The Argus at KellyGang 7/4/1883 (7)
ROYAL COMMISSION
X - RATE OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES
Final Report - continued
The rule regulating the pay and allowances of constables seems variable and arbitrary. From an official memo, furnished by the chief commissioner, dated 14th September, 1882, it appears that for some years prior to 18th May, 1870, the men received 6s. 6d. per day for the first 12 months of their service, when they were allowed 7s. 6d. At that date a regulation was made to the effect that all constables joining the force should not receive an increase of pay for length of service. In 1875 it was ruled that from and after that year all constables of not less than two years' standing should be paid 7s. 6d. per day. This rule prevailed until 13th October, 1880, when it was directed that constables joining the force after that date should not receive any increase of pay for length of service under 10 years. In the estimates, however, of the present financial year, viz., 1882-3, provision is made for the payment of 7s. 6d. a day to all constables of more than two years' service. The number of constables in the force at present drawing 6s. 6d. per day is 132. It will thus be seen that the pay of constables in the Victorian police force is, to some extent, dependent upon the dictum and pleasure of the Government for the time being. Representations have been made to your commissioners by delegates representing the men who were in receipt of 6s. 6d. a day, and who were led to believe that this rate of remuneration was likely to extend to a period of 10 years, and from the statements submitted, it was clear that some of the men considered themselves the victims of bad faith and false economy. It was evident that where the recipients of the lower pay were married, and were obliged to live outside of barracks, they were placed at a great, if not unjust, disadvantage as compared to others who obtained the higher rate of pay, and were provided with quarters, fuel, light, and water. Petitions were submitted to the commission from the married members of the force objecting to the existing system whereby married men were deprived of the allowance for which provision is supposed to be made on the estimates, owing to the fact of their having to live outside barracks. The men, in those documents, submit that, "although by the annual Appropriation Act the item of salaries and wages of the general police includes quarters, light, fuel, and water, yet married men, except those in charge of stations and watchhouses, receive no allowance whatever in lieu of quarters, and only about £2 18s. per annum for fuel, that, as the men outside barracks must live in close proximity to head quarters, the cost of procuring a suitable residence is increased, more especially as they are obliged to avoid localities that would bring them in contact with criminals and disreputable persons. The other colonies provide the married men with quarters, and in some parts of New Zealand the married men receive 1s. a day in lieu of quarters. Both married and single men engaged as gaol warders are granted 1s. a day for quarters outside." Thus, the expense of providing their own uniform, the deduction of 2½ per cent from their pay for the purpose of the superannuation fund, and the payment of rent, leave many of the men with only a very limited margin for the maintenance of themselves and families. Your commissioners consider that immediate steps should be taken to remedy so glaring an anomaly, more especially as it is admitted that the arrangement is not designed as a discouragement to men to incur domestic obligations. There are in the force 444 married men provided with quarters or their equivalent, and 354 married men without quarters and extra allowances. There are 281 single men with quarters, and 17 without quarters. The witnesses estimate the value of the allowances received by the men living outside of barracks at about 1s. per week. The inadequacy of this allowance must be the more apparent when it is considered that a constable on joining has to incur an outlay of from £20 to £30 for uniform and other requisites. In the opinion of your commissioners, it is desirable that the pay and allowances of constables on joining the force should be regulated upon a more systematic and equitable principle. We recommend that in future the rate of remuneration to constables joining the force shall be as follows:-
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... s. d.
First and second year of service . .. .. .. 6 6 per diem
Third and fourth do ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..7 0 ,,
Fifth and sixth do ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..7 6 ,,
After 10 years do ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .8 0 ,,
Married constables and sub-officers living outside of barracks to receive 6d. per diem in lieu of quarters, fuel, light, and water. Quarters should only be provided by Government for married men in charge of stations. Superintendents of districts should reside at head quarters stations.
XI - INCIDENTAL EXPENSES
Sub-officers and constables have a substantial grievance in the inadequate amount allowed them for their expenses in case of transfer, and when despatched to another district on duty. Men under the grade of an officer are only allowed free transport of 2cwt. of luggage. To a married man the expense of transferring his family and household effects may be ruinous, and many constables are necessarily subjected to this hardship for no fault of theirs. A case in point was narrated by one of the witnesses, who, after many good years of service in Sandhurst , was suddenly shifted to Hamilton , to act there in the absence of an officer who had been transferred. The man was obliged to dispose of his furniture, and was only allowed a second class passage by steamer to Belfast , from whence he had to find his way as best he could to his destination. Your commissioners think a concession may be fairly made to the officers and men in this direction, and that, when transferred for reasons other than misconduct, they be allowed their personal expenses and to carry luggage free as follows -Officers, 10cwt. ; sub-officers, 7cwt. ; constables, 5cwt. The travelling expenses allowed seem inadequate. We would recommend the following regulation in lieu of that existing -Allowance when travelling or proceeding on duty beyond their sub-district – Constables, 3s. 6d; sub-officers, 5s. 6d; superior officers, 10s. per diem.
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