MEMBERS OF POLICE SEEK COURT AID TO STOP A PROMOTION

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 5

MEMBERS OF POLICE SEEK COURT AID TO STOP A PROMOTION

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). —A Supreme Court injunction is being sought to prevent the Commissioner of Police from retaining in a position to which he has been advanced, a certain member of the police force. Proceedings have started by other members of the force who have been superseded. Notice of their intention to apply for an injunction was served this afternoon.

A member of the force, Senior-De-tective William Ramond Fell, Auckland, has been accelerated in seniority by four years, though not actually promoted, and the purpose of the proceedings is to prevent the Commissioner acting any further in the matter and to have the person concerned replaced in the order of seniority he formerly occupied. About 54 members of the force are directly affected and many of them indirectly. It is understood that the applicants for the injunction are about 27 individual members of the force who are affected by the Commissioner’s action. It alsp is understood that the applicants will be represented in Court by Mr. J. Meltzer, and that the Solicitor general, Mr. H. E. Evans, K.C., will appear in reply. Mr. Meltzer is also secretary to the New Zealand Police Association, which met today to consider proceedings and decided to adopt a watching' policy. Commissioner Cummings said tonight that proceedings were served on the department this afternoon. The notice passed through his hands and was sent on to the Solicitor General. The matter is set down for hearing tomorrow morning, but will be adjourned.