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A satisfactory standard of efficiency and discipline has been maintained in the Force during the year, and the conduct of members as a whole has been quite good. Of the 32 women police employed by the Department as at the 31st March, 1948, 6 are located at Auckland, Bat Wellington, 4at Christchurch, and 2at Dunedin. The remaining 12 members (subsequently increased to 15), are at present undergoing a course of training at Wellington. When this has been completed they will be posted to the main centres and, like other members of the Women's Division, should prove a valuable acquisition to the police service. The trainees were specially selected from a large number of applicants. They give every promise of reaching a high standard of efficiency and are keen to be of service to the community. In their training special emphasis is laid on a thorough knowledge of the law as it particularly relates to women and children, but they also receive a thorough training in general police duties and in law and technical subjects, as well as first aid. The annual conference of officers in charge of the various police districts was held in Wellington in May. The interchange and dissemination of ideas and the discussion of common problems is found to be of material assistance to district officers and to the Administration. At this conference the many problems which will arise consequent upon the Royal visit in 1949 were fully discussed, and the preliminary organization to deal with the various matters in which the police will be concerned received attention. At the request of the Right Honourable the Minister in Charge of this Department, I attended the Conference of Police Commissioners from the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand, which was held at Brisbane from the 18th to 25th August, 1947. Many subjects of interest to New Zealand were discussed and much information gained that is likely to be of benefit to the Police Force of this Dominion. After the Conference had concluded, I spent a short time in conferring with the Commissioners at Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, in their respective cities, looking into all aspects of police administration. Arrangements are in train to hold the next Commissioners' Conference in New Zealand towards the end of this year. In the New Years Honours List, 1948, His Majesty the King was graciously pleased to award to me the King's Police Medal. Arrangements are in hand for two members of the Detective Branch and two members of the Women's Division to visit Australia under the temporary exchange system, provided for in the Police Force Act, 1947. Under this system the members will be attached to the Police Force of an Australian State. The wider experience thus gained should be to the utmost advantage of the members concerned and to the Police Force. It is hoped to continue and extend this system in co-operation with the Australian police, who in turn will send a similar number of their personnel to New Zealand. This will facilitate the identification of undesirables who travel to and from New Zealand. A conference of police technicians and experts is being held in Sydney this year. The officer in charge of the New Zealand Criminal Registration Branch is attending the conference to ensure that close touch is kept with the latest technical developments, particularly in connection with finger-printing and photography. With the object of assisting members of the Force, and especially those in outlying and isolated districts, to qualify for promotion, a coaching scheme, by correspondence, has been inaugurated. By this means tuition is given by a competent officer in all the law subjects of the examinations qualifying members for promotion to non-commissioned and commissioned rank. Although the coaching scheme has been in operation for only one year it is already clear from the standard of the work of candidates in the last police examinations that excellent results are being achieved, and that the facilities available are appreciated by members of the Force.

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