THE POLICE FORCE

Dominion, 14 August 1919, Page 6

THE POLICE FORCE

A POPULAR OFFICER

PRESENTATION TO SERGT.

LOPDELL

There was a very largo gathering of non-commissioned officers and men of the uniformed branch of tho police forco at Hie Taranaki Street Police Station last night, when a presentation of 8 gold Walthani watch, gold chain, and medal was made to Sergeant G. W. Lopdell in recognition of the- services 'lie performed on behalf of the uniform men at the recent police committee, of inquiry. The presentation wns subscribed to l>y all tho uniform men throughout Now Zealand.

In making tho presentation, Senior.' Sergeant Willis paid a high tribute to tho work Sergeant Lopdell had done iu preparing tho ease for the uniform men tor submission to the committee. That Sorgeaiit Lopdell's efforts had teen re* warded with success Wiis evidenced by the findings of the committee. "Wβ havo been afflicted with police cominiaeions and inquiries foT more years than 1 can remember," remarked Senior-SeN g*aut Willis, "but I believe the find- ' ings of the last committee have put things on a permanent and satisfactory basis for the whole of us. We hive to thank Sergeant Lopdell, for so ably putting our claims before the committee." Prom all parts of .the Dominion letters had been received congratulating Sergeant Lopdell on the eucccss of his representations. Sergeant Lopdell had striven from first to last for the adop. tion of the eight-hours' shift, which was a great boon to the men who had to "walk tho block." They could alsu ■ thank Sergeant Lopdell for having been . instrumental in having the pay of l'ie uniform men increased.

Sergeant M'Lean (Mount Cook) eaid tliat Sergeant Lopdell was a. man whose whole motto was: "Loyalty to tho Department, to his chiefs, and to the public whom he had to eerve." At the conclusion of the committee of inquiry the work done by Sergeant Lopdell 'had been rrcognised by the Commissioner of Police, who had congratulated him on the manner in which he had conducted the case for those whom he represented. Thanki to tlie tact exercised by Sergeant Lopdcul the inquiry had ended without there bein;f the least trace of. iil-feeliug between the. uniform branch and the detective force. "Sergeant Lopdell is a man who, if he is spared, will rise to the top of the tree," added Sergeant M'Lcan, "and we may all rest assured that when he does the New Zealand police will have a man at the head of it whom no one in the world can excel." (Applause.) The sentiments exposed by the previous speakers ware fully endorsed by Senior-Sergeant Kelly (Mount Cook), Sergeants Edwards (Central Station), Martin (Taranaki Street), Butler (Mount Cook), Plain-clothes-Constable Pidgeou, and Constables I'orsyth, Swan, Edwards. Shields, and Mounted-Constable Wilson. In reply, Sergeant Lopdell, who was received with enthusiasm, said he appreciated all the kind things that had be?n add about himself, but he did not think he deserved all of them. Somehow or other he had been taken completely by surprise, and until he was asked to go into the room he had no idea of what was in store for him. He desired to thank the Force throughout New Zeti. land for their beautiful present and for tho feelings which they entertained towards him. Concerning the mattero dealt with at. the recent inquiiy, he said his interest in the subject had not be?un then. The trouble started in 1913, when a move was made by the detective branch far an advance in status. A circular we; published by the then Minister of Jus. tice in which he evidenced his in tention of according to the detectives part of what they had requested. Hud that intention been carried into effect the detective branch would have gained an unfair advantage over tho uniform branch, the members of which, no matter what ability they possessed, would have had no chance of obtaining high positions in the Service. He was one of those who wrote a protest tc the circular, which ho did his very best to combat, notwithstanding the regulation prohibiting any police official lrom prompting, others to pursue a certain line of action. The consequence was .that some 20 or 30 others protested, and he was pleased to learn afterwards that the provisions of the circular were not to be put into operation because of the amount of opposition that had been raised to them. Notwithstanding that fact, the detective branch entertained (he hope that, sooner or later, the advantage in respect to status would be given to them. To some extent he had thought they were gaining advantages that wers not fnir to the uniform branch. Finally, the matter was thrashed out at the committee of inquiry, and he was. very pleased that the platform he and others had prepared had been almost unanimously accepted by .the committee. The suggestions framed on l;e----half of the uniform branch had been considered by the committee to be a fair and proper solution of the difficulty. It had always been his wish to raise the Service as high as he possibly could by his conduct, and in every other way. He always wanted to assist those who had the best interests of the Service at heart, from tho senior officers downwards. The benefits that had been o.b-. tained by the police recently were iu no small measure due to tho sympathetic interest of the Minister of Justice arcd the Commissioner of Police. He wouM look on the- gift that had been made to him as evidence of the pood feeling and fraternity of his comrades in* the Service, "and he. , trusted that the fu':u;-o would contain happy days for them all. Three hearty cheers were given for Sergeant Lopdell as tho gathering iispersed. *