SOUL-GRINDING POVERTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 4

SOUL-GRINDING POVERTY

No More In Dominion Mr Fraser’s Promise Better Living Standards Planned (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. Post-war plans which were aimed at maintaining and improving the standard of living of the people of New Zealand, regardless of the conditions obtaining in the outside world, were outlined by the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser addressing the delegates to the tenth annual conference of the New Zealand Police Association. Mr. Fraser and the Commissioner of Police, Mr J. Cummings, who also addressed the conference, outlined the steps that were to be taken to build up the present depleted Police Force into a most modern and efficient service which would have the assistance of the latest scientific aids for the detection of crime. The Prime Minister said that the Government was determined to retain the progress that had been made in the last 10 years as far as it was humanly possible to do so, and that whatever conditions might arise in the outside world the Government would never go back to the conditions that existed before it came into office. "We are in the process of introducing legislation that will provide full employment and a minimum family income for all,” he said. “This will apply as well to invalids, and there will be no more soul-grinding poverty in this country. This can be maintained only if work is available and provided. The secret of success will be the production of increased wealth.” The present situation of the world was difficult, said Mr Fraser. Never was there need for members of the British Commonwealth to stand together more closely and more determinedly i than at present. Our destiny lay closer with the Mother Country than with any other nation. Troublous Times Ahead In the troublous times ahead, said Mr Fraser, the Police Force might have a strain put on it and the Government would appreciate that fact. He had every confidence in the New Zealand Police Force even though it was depleted in numbers, and he hoped that the present difficulties would be overcome. The Government was hoping soon to reopen the training centres for recruits, because the sooner the Force was strengthened the better for all

concerned. They were anxious to get more recruits who were healthy, physically fit, mentally alert and of good character. If this were possible, the burden on the reduced Force would be more equitably spread. A number of improvements which were contemplated in the conditions of members of the Police Force were, referred to by the Prime Minister who made special reference to the housing problem. He also paid a tribute to the new commissioner, and said his record as a detective would bear comparison with that of police chiefs in any other part of the world. Mr Fraser also referred to the co-operation between the Government, the Department and the Police Association, and expressed a hope that it Would continue for many years. The commissioner emphasised the necessity for maintaining discipline and increasing the efficiency of the Police Force. He referred to the stens that had been taken for the purpose of scientific equipment for the detection of crime and which would bring the New Zealand Force into line with the police forces in other parts of the world. There was a possibility of an increase in crime in the post-war period, and he was anxious to build up a Force which would be competent to meet whatever lay ahead.

Mr Cummings made special reference to the proposed introduction of the teletype system and two-way radio in the service.