impaired. The department expected its members to give their best service to the State, said Mr Cummings. It was obvious that, if the practice of engaging in outside work were permitted to continue, the public interest would suffer through the inability of policemen to continue that degree of efficiency expected and hitherto prevailing in their proper function of preventing and detecting crime. Detectives should devote their time to the service of the State which paid them, said the commissioner. There was a disproportionate amount of undetected crime in Auckland, and detectives should concentrate on apprehending safe-blowers and other criminals. Outside work did not make for efficiency. Men who applied for permission to accept casual work during their annual leave were told that leave was a period of relaxation. Men who worked during leave would come back tired, instead of refreshed.