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The Empire Games to be held at Auckland in February next will call for additional police protection to deal with the many problems which arise with the assembly of large crowds. Arrangements are in train for sOme members of the Australian detective forces to be available in New Zealand on interchange duty at the time, and they should be of material assistance in this connection. Police Technicians' Conference. —A conference of police technicians, at which a representative of the New Zealand Police Force was present, was held in Sydney in May, 1948. Subjects such as finger-print and palm-print identification, photography, ballistics, methods of scientific investigation, and modus operandi were discussed. To enable the police to cope with modern criminals it is necessary to keep abreast with- modern equipment, and at this conference valuable information was available to ensure that the latest methods for the prevention and the detection of crime are put into operation. Coaching Scheme. —It was mentioned in my last report that a law coaching scheme, by correspondence, had been inaugurated to assist members of the Force to qualify for promotion to non-commissioned and commissioned rank. The scheme has proved satisfactory and should be of material assistance to members in outlying and isolated districts where facilities for study are lacking. It is confidently expected that the coaching scheme will result in a general improvement in the standard of efficiency. Thanks. —I desire to express my thanks to all those pubhc-spirited citizens who have assisted the police in any way during the year. It is pleasing to record that many expressions of appreciation of the work of the police have been received from those to whom service has been rendered by the Force. Police Buildings.—New stations have been erected at Karamea and Dobson. After some delay through causes beyond the control of the Department, a tender for the erection of a new police-station at Greymouth, to replace the present antiquated and outmoded station, has been let, and work on the building has commenced. Residences for police purposes at Alexandra, Hanmer, Palmerston North, and Putaruru were purchased during the year. The building programme provides for the replacing of several other stations, but the shortage of material and labour, and the necessity to give priority to housing accommodation, may result in a postponement of the work. However, every endeavour is made to keep the existing stations in good order, by effecting repairs and renovations where the expense is justified, until it is practicable to effect replacement. Housing— The transfer of members of the Police Force from place to place is unavoidable, and although transfers are kept at a minimum in view of the housing shortage the r-esult is that a number of married men have been separated from their families for long periods. lam pleased to say that, with the active co-operation of the local residents, houses have been secured in some centres, with the result that it has been possible to provide adequate police supervision of their districts by a resident constable. Transport.—Without mobility the Police Force cannot be expected to render effective and efficient service, and therefore the provision of up-to-date cars is a matter of the greatest importance. In addition to the many offences committed with the aid of motorvehicles, there are many occasions when fast-moving cars are of the greatest value in the execution of police duty. Speed of action is essential and can only be effective if the police are adequately equipped with motor-vehicles and means of communication. During the year the departmental fleet of motor vehicles was strengthened by the addition of new cars, but more cars are required to replace those which do not measure up to the necessarily high standard of efficiency and to enable each district headquarters station and some of the larger centres to be supplied with a departmental car. The increased use of transport also assists in partially offsetting a shortage of personnel.

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