FORTY YEARS IN POLICE FORCE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 7

FORTY YEARS IN POLICE FORCE

CONSTABLE W. THOM RETIRES “Forty years is a long time to look forward to—but it is .short when you are looking back,’’ said Constable W. Thom, replying to good wishes expressed to him by members of the Police Social Club at a function in Christchurch last evening. The function was held to mark Constable Thom’s retirement from the force, after 40 years’ service. “It is the duty of every policeman to try to better the district in which he is stationed,” said Constable Thom. “A policeman can do much more than his duty—that is his job, and he is paid to do it. There are lots of things he can do, and many people he can help. It is in the country districts that the policeman is in the public eye, and it is here that he can show what he is worth.” Throughout New Zealand, from North Auckland to Dunedin, Constable Thom is known and respected for his qualities both as a policeman and as a man. He was bom in Coylton, Scotland, in 1890, and joined the Police Force at Wellington in 1913. 10 Years at Lower Riccarton

From Wellington, Constable Thom was sent to Palmerston North, and from there to Feilding, Te Araroa on the east coast of the North Island. Dunedin, Ross, Islington, and, finally, Lower Riccarton, where he was stationed for the last 10 years of his service. t At Ross he was president of the Returned Services’ Association; at Islington, he was a keen social worker and was one of the prime movers in opening a fund to build the community hall which is now nearing completion. Again he took the initiative while a member of the executive committee of the Riccarton R.S.A., and was one of those responsible for the erection of the branch’s hall.

He was a prominent member of the Christchurch Police Social Club, and was its chairman for six years. He was largely responsible for the formation of the Police Association, and remained a prominent member of it. These were but a few of the achievements which liberally punctuated the life of Constable Thom, said Inspector D. McKenzie, the present chairman of the Police Social Club. “He has many memorials all over New Zealand,” Inspector McKenzie added.

The superintendent of the Christchurch Police District (Mr D. Sugrue) expressed the thanks of the Police Department and of the social club for Constable Thom’s long years of work on their behalf, and made a presentation to him.