HEAD OF THE POLICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2899, 11 October 1916, Page 6

HEAD OF THE POLICE

COMMISSIONER JOHN CULLEN RETIRES A FINE CAREER J One of the most notable figures in ail important branch of official life in New Zealand is about to retire oil pension after a career of service that reflects tho greatest credit, not only on his proved ability and 'resource in ail executive capacity, but as a firm administrator, who was always prepared to take an uncompromising stand when convinced that lie was in the right. That official is tho Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Cullen, who is due to throw aside tho cares of an onerous' position on November 23. His time, forj retirement on age qualification expired in May last, Jbut lie was induced to carry on for another six months at tho request of the Minister of his Department (Hon. A. L. Herdman). Commissioner Cullen has been a police officer for the whole of his days, but at the same time he has always shown a broad outlook on life, manifested in his many human qualities, and whilst having a stern regard for duty, his attitude Jias never boen cribbed and confined by cramping officialism. He made his first acquaintance with police duties on May 24, 1869, when as a lad of eighteen he joined the ltoyal Irish Constabulary. He served with that Force until March, 187G, when he resigned in order, to seek his'fortune in lands across tho sea. Mr. Cullen came to New Zealand in July; 1876, and at once joined tho Armed Constabulary. In January of tho next year ho wa s transferred to regular polico duties at Blenheim, and whilst thero was promoted sergeant. Having been transferred to Dunedin, he spent tho best part of twelve months there, when ho. was soiected to take chargo of the 'l'imaru station. He put in live years at Timarii, and was then transferred to Christchurch. Ho was only thero for seven months, when ho was promoted to take charge at Napier. By this time his reputation as a disciplinarian was established, and seven years later Sergeant Cullen was sent to Wanganm. After a spell of three and a half years ac Wauganui, he was dispatched on a special mission to the King Country to endeavour to cope with the sly-grog evil that was doing a considerable amount of harm among tho Maoris, and was considered .at the timo to be a scandal. After three months there ho succeeded in prosecuting and convicting 26 prominent sly grog-sellers, eleven of whom were imprisoned without tho option of a fine, the remainder being fined in various sums totalling over £600. Not long after his return from the King Country, Mr. Cullen was promoted to an inspectorship (in September, 1897), and was given charge of the Greymouth district, where he remained for ten months. Ho was next transferred to tho Auckland district—then the most important in the Dominion. He remained in charge thore for fourteen years, and had chargo of the policc arrangements there during the visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen (then the Duke and Duchess of Cornand also during tho visit of the American fleet.

Maoris Outwitted. In 1903 Inspector Cullen's. services were again called into requisition for an out-of-the-way enterprise. Trouble had arisen among the Natives near Kaikohe, in [the Auckland province, where some of the Ngapuhi tribe, under a chiof named Iraia Kuao, objected to the Native Land Court dealing with some Native laud in that vicinity; and threatened to make an armed raid on Kaikohe, shoot members of the Court, and some claimants to the land. Inspector Cullen proceeded to Kaikohe with a party of armed police, and whilst the Natives were holding a meeting in the open the police surrounded them, and arrested Kuao and his followers before they could get to. their arms. The Maori settlement was then searched, and a quantity of arms and ammunition was seized. Kuao and his men were bound over to keep the peace, and ho agreed to allow_ the Court to deal with ths land without further trouble. Appointed Commissioner. Oil April 17, 1912, Inspector Cullen was appointed Commissioner of Police. He was at Waihi, off and on, for four months, during the labour trouble caused' by agitators and syndicalists, where he daily ran a risk of injury at the hands of the ill-advised men on 6trike, but never wavered in his duty, nor lacked the courage to face any situation that presented itself. Less than a year after the Waihi strike came, ths big general strike, in which he personally took charge, and was shot at, luckily without effect, in a riot in Buckle Street. Cetting Rua. His last important duty in the field was the expedition in April last to the Urewera Country, to take the recalcitrant Rua and his followers, who had b'een causing trouble. This meant going into a rough and heavily bushed country in the heart of tho TJrewera district. It will bo remombered that Ilua resisted, and the police were under fire from his followers for an hour and a half, four constables being seriously wounded, two Maoris killed, and two seriously wounded in tlie affray. With sucli a caroer behind liim, Commissioner Cullen retires with honour, and it is hoped that he will long be spared to enjoy the less strenuous days in view.

Though one tiamo has been freely canvassed as likely to succeed to Coinmissionership of Police, Cabinet has not finally settled tho appointment.