ESTABLISHMENT NOT FAVOURED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19941, 27 October 1934, Page 20

ESTABLISHMENT NOT FAVOURED

LABOUR CRITICISM

By feieurapn-Press Association

WELLINGTON, October 26.

The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. and went into Committee to consider the supplementary estimates.

In the Internal Affairs Department vote of £63,135, Mr M. J. Savage asked how the grant of £40,000 for the Duke of Gloucester’s visit was to be expended.

Mr Coates said lie could give only rough estimates:—Railway services £15,000; Native receptions £3.000; school children £3000; subsidy to local bodies £3,000; accommodation and transport £10,900; decorations and illuminations for special occasions £2,700; contingencies £1,500. Mr R. A. Wright asked if the police escort to the Duke would receive a small gratuity as was the case during the visit of the Prince of Wales.

Mr Coates said no provision had been made, but he was quite sure the Minister in charge of the Police would take the matter into consideration on the Police Department vote. Mr W. J. Jordan drew attention to the police equipment, especially in regard to transport. He asked that the police in that matter should be brought up to date. Other Departments had motor cars.

The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said in many country stations the police had either motor cars or motor cycles. Substantial allowances were made for them. It was necessary to have a very fast car in cities, and one had been procured for Auckland.

Mr W. E. Parry sought information regarding the police reserve. He said the handling of the recent affair in the Morrinsville district was open to criticism. If the police force needed to be augmented, it should be done in the regular way, not by the establishment of a reserve force. He contended that such a force would lead to dissatisfaction in the regular force, which, if asked its opinion, would turn the proposal down unanimously. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe. in reply, said the police did particularly good work. The idea of the reserve police was to have 150 in Auckland. 100 in Wellington, and 50 each in Christchurch and Dunedin. It was not intended that any should be of higher rank than an ordinary constable. The reserve force would fill the requirements of the present time. It would cost £4200 a year, whereas to increase the regular force to the same extent would cost £105,000.

Mr Parry again protested against an innovation which, he said, was foreign to the Dominions, and savoured of Europe. There was no need for such a force, as crime in New Zealand was becoming less.

Mr A. J. Stall worthy thought the Minister would be well advised to reconsider the proposal, and bring the regular force up to the full strength. There was a considerable weight of public opinion in the Dominion against a reserve force.

An Allegation

Mr W. J. Jordan said the proposal was a move on the part of a certain class of man, who desired to reach the officer class in the force the same as in London, and did not want to do street duty. Every constable should have the top open to him. He was afraid the new force would block the (Promotion for the regular constable. He considered the cost would be considerably more than was provided for. He contended that the Minister had not disclosed the full idea behind its establishment. He thought it was a subtle move, and the Minister was not acquainted with it. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe said there was nothing sinister or secret about the new force. It was not a Continental or Japanese idea. A similar force had been in existence in London for some years.

Mr Savage: That means that the increasing of the regular force could not be defended for one minute. It was the foundation of the spy system. He moved that the item should be reduced by £4200. Mr R. Semple said the establishment of the force was an insult to lawabiding people. Mr Forbes said he had the greatest admiration for the men who were doing an unpleasant duty throughout the country. People would be thankful to the men who came forward in times of need to protect lives and property. Every right-thinking person should support the force, as disorder could not be tolerated. If a reserve force were established, a number of steady, level-headed men would be available, and should an outbreak occur they would be trained to handle crowds in a way that would not be noticeable, and when they were needed they would go into uniform. He considered the reserve force would be welcomed by the regular force. Members had tried to prevent the force carrying out their duties. Mr Savage rose to a point of order and asked if the Prime Minister would be allowed to impute that Labour members prevented the police carrying out their duties.

Mr Forbes said whenever anything was done in the House towards assisting the police to carry out their duties it was resisted with the uttermost bitterness. It would l a valuable thing to have available in time of emergency a partially trained body of men to assist the regular force. Mr Cobbe said the promotion of members of the regular force would not be affected by the establishment of the reserve force. Mr Parry said there was lack of efficiency in the police force and he quoted a number of unsolved murder cases in recent years. He thought that there was great room for reform. More scientific knowledge and organisation was needed. Money should be expended in that direction instead of organising a force to deal with an imaginary crowd. The amendment was lost by 34 votes to 17.

Mr Forbes, replying to further criticism, said the course adopted was one that would appeal to prudent men. The vote was passed.