H.—-16

10

I append a list showing some of the, various extraneous appointments held by members of the Police Force entailing duties, and under direct control, of other Departments : — Registration Officers (Registration of Aliens Act).. . . . . . . 327 Sub-enumerators for collecting agricultural statistics . . . . . . 290 Clerks of Court . . . . ■.. .. . . . . 125 Bailiffs .. .. ...' .. .. .. 133 Inspectors of Factories . . .. . . . . .. 164 Probation Officers .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 161 Licensing Officers under Arms Act .. .. .. .. .. 41 Inspectors of Clubs .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 34 Inspectors of Weights and Measures . . . . . . . . . . 25 Registrars of Pensions .. .. . . .. . . . . 25 Police Gaolers . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 22 Inspectors of Fisheries . . f , .. .. .. - .. .. 30 Kauri-gum Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Receivers of Gold Revenue and Mining Registrars .. .. .. 16 Clerks of Licensing Committees . . . . . . . . . . 10 Registrars of Births, &c. . . .. . . .. . . . . 7 Agents for Public Trustee .. .. .. .. .. .. 3' Customs Officers . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3 Crown Lands Rangers .. .. .. .. .. . . 2 Registrar of Electors . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 Members of Force employed on clerical duties . . . . . . . . 28 Members of Force employed as Court orderlies .. .. . . . . 5 In such conditions, with a Force depleted duririg the last three years far below its normal number, which in full strength was barely sufficient for the needs, it is no wonder that the question is often heard " Where are the police ? " Every Department in the Public Service seems to consider it has the right to first call for the assistance of the police to carry out their business. Public bodies and Hospital Boards consider they have, a right to demand the assistance of indefinite numbers of police. To illustrate the demands made insistently and urgently upon the police, a. hospital surgeon in a town where only six police are stationed requisitions for three of them to take charge of a refractory or suicidal patient. He insists it is the duty of the police, to look after such patients. Under pressure of necessity, established by precedent only, the police, furnish the necessa.ry guard, to the absolute neglect of all other police, requirements. The extraordinary demands made for " trained detectives " and for " policemen in plain clothes " indicate that even public men and public officers seem to lie under the impression that whole squads of detectives and plain-clothes men are kept in reserve awaiting their call, like fire-brigade men. The multiple control of the Force in this manner is causing indiscipline, and neglect of the legitimate requirements of the public in respect of purely police, protection and attention. I purposely avoid pointing out in what respect this condition of things may be, disastrous. I must insist that all other Departments must cease resorting to the police for assistance to carry on extraneous duties which are properly work for their own officers, if the police must continue to be the " handy men " of the whole Government services and others, a material increase in the numbers of the police must be made, the cost of which must be provided by the Departments or bodies requiring them. Final. I desire to point out that no other Police Force in Australasia offers equal attractions to young men of good character, education, and physique. In the Dominion itself very few occupations offer such advantages to respectable young men of the, skilled, and artisan classes. Every position in the Force in open on equal conditions to all ; every branch of it is controlled by men intimately acquainted with all the circumstances in which their subordinates work. The, sympathy arising from knowledge of their conditions softens the relations between officers and men. No discrimination in respect of nationality or creed is made in the selection of candidates ; the conditions of acceptance rest entirely in their possession of the necessary specified qualifications, and this condition is maintained during the whole period of service. Taking into account the present pay and emoluments of the Force ; the provision of a good superannuation ; the certainty of tenure depending entirely upon fitness, conduct, and efficiency ; and the uncertain and problematic condition of labour and wages in the future, the, Police service, offers a most attractive career to the best of the, young men in our community. The standard of good conduct and efficiency of all ranks has been well maintained throughout the year. Notwithstanding many difficulties and drawbacks the year has been marked by considerable development and improvement. Beports of Officers tn charge of Districts. Extracts from the, annual reports of officers in charge of districts are hereto annexed. J. O'DONOVAN, Commissioner of Police.