TRIBUTES TO POLICE AND OTHER WORKERS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1948, Page 7

TRIBUTES TO POLICE AND OTHER WORKERS

WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Tributes to the work done at the scene of the crash and after by Co it

stables Gardiner, Adsett, Beaton, Ward .and JDudley and .Air. W. E, Hussey, a civilian, were paid by ■ mem jiers in the party tonight. In -addition there fvere many otlier local volunteers, bushmen and mountaineers, including Mr. Tom Shout' and Messrs Ken Hussey and Cliarles llerkert, who did great service. (Jonstables_ Gardiner, Adsett, Ward and Dudley were thq fifst to reac.h the plane at 8.45 on Saiturday morning and recovered all the 'watches ,from the bodies and the ins.trument ■ panel from the plane, which were handed" to the air autliorities. Highest praise is also given by all to the Air Force for its excellent service in dropping supplies and all equipment right at the feet of I he party when, required: General comment among the civilians was that the poiice were good men to work* with and ' ' slogged hard, " There. was, however, sdirie dissatisfaction with the control qf the party, a situation which vvas not made easiev by the apparent lack of certainty as to whether the poiice or military wefe' responsible. The poiice arranged for and set up & communication service through-' volunteer amateur radio oeprators while the Army carried up their owh service which aeted indepeiidently but was appareutly necessaty for ecohnnunicating with the planes. The ariiateur radio at the base. camp on' tlie bushlihe was operated by Mr. Doug Sandford :and Mr. Alex McLean, of Raetihi,.; whose c.a.li signs i-tspectiyely 1 are ZL2AI and ZL2AEN. At the.end of the bush trainline Mr. Dave Prinie' ZL2JL . and Mr. Tim Teehan ' ZL2SH. operated'' as -a relav and at Cowerii's mill' Jtr.' Don Vaughan ZL2VA • ' and . Mf. Erank Iveucke ZL2AEL maiittaiped the final link with the Ohakune Couft Heuse which was operated by Mr. Dick Powell ZL2MP. '