POLICE GRIEVANCES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13980, 13 May 1913, Page 3

POLICE GRIEVANCES.

ATTITUDE OF DUNEDIN MEN. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 12. Inquiries made among members of the local lorcc elicited the information that there is no understanding, so far as they are concerned, with the Auckland men in regard to the formation of a New Zealand Policemen'.- Association. It was stated that no communication had been received from Auckland conveying the idea of what the aims of the association wore, and consequently the Otago policemen were quite in thq dark as to its real objects. It was pointed out that the northern men had placed themselves in a false position in the preliminary movement by not waiting until all the members of the force in the Dominion had been written to as to the construction of the association; in that while there might be some grievances up north which were hardly felt in Otago, on the other hand the local men might not see eye to eye on other points which were being ventilated by the northerners. It was not denied that the Dunedin mci. did have sonic grievances; neither was it denied that there was a possibility of having those ultimately remedied. A few of the pinpricks, as they were termed by I one man, were illustrated, and it was remarked that while taken singly there might not be a great deal in them, when they were added together a state of affairs existed which, should not prevail. It was pointed out, however, that representations made in the proper quarter had already brought about the remedy of one or two existing grievances. So fur ,as any suggested understanding witli the Auckland men was concerned, the last word was that until the local men kdew exactly what the association stood for it could i hardly rely on support from men in otlu • centres, and then, of course, briefly stated by one man, “in the final issue we would have to consider the fact that wc are not using constitutional methods to obtain redeems.” MR. HERDMAN’S VIEWS. WILL NOT TOLEKATE ASSOCIATION. . AUCKLAND, May 12. A statement regarding the grievances ventilated by memliers of tile police forte and concerning the formation of an association of its members, will be made by the Minister of Justice on his return to Wellington. lie informed a reporter this evening that until he has perused the reports furnished to him by the Commissioner of Police upon the inquiries made in the four centres he cannot discuss the matter. Uetwcen fifty and sixty constables met the Minister at the city station this afternoon, but, according to a statement made by Mr Herd man afterwards the meeting oid not disclose any new development. Five or six men addressed the Minister,but their complaints were personal and not general. One man asked whether the association formed by the men would be allowed to continue, and Mr Herdraan made it clear that no organisation of - the kind would lie tolerated. Ho assured the men that ho would not allow any Labour leader to interfere with the discipline of the force or to sow discontent among its members. He stated, however, that the men would have full liberty to meet in the billiard-room of the station to discuss their affairs, and any .spokesman appointed to represent them would be received and consideration given to the representations made, by them, ' The Hon. lierdman informed a reporter that he lias agreed to receive the Wellington detective force on his return, and beyond this interview lias no further personal inquiries to- make concerning the condition of affairs in the police force.