POLICE AND NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 9

POLICE AND NAVY

WONDERFUL WORK DONE

CRITICISM DISCOUNTED

■ Criticism of the work of,the police and naval officers in Napier was replied to to-day by Mr. 0. E. Blundell, of the University Tutorial College. After taking a load of medical supplies from Wellington, Mr. Blundell remained in Napier for three days, and placed* his ' services and his motor-oar at the disposal of the authorities. Mr. Blundell was in the closest touch with the work of the, police, and he stated emphatically that the only criticism of the police he' heard waa by people outside of Napier. In the stricken town itself all the civilians had nothing but the? greatest admiration for the wonderfully organised work the police were carrying out under most exacting conditions. Whereas the police always worked in the civilians' interests^ they themselves were practically neglected, and had no one at their headquarters to prepare their food or look after them. Neither Sub-Inspector Lqpdell, who arrived in Napier at midnight on Tuesday, nor the constables under him, had any opportunity to reinovo their clothes before. Saturday night, and their sleep was limited to about two or three hours each day in the early hours of the morning. Their work, which largely concerned the identification of victims and the anawcring of inquiries, was of a most unpleasant and difficult nature, but they carried on with a fortitude and patience that was remarkable. Where bodies could not be' identified definitely all possible particulars were taken, and they were not buried until this became imperative. Even then, it was often necessary to exhume bodies to give peoplg an opportunity of identifying them," Mr. Blundell also spoke very highly of the marines and bluejackets, whose work was as magnificent as that of the police. They patrolled the city, he said, not with the idea of preventing looting, because in Napier looting was not even spoken of, but to watch against outbreaks of fire.- The part they played in recovering bodies was difficult and often dangerous, but they unhesitatingly carried on. They also did valuable service by patrolling the occupied private residences, issuing instructions regarding sanitation, and seeing that these instructions were carried out. Like the police, the naval units were regarded with the greatest admiration in Napier. .