3492 Adjournment. [ASSEMBLY.] Fire Spotting. Government will not withdraw the The facts are that the police station Bill because it gave an undertaking and the Criminal, Investigation to the Wodonga Sewerage Authority. Branch office are in a state of demo­ The Hon. D. G. ELLIoT.-And to lition. The Criminal Investigation the local members. Branch office has been pulled down, and the police station itself has been The Hon. SAMUEL MERRIFIELD. partly demolished in the past few -I am leaving them aside for days. Naturally, the members of the the moment. I have already Force concerned had to be shifted explained to honorable members into other offices. I suggest that the that Mr. Gifford's memoran­ Minister of Immigration, as Assistant dum on which the Government Chief Secretary, should view the took action was dated 22nd Novem­ Criminal Investigation Branch ber, 1963, that the first reading of quarters at Williamstown, which are this Bill was on 26th November and not used, with a view to transferring that the second reading was on 27th the Criminal Investigation Branch November. This Bill dealt with staff of ten from Footscray to a subject about which legal action Williamstown. The necessary tele­ was pending, so obviously the phone arrangements could be made. Government proposed to interfere with a man's legal rights. The I believe the Minister should Government did not ask the other examine the chaotic conditions which party to put its side of the case; it exist at Footscray. The crime rate gave an undertaking and proceeded in the area is high, according to with the Bill after judging the case information made available by the on the evidence from one side only. Chief Secretary. If the police are to be expected to undertake crime The clause was agreed to, as were detection, they should be housed in the remaining clauses and the better conditions. I invite the schedules. Minister to visit the Footscray police The Bill was reported to the House station to-morrow with members without amendment, and passed representing the area to examine the through its remaining stages. situation. ADJOURNMENT. The motion was agreed to. POLICE DEPARTMENT: CONDITIONS AT The House adjourned at 11.2 p.m. FOOTSCRAY POLICE STATION. The Hon. G. L. CHANDLER (Minister of Agriculture) .-1 move­ 1Ilrg1,alatiur Assrmbly. That the House do now adjourn. The Hon. A. W. KNIGHT (Mel­ Tuesday, April 7, 1964. bourne West Province) .-1 desire to raise a matter in relation to the The SPEAKER (Sir William Footscray police station. Some McDonald) took the chair at 4.14 trouble in the manning of the station p.m., and read the prayer. is being experienced because of the conditions under which the uniformed FIRE SPOTTING. policemen and members of the INSURANCE COVER FOR PRIVATE Criminal Investigation Branch are AIRCRAFT. operating. To-day I asked a question Mr. RYLAH (Chief Secretary).­ on notice in relation to this matter, Question No.1 on the Notice Paper but part of the answer which I re­ in the name of Sir Herbert Hyland ceived is not accurate. The answer (Gippsland South) is as follows:- states- 1. What insurance companies, if any, The changeover of offices was effected including specialists in aviation insurance, to avoid noise and inconvenience to the have been approached regarding cover for staff, and members of the public, caused private light aircraft to be used for fire­ by workmen engaged in building operations spotting purposes, giving the decision in nearby. each case? Police [7 APRIL, 1964.] Department. 3493 2. How long it is since these privately­ Mr. RYLAH (Chief Secretary).­ owned and operated light aircraft were first offered for fire-spotting purposes? The answers are- 3. How much longer it will take to 1. Authorized strength-4,407 at the 1st finalize this important matter? March, 1964. The answers are- Actual strength-4,280. 1. The Authority brokers, J. C. Lloyd and Ratio of actual strength to population- Company Proprietary Limited, have made 1 : 702. protracted and exhaustive inquiries as to the possibility of obtaining cover in the 2. Seventy-nine. event of such aircraft being used but until recently have been unable to find any com­ Incidentally, the police cadets are pany willing to underwrite the risk. eleven under strength. Suitable conditions and ratings have now been approved by the Fire and Accident 3. In the course of their training, police Underwriters Association. cadets carry out office duties at selected 2. The first approach to the Country Fire police stations and branches of the Force. Authority was made in November, 1960, and From 8.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily they man four subsequent offers were received in seventeen school crossings at the following December, 1960, September, 1961, locations :- November, 1961, and November, 1962. Cremorne-street, Richmond. 3. The final draft of a policy to give the Balmain-street, Richmond. Authority cover to the extent of £1,000,000 East Boundary-road, East Bentleigh. is now available. However, in view of the Worthing-road, Moorabbin. substantial premium involved, the Authority Mackie-road, East Bentleigh. has not yet determined whether it will use Warrigal-road, Burwood. privately-owned aircraft or will continue on the present basis-that is, exclusive use of The Avenue, Windsor. charter aircraft with the prior approval of Tucker-road, East Ormond. the Chief Officer. There are adequate Wheatley-road, Ormond. numbers of charter aircraft available in Hawthorn-road, East Brighton. Victoria. Waterdale-road, Ivanhoe. Warrandyte-road, Norwood. POLICE DEPARTMENT. St. Peters, Centre-road, East Bentleigh. Melbourne-road, North Williamstown. AUTHORIZED AND ACTUAL STRENGTH: Tucker-road, Moorabbin. POLICE CADETS AND RESERVISTS: Millers-road, Brooklyn. ENLISTMENTS. Grey thorne-road, Grey thorne. Mr. WILKES (Northcote) asked Selected cadets attend the Lord Mayor's children's camp at Portsea and the Legacy the Chief Secretary- camp at Portland to assist in supervising the 1. What was the authorized and actual children and to act as lifesavers. strength of the Victoria Police Force as at the 1st March, 1964, and what was the 4. There are 155 police reservists em­ ratio of actual strength to population? ployed on clerical, watch-house and court 2. What is the actual numerical strength orderly duties throughout the State. of the police cadets? 3. What duties are assigned to police 5. cadets and, if they are used to man school crossings, what are the locations of these school crossings? Year. 4. What is the actual numerical strength of the police reservists, what duties are assigned to them, and where? ------------------- 5. How many persons applied for enlist­ 1961 .. .. 1,159 1,030 847 261 586 ment in the Police Force in each of the 1962 .. 923 839 716 281 435 years 1961, 1962, 1963, and during the period 1st January to 1st March, 1964, and 1963 .. 689 627 556 236 320 how many persons were enlisted and 1964 88 66 52 17 35 rejected, respectively, in each of those years (to 1st March) and during the period referred to? 6. What general and educational qualifi­ cations are required of applicants for Mr. FENNESSY.-Those statistics enlistment? 7. What efforts are being made to enlist seem to indicate that the applicants more men into the Force? must have been of a pretty poor type. 3494 Police Department. [ASSEMBLY.] Oil. Mr. RYLAH.-The Police Force is ? The Government has approved a three­ seeking recruits of a certain standard, pomt plan to increase recruiting for the Police Force in Victoria. and the applicants who were rejected The main points of the plan are- were not up to this standard. I 1.. De~rease in. the minimum age for would be appalled if the Police Force applIcatIon from nmeteen to eighteen and a half years. was prepared to reduce its standard 2. Increase in the number of police just to meet a temporary emergency. cadets. Mr. FENNESSY.-In times of war 3. Direct recruiting in the United King­ dom through the State Immigration Depart­ action along those lines has been ment. taken. Up to 100 suitable applicants who could The SPEAKER (Sir William meet the required standards would be brou.ght here for training under the immi­ McDonald).-Order! The honorable gratIon programme. member for Brunswick East is not In addition, members of the Force are entitled to debate this question. giving personal encouragement to likely rec::ruits. Suitable recruiting posters are Mr. RYLAH.-I suggest that part bemg prepared for display, and publicity 6 of the question, which relates to generally has been increased. the qualifications required of appli­ cants, be incorporated in Hansard OIL. without my reading it. LAKES ENTRANCE OILFIELD: SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: ADVANCES TO Mr. LOVEGROVE.-Do the qualifi~ COMPANIES. cations prescribe that applicants must be men of letters? Mr. MUTTON (Coburg) asked the Minister of Mines- Mr. RYLAH.-I shall read out the 1. What progress has been made in the requisite qualifications for the in­ development of the oilfield at Lakes formation of honorable members. Entrance? 2. What amount has been expended by Mr. LOVEGROvE.-Read out the the State in boring or searching for oil? literary qualifications which are 3. What are the names of the individuals considered necessary. or companies to whom advances, if any, Mr. RYLAH.-The standards were have been made for these purposes? probably laid down by a previous Mr. MIBUS (Minister of Mines).­ Government. The answer con­ The answers are- 1. There has been no development of the tinues:- Lakes Entrance oilfields. Exploratory work 6. The qualifications required of an appli­ to date tends to indicate that this is a small cant for enlistment in the Victoria Police non-commercial field.