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Police Buildings, etc. The following works in connection with police-stations have been carried out during the year by the Public Works Department:— The police-stations at Rotorua and Port Chalmers were completed, and new stations were erected at St. Helier's Bay, Cheviot, Runanga, and Miramar. New offices were provided at Levin and Waimate, and lock-ups have been erected at Clyde, Lawrence, and Mokau. Land for a police-station was purchased at Glen Eden (Auckland), and residences were acquired for two Sub-Inspectors at Northland (Wellington) and for a constable at Lower Hutt. Repairs, renovations, and/or improvements were effected at the following stations : — Whangarei District. —Dargaville, Houhora, Kaeo, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kawakawa, Kohukohu, Mangonui, Maungaturoto, Rawene, Russell, Whangarei (station and three residences). Auckland District. —Coromandel, Manurewa, Mount Eden, Newton, Onehunga, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Point Chevalier, Remuera, Thames, and Tuakau. Hamilton District. —Hamilton (and two residences), Kawhia, Kihikihi, Matamata, Morrinsville, Paeroa, Tokaanu, and Waihi (and 2 residences). Gisborne District.—Gisborne, Matawai, and Tikitiki. Napier District. —Dannevirke, Hastings (and residence), Havelock North, Napier (and residence), Port Ahuriri, and Wairoa. New Plymouth District. —Fitzroy, Inglewood, Mokau, New Plymouth (and residence), Normanby, and Whangamomona. Wanganui District. —Hunterville, Ohura, Raurimu, Taihape, and Waitotara. Palmerston North District. —Ashhurst, Levin, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Pongaroa, and Shannon. Wellington District.—Brooklyn, Greytown, Karori, Kelburn (residence), Lower Hutt (residence), Miramar, Mount Cook, Northland (residence), Petone, Taranaki Street, Trentham, Wellington South, and Wellington Central. Nelson District. —Blenheim, Murchison, Richmond, and Seddon. Greymouth District. —Ahaura, Blackball, Cobden, Denniston, Dunollie (residence), Granity, Hokitika (and 2 residences), Kumara, Reefton, Wataroa, and Westport. Christchurch District. —Akaroa, Amberley, Ashburton, Bingsland, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Christchurch (and residence), Coalgate, Islington, Kaiapoi, Kaikoura, Little River, Lower Riccarton, Lyttelton (and two residences), New Brighton (and residence), Phillipstown, Rakaia, Sydenham, Waikari, and Woolston. Timaru District.—Fairlie, Geraldine, Hampden, Oamaru, and Waimate. Dunedin District. —Cromwell, Dunedin, Green Island, Lawrence, Middlemarch, Mornington, Naseby, Outram, Owaka, Port Chalmers (and residence), and Ranfurly. Invercargill District. —Arrowtown, Bluff, Gore, Invercargill (and residence), Lumsden, Nightcaps, Queenstown, Riverton, South Invercargill, Tapanui, and Winton. General. Efficiency.—The weekly lectures to junior constables have been continued, and are all the more necessary now that the training-school has been closed owing to war conditions, and such recruits as are available are placed on duty as probationary constables without the usual period of instruction in the training-school. As the result of the weekly lectures, these probationary constables have, 011 the whole, carried out their duties very well. The fortnightly lectures to senior constables, sergeants, and detectives have also been given as circumstances permitted. Arrangements were being made for lectures to be given by specialists, but owing to the difficulty in assembling the men in present circumstances the arrangement could not be carried into effect. Instruction in the handling and use of firearms has been given from time to time to members of the Force in the different districts by the Arms Expert attached to Headquarters. In order to provide for more efficient supervision of police duties in the four principal cities at night an additional senior sergeant has been appointed to the central station at each of those cities. There is now a senior member of the Force on duty at the central station throughout the twenty-four hours of each day. Recruiting.—The calling-up of single men for military service has had the effect of restricting the number of eligible candidates for the Force, as single men are not accepted. Much difficulty is now being experienced in obtaining suitable recruits to fill vacancies caused by deaths, retirements, &c., and to meet the additional calls upon the police arising out of war conditions. The number of eligible married candidates offering is limited and not sufficient to meet requirements. In June, 1940, it was found necessary to increase the strength of the Force by three sergeants and fifty constables to enable the police to undertake the supervision, in accordance with the provisions of the Shipping Safety Emergency Regulations 1940, of the wharves and shipping at the various ports in the Dominion at which overseas ships trade. Fortunately, the Department was able at the time to secure sufficient suitable recruits to meet the demand. Since then the position in regard to recruiting has become increasingly difficult, so much so that in March last it was found necessary to have an Emergency Regulation made prohibiting members from resigning from the Force without the permission of the Minister in Charge of the Department. It has also been found impossible on account of the shortage of staff to grant the applications of many members of the Force who desired leave to join the New Zealand Military Forces for service overseas. Appeals have been lodged by the National Service Department in respect of all members

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