Ask A Policeman

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 1

Ask A Policeman

Coincidence and the alertness of a Christchurch police officer recently enabled a woman in Adelaide, South Australia, to get in touch with her parents on holiday in New Zealand.

The woman’s telephone call was put on to the Christchurch Central Police Station, and Inspector C. McKenzie, who was in an office not his own, spoke to her.

She told him that one of her family had had to enter hospital, and she wished to tell her parents. She knew they were staying with friends in Christchurch whose home they were using as a base for tours of New Zealand. The only thing she could remember about her parents' friends was the

contractions of their Christian names.

Senior-Sergeant L. G. Grimwood was in the oflice with Inspector McKenzie, and heard him repeat to the woman the contractions of the Christian names, one of which is unusual. He told Inspector McKenzie he knew of a couple with these names and gave him the surname.

When Inspector McKenzie asked the woman whether that was the surname of her parents' friends she said it was.

Inspector McKenzie then rang the Christchurch couple, who confirmed that the Australians were staying with them.

The parents had intended to leave the next day for the North Island.