THE POLICEMAN'S LOT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 42, 19 February 1932, Page 12

THE POLICEMAN'S LOT

“MESSAGE BOY FOR STATE” DUTIES FOREIGN TO TRAINING. BIAS FOR CLERICAL WORK. Although the New Zealand policeman is not heard to complain about an unhappy lot,” he might, with same justice, deprecate the thousand and one duties and inquiries he has to undertake outside his regular work in the detection and prevention of crime states the Now Zealand Herald. There are many Government departments in b<ew Zealand referring to tho police force certain matters arising from their responsibilities. The Government is now cutting ?n to those little perquisit. which help to swell the slender salary of the country constable. The duty of collecting agricultural statistics has for a long time rested with the force and it is one of tho major items in rural station work. Every year the country constable goes round his district and records details of the stock carried by farmers In future he will be paid only 3d a schedule and will have no allowances tor meals and travelling expense?. It is estimated that in one district south of Auckland his payment for collection will drop from about £5O to £5. Officers of the police department estimate that the great increase in motorvehicle traffic has more than doubled police work. However, tho duties of the force in this direction really cover breaches of laws and regulations. But alongside this growth i- the increase in what aro regarded as extraneous inquiries. In the large station a group of men is required to deal with these matters. They could be well spared for other and more important work at a time when the force, according to the commissioner, is below strength. It is rather irksome to the constable to be engaged as a guardian of law and order and then to find that, at times, he is little better than an inquiry agent. Broadly speaking, he is sworn in, handed a baton and handcuffs, ajd sent out to protect society from the criminal. At least, tTiat is what the general public believes. It is true to a certain extent, but he also becomes a message bov for other Government departments. This applies more particularly to a constable stationed in a country district. In the cities there is a kind of special inquiry staff. Consider the duties of the country constable. Ho is clerk of the Court and bailiff, an inspector of factories and machinery, perhaps a kauri gum ranger, defence, labour, post and telegraph and other departments. He is required to discover why a military trainee has not returned" his uniform, and, perhaps, to prosecute for the Defence Department. Inquiries are necessary regardin;; breaches of the Railways Department regulations and for the owners of lost property. He has to check tresspassers on State forests and kauri gum “bleeders.” Each year he must make inquiries regarding old-age and other pensions, and he is expected to trac missing friends, when to be missing is not a crime. The State Advances Department, requires him to make inquiries, and the Public, Trust Office wishes missing legatees to be traced. Lately, he has had to handle inquiries regarding the payment oE the unemployment levy and to search for defaulting relief workers. All these duties are carried out en- ‘ tirely without, remuneration.