THREE CONSTABLES REQUIRED ON DUTY AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 43, 19 January 1949, Page 5

THREE CONSTABLES REQUIRED ON DUTY AT WHAKATANE

Opinion Of The j Borough Council Some confusion as to how many police constables were to be finally stationed at Whakatane, was felt by Councillors at Monday night’s meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council, following receipt of a letter ’ from the Commissioner of Police, Wellington, Mr J. Cummings. At the December meeting of the 'council concern at theft amount of •crime at Whakatane had been expressed by the mayor,) Mr B. S. Barry, and other councillors. Urgency of the need for assistance to the present Sergeant and two constables was stressed and direct conimunication with the Commissioner > of Police was decided upon immed.lately. It was felt that Whakatane needed three constables and a Sergeant. Commissioner’s Reply In his reply Mr Cummings acknowledged the December letter conveying a resolution of the council urging that the police force at Whakatane be further strengthened. He -continued:— “I am pleased to be able to inform you that there is now every “prospect of a State rental house at 'Whakatane being made available to 'the Police Department at an early •date, and as soon as this eventuates it will be possible to provide the •services of an additional constable .at Whakatane.” Councillors felt that clarification s 'of the number of constables who would finally be on duty was needled.

Mr Barry ■said that a constable "had been' at Whakatane for some :months looking for a house. The letter did not say whether he or an additional police officer would get the house. “I feel we should get the position clarified,” said Cr C. S. Armstrong: “At the present time we need three constables in the town.”

Other councillors agreed, and It was finally decided to write to the Commissioner of Police again, asking for clarification of the position.