INSPECTORS’

TASKS CONFRONTING executive
police officers in these difficult times are
exacting. Attorney-General R. L. Maitland
told a group of B. C. Provincial Police
inspectors, at a three-day conference held
in Vancouver Court House, May 3rd, 4th
and 5th.

As head of the force, Mr. Maitland asked
for the loyalty of the officers from Com-
missioner T. W. S. Parsons down to the
newest recruit.

“Our police force is free from politics
and will remain so as long as I am attorney-
general. Justifiable complaints may be made
to Commissioner Parsons or to myself but
no other procedure should be followed,” he
told the twelve inspectors and sub-inspectors

At the conference table, left to right: Assistant Commissioner John Shirras, Commissioner T. W. S.

CONFERENCE

Swanson, J. S. Lord, Vancouver; H. H.
Mansell, Pouce Coupe.

General handyman for nearly every
branch of the government: boundary rider,
coastguardsmen, fishery overseer, fire
chief, trafic expert, collector of revenue,
registrar of vital statistics and keeper of
the peace!

These are some of the duties which have
been assumed by British Columbia’s pro-
vincial police force since it policed the
Crown colony of pre-confederation days.

VARIED DUTIES

Commissioner Parsons’ review of the ex-
pansion of the force was the closing feature
of the conference.

Parsons and Major J. W. Hensell. U. S. Army, Seattle.

in attendance with the commissioner and
Assistant Commissioner John Shirras.

He promised there will be no outside
interference with the force and said he was
working towards improvement of conditions
as well as investigating a readjustment of
cost of living bonuses and pay generally.

General police matters were discussed at
the morning session and in the afternoon
W. C. Mainwaring, Dr. C. S. Beals, Fire
Chief J. H. DeGraves and Lieut.-Col. R. H.
Mullaly were called in regarding civilian
defence.

Those attending the conference with the
attorney-general, Commissioner Parsons and
Assistant-Commissioner Shirras were:

Inspectors G. A. Hood, Victoria; C. G.
Barber, Kamloops; E. Gammon, Prince
Rupert; Robert Owens, -Victoria; J Mac-
donald, Nelson; S. F. M. Moodie, O.C. civ-
ilian defence, Vancouver.

Sub-Inspectors J. P. M. Hannah, D. D.
Moses, Victoria; Richard Harvey, Fred

Page Four

—Courtesy of Vancouver Sun

Other speakers at the closing session were
Dr. C. 8. Beale, provincial gas officer, Vic-
toria, on the subject of war gases; Major
J. W. Hensel, United States army, who is
attached to the Pacific Coast office of civ-
ilian defense in Seattle; and Dr. D. E. H.
Cleveland, director of venereal disease con-
trol division.

The commissioner traced, from the days
of Governor Douglas, the notable trend
toward multiple-duty police officials in the
development of a system which, he said, was
born of pioneer conditions in a vast terri-
tory with scant population.

“With the passage of time some of the
duties of the police warranted full-time
officials, but we still have a_ situation
peculiar to British Columbia, where the
provincial constable has a composite office.”

CoNVICTIONS INCREASE

He compared statistics of 1924 with 1941
to show the growth of the work. Mileage
travelled jumped from 610,217 to 3,388,903

in those 17 years. Convictions increase
from 2,331 to 8,967; complaints attende,
to from 963 to 28,442; revenue collecte.
from $1,137,309 to $3,455,820: inquest
from 250 to 570; patrols from 12,794 ¢
173,691.

The force also has assumed the policin
of 42 organized cities and municipalitic
and the motor vehicle branch has a staff c
nearly 90, compared to six in 1924.

The percentage of convictions is proc
that efficiency has been maintained, th
commissioner contended, and he attribute.
this to better standards of pay, allowance
and pensions, better working conditions
specialization of duties and scientific aid
such as the radio telegraph network.

War DuTIES

The commissioner also referred to th
highway patrol system and a marine sectior
with six vessels, five radio-equipped, and al
manned by qualified men.

Among extra wartime duties, Provincia’
Police at fifty-one points in the province are
associated with the Aircraft Detectior
Corps inaugurated by the Western Air
Command and upon which rests the suc
cess or failure of civilian protection work.

Registration of alien enemies, shotguns
and rifles, investigation of pension appli-
cants and men who fail to respond to army
call up are other duties of the force.

All these duties and many others, the
commissioner said, are carried out by a
force of 514, though the actual field work
is done by half a dozen inspectors and about
350 N.C.O’s. and men.

PROVINCIAL POLICE

YOU can talk about the Red Coats
And the lads in navy blue;
Spin yarns about detectives,
And the great things that they do,
But the men who really take the cake,
Their wonders never cease;
They’re the swellest outfit on the job,
The B. C. Provincial Police.

Their uniforms of khaki
Are always clean and neat;
Their heavy leather boots
Look smart upon their feet;
Their buttons shone up brightly
Are made of sparkling brass. |
Just watch the ladies smile ; |
When on the street they pass. |

So let us skip the details
And cut the story short.
I think the Provincial Policemen
Are the best of all their sort.
And, if I were a man, I think
The thing that I would do
Is join the B. C. Police force:
I'd like it—wouldn’t you?
—AubDREY SANDIs, 13, in
The Vancouver Sun.

CORVETTES cost about $700,000, but if Canadian
housewives saved just one cent of every dollar
they spend—they could buy enough War Savings
Stamps to pay for two new Corvettes every
month.

THE SHOULDER STRAP