the Dominion Government at a price
to be agreed upon and payment for
same will be in three equal annual
instalments commencing with the first
instalment on October | of this year.

Of importance to the personnel of
the B.C. Police is the provision made
in the agreement for men of marital
status. This clause of the agreement

increased strength at the request of
the Attorney-General. The conse-
quent increase in the amount to be
paid will be mutually agreed upon
between the Attorney-General and the
Federal Minister administering the
affairs of the R.C.M.P.

Provision was also made in the
agreement so that on a proportionate

Heads R.CMP. in British Columbia

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ALAN T. BELCHER
who ts chief of the’ R.C.M.P. in British Columbia, is a veteran of 31

years’ experience tn police work across the Dominion.

force at age of 16 as trumpeter.

He joined federal

Second in command is Superintendent

C. W. Harvison who, prior to the changeover, headed R.C.M.P. detach-
ment at Vancouver.

provides that where married personnel
of the B.C. Police are adversely affect-
ed by the transfer in respect to pay
and allowances, the rates of pay of
these men will be those agreed upon
between the Commissioner of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and
the Attorney-General of the province,
“notwithstanding anything to the con-
trary in the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police Rules and Regulations.”

In the event of catastrophies, dis-
tress, civil disturbances or other
causes requiring an increase in the
strength of the police force, the
R.C.M.P. undertakes to provide the

Page Four

basis with other provinces, British Co-
lumbia shall enjoy all benefits to be
derived from the recruitment of per-
sonnel for the R.C.M.P.

Policing of Municipalities

Finally, the agreement provides
that the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police shall take over from the British
Columbia Provincial Police all duties
in municipalities undertaken by the
B.C. Police through contracts or agree-
ments at present in force upon the
understanding that in all cases where
a municipality is called upon to pay
more than $1,400 per man per annum

under such contracts for the services
of the B.C. Police, the amount in ex-
cess of $1,400 per man per annum as
from August 15, 1950, shall be for-
warded in each case to the Commis-
sioner of the R.C.M.P. for deposit to
the credit of the Receiver General of
Canada, during the unexpired term
of such contracts. Police contracts
with municipalities terminate at the
end of the calendar year. Terms of
any subsequent contract will be a
matter of negotiation between the
Government of Canada, the Provin-
cial Government and the munici-
palities.

As result of the provisions made in
the agreement, the province will wipe
out all its liabilities during the cur-
rent fiscal year and, it is expected,
will still effect a substantial saving.

High Tribute to B.C. Force

In making the announcement of the
terms of agreement and the date upon
which transfer of the B.C. Police force
would be effective, Attorney-General
Wismer paid high tribute to the force
and its personnel. In a personal letter
to each man he expressed on behalf
of the B.C. Government, sincere
thanks for his efficient and loyal ser-
vices.

“We have a fine body of men in our
police force and I am sure they will
make a valuable adjunct to the
R.C.M.P.,” Mr. Wismer stated. “In
the larger field of activity they will
have greater scope for advancement
and will be in a position to render
outstanding service to their country.
I cannot emphasize how important
this transfer is in the interest of na-
tional security in these days of unrest
and I feel sure that the men of the
B.C. Police force will appreciate the
more important role they will be
playing in this regard as members of
a national police force that has a
tradition equally outstanding as that
of our own. The unifying force be-
hind this transfer is of immeasurable
value to the people of Canada as a
whole and the Province of British Co-
lumbia in particular,” Mr. Wismer
asserted.

“T wish to take this opportunity,”
Premier Johnson stated, “to con-
gratulate my colleague, Mr. Wismer,
upon the success of his negotiations
and the very splendid arrangements
he has been able to make not only on
behalf of the province as a whole, but
also for the personnel of the B.C.
Police.

“It is apparent to me that Mr.
Wismer has been most anxious at
every stage of the negotiations, which
are so important in the interest of
national security, to see that the
officers, the men and the women in
the B.C. service have had their in-
terests fully protected,” the premier
said. + 4%

THE SHOULDER STRAP