N.Z. WOMEN POLICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 3 May 1938, Page 5

N.Z. WOMEN POLICE

APPOINTMENT SOON HELP TO MALE FORCE MINISTER’S DECISION TRAINING OF DOMESTICS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister in Charge of the Police Department, the Hon. P. Fraser, informed a deputation from the women’s branch of the Wellington Labour Party yesterday that waited on the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and himself that the Government had decided to establish a system of* women police in the Dominion.

Mr. Savage indicated to the same deputation that some action would be taken to meet the present difficulties in respect to the training and status of domestic servants.

Referring to domestics, Mr. Savage said they had to' be trained. There was something in domestic training that should place it ahead of some other occupations. They also had to make the conditions of labour right and similar to those in other occupations. He hoped there would be legislation soon to deal with the whole situation. If further facilities were needed for the training of domestics, they would have to get them. He would see that conditions in the home were made as attractive as in other occupations, and he assured the deputation that its words would not fall on deaf ears.

Mr. Fraser, replying, said that he appreciated the importance of the questions that had been raised. Since he had been Minister of Education and Health, he had had one or two deputations on the matter of women police. He instanced the large amount of research work that had been clone by the department in connection with women police, and said they had had to loox into the powers of police matrons. Though the regulations provided for other duties, the main work of the matrons was to look after unfortunate women prisoners in custody. It seemed to him, after giving the matter careful consideration, that the time had arrived when steps should be taken to recognise women police as part of the police system in the Dominion. Great Social Service Speaking about the police force generally, Mr.. Fraser said it had developed into a great social service. "In the country districts,. apart from the prevention of delinquency and crime, there'were a thousand and one other services that the police must give, and are giving to the Dominion,” he said. In this connection, he would like to express his appreciation of the work of the police in Hawke’s Bay during the recent flood. He also paid tribute to the aero clubs and the Royal New Zealand Air Force which brought food to the isolated people.

Mr. Fraser said that when applications were called for women police, the women who applied would have to come up to the proper standard of health and education, and would have to go through a good course of training.

“I am forced by the facts to the conclusion I long ago reached in my own mind, that women police can be a great help to the police force and to society in this country,” Mr. Fraser said. ‘T would like to say- that, like most other jobs, the successful discharge of these responsibilities depends on the women chosen. The Government can create the jobs, and as a result of my discussion with Mr. Savage some time ago, I am pleased to announce women police will be appointed as soon as possible."