AUCKLAND POLICE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13956, 15 April 1913, Page 3

AUCKLAND POLICE.

’THE NEW ASSOCIATION. (Per United Press Association.l AUCKLAND, April 14. When the matter of the new association was mentioned to Superintendent Mitchell, who is in command of the Auckland Police District, he said that the. action of the men concerned came as a complete surprise to him. He stated that the means were provided by. which the men who had grievances could bring them under the notice of the officers of the Department and have them ventilated. The superintendent could understand the desire on the part of the men to use outside means if they failed to. get redress for real grievances through the official channels provided. Personally, however, ho wan not aware of such grievances. The action of the men in forming an association Was a breach of the regulations. , A statement dealing with the reasons for forming a Police Association was handed to a Now Zealand Herald representative by an officer of the association yesterday. In opening, the statement deals with the remarks of Superintendent Mitchell to the effect that the men have ample means for ventilating theitf grievances, and then goes on to state that when the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Minister-for Justice, was in Auckland he' said that all men with grievances could see him at the Police Office. A number of constables presented' themselves at-the office, but were informed that; the-Minister had. not .much time, but. would tee ’them again. The men had not been -..called.-.upon to present themselves again, and’hence (the statement statos) thc present formation of the. association. ’Air instance of alleged bullying on the part’ of the sergeant is included in the statement, .and also a case of- alleged unfairmess. ■ ’- -- ■; Referring to what was considered unfair promotion, the following cases were given. -.A man with, six weeks! service was .admitted into the Commissioner’s office, being promoted over ’ the heads of men with many years! service. Another constable with seven weeks' service was appointed- to the position of mounted constable, although men of far longer service and proved ability had applied for the position. The .statement also refers to the question of wages, which were claimed to be very low. for the work ,to be performed and the hours worked. No overtime was paid, and the men only got one Sunday off in five. The question of having to put in extra time in Court after an arrest while on night duty is also dealt with at length. It is stated that there had been, instances of a constable having to spend fffic following day at Court. It is stated that the men fully recognised that many hardships'were inseparable from their work, but they contend that the pay is not commensurate with the work’ they have to perform. A policeman earning 6s a day had to pay .£3 per month for his mess, 10s a month for washing, buy his own floor polish, provide bed clothing, pay for the making up of his uniform (.£2 10s a year), and provide boots and pay for the upkeep—a heavy item. It is said tligt all other police forces-in the British Empire arc supplied with two suits of clothing free per year. The statement concludes.: “This accumulation of what we beiievc anyone will concede to bo undoubted grievances is what has instigated the Police Force of this town to take the steps they have in forming the Police Association, and our motto is ‘Stand Firm.’ ”