POLICE PAY RAISED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17159, 1 October 1923, Page 7

POLICE PAY RAISED.

EFFICIENCY RECOGNISED. Per Press Association'. AUCKLAND, October 1. An increase in pay covering all branches of the Police Force will operate from to-da.y. The increase will range from Gd a day for constables in their first period of service to proportionate amounts for men with longer i service. | Senior sergeants, sergeants, sub-in-j s]>ectors and inspectors will also bene- 1 ' fit. Members of the detective branch will receive a special allowance. The Hon. C. J. Parr stated to-day j that since taking over the portfolio a I few' months ago he had closely investigated the matter of the pay of the Police Force. He found it. was not sufficient to keep some of the younger men in the force, and that New Zealand -was losing a number of them to Australia. Cabinet felt that there were special circumstances which merited recognition of work of the force by a small increase in pay. The Government was impressed with the need j for men of fair education and reliable

character for the force. An efficient police force was a strong safeguard of the liberty of the people and of the maintenance of order in the community. The Government wanted a contented force, and therefore for all these reasons it thought an increase in remuneration was justified. The detective branch, Mv Parr said, was especially deserving of consideration. and the allowance granted was intended as a. special recognition cf the satisfactory work accomplished. The Minister paid a tribute to the general efficiency of the police force and the manner in which hazardous

tasks were faced and carried out-