MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume LI, Issue 26, 30 June 1926, Page 427

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

Circular No. 17/26.] Prosecutions under Defence Act, 1909.—Rewards to Police. The following copy of a memorandum received from the Officer Commanding, N.Z. Military Forces, is published for the information and attention of members of the Force. Circular 6/14 of 11th June, 1914, the last paragraph of Circular 12/22 of 21st September, 1922, and Circular 9/23 of 6th December, 1923, are revoked accordingly. W. B. Mcllveney, Commissioner of Police. Wellington, 23rd June, 1926. (P. 22/479.)

[Copy.] Memorandum for the Commissioner of Police, Wellington.] Defence Act, 1909, Sections 61 and 65. —Rewards to : : the Police. General Headquarters, New Zealand Military Forces, Wellington, 18th June, 1926. Referring to your memorandum, P. 22/479, dated 10th April, 1922, and previous correspondence on the above subject, I have to inform you that the Minister of Defence, who is also Minister in charge of police, recently signified his disapproval of the principle of paying rewards to the police for securing convictions under the above-quoted sections of the Defence Act.

It was pointed out to the Hon. the Minister that the reward of 10s. to the police for each conviction secured by them under section 51, which was authorized in 1913, was extended to convictions under section 55, by the authority of Cabinet on the 20th March, 1922. The matter was therefore referred to Cabinet on the 14th June, 1926, and it was decided that the privilege of granting such rewards be withdrawn. Instructions have therefore been issued that no payments of the reward for convictions entered subsequent to the 14th June, 1926, can be paid. The co-operation of the police with the military authorities in the direction of tracing offenders under the above-men-tioned sections of the.Defence Act is of the utmost importance, particularly in the direction of locating those offenders who are untraceable by the Defence authorities and who have on issue to them uniform and equipment. It is hoped, therefore, that the withdrawal of the reward will not be interpreted as an indication that this Department does not fully recognize and appreciate the valuable services of the police in the above connection, or that the offences in question are viewed as less serous than hitherto.

R. Young, Major-General, Commanding N.Z. Military Forces.