PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17061, 20 September 1929, Page 8

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

N.Z.’S POLICE FORCE DISCUSSION ON ESTIMATES KLY-G LUX 1 AIA N U FACTU HU (Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. When the House went into Committee uf Supply on the estimates to-day, the Police Department vote, £461,688, was taken first. Mr. F. Waite referred to the provision of £IOO for rewards and expenses for Hit) suppression of siy-grog selling, and the introduction of liquor into prohibited districts, lie expressed the view that this task should he undertaken by (he police in a sense of decency and justice, and not for reward, and lie also urged that more energy should be devoted lo the suppression of illegal distilleries. Air. Waite claimed that some of the larger distilleries had not so far been discovered, and that the work was still going on in Southland. Sir Joseph Ward objected to the reference to Southland, which, be said, was unjustified. There bad been a tremendous cleaning up, and lie was satisfied' that the residents had no desire to resort, to the purchase of illegal liquor at a high price when they could got the genuine article under the law by importing it. Air. J. A. Nash emphasised the need for providing faster means of transport for the pursuit of criminals. Mr. 11. Holland said lie hoped that something would be done to strengthen the police force of the Dominion, which, lie considered, was quite inadequate. It bad not kept pace with the increase in population. Air. Holland also stated that the publication of the plans of the police to cope with Jawbreaking often defeated the object of those plans in that it put criminals on their guard. “A ROTTEN JOB.” The Hon. T. Al. Wilford, replying, said the task of the suppression of siygrog selling was well tackled, and he w;ts satisfied that it had been practically stamped out in Southland. lie pointed out that the detection of siy-grog stills was “a rotten and extremely difficult job,” and bo did not think it out oi' place to grant rewards. ' The Minister said lie realised that Hie police force was not sufficiently strong numerically. He had authority lo state that it was intended to add 30 more men to the police force, and the House would he asked to pass a vote in the supplementary estimates to meet this expense. In regard to the suppression of crime, Mr. Wilford pointed'out that one (iillicuUy was the necessity to cope with “master men.” An international safeblower bad been convicted recently. Prior to that there had been 40 cases of safe-blowing. He did not. claim that this man had been responsible for them, blit there bail been no cases since. Air. TL K. S. Kyle: What about the fire hug? Mr. Wilford : In my opinion there is no lire bug at all. It was simply invented by the newspaper press. Air. Wilford expressed the opinion that the fires which had been attributed to incendiarism had really been accidental. Mr. W. ,T. Poison bad complained of Hie inability to cope with sheep-stealing, and Mr. Wilford said lie believed this would cvontuallv bo met in the same wav as the safe-blowing bad been done -—by the detection of the “master men.” The need for faster transport for police was realised, and the position would be met as far as possible. WOMEN POLICE. Members suggested the appointment of women police, whereupon Mr. \Yilford stated that there was no power under the law for this. It could only he done bv an amendment to the Act. Mr. J. McCombs: Will you introduce such legislation? Mr. Wilford. emphatically: I will not. (Laughter.) Mr. K. J. Howard said lie could not agree with the Minister that the Christchurch fires were accidental, and be said that in bis opinion they were the acts of a well-defined type of cripiinal lunatic. The theory of accidental origin was not borne out by the fact that furniture and oilier articles had been stacked and apparently set on fire, lie claimed that tlie police 'should lie trained in psychology. Ifad they had such training they would have been able to put their fingers in a very few moments on where tiro trouble bad originated.