£100 FOR CONSTABLE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 102, 27 October 1933, Page 13

£100 FOR CONSTABLE

MOTORISTS' APPRECIATION

ATTEMPT TO STOP CAR THIEF

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, October 26.

TKo courage displayed by Constable Edward Stewart ou the night of September 19, when ho attempted to arrest a niotcr-car thiof in Grey Lynn, received public recognition when he was presented with a cheque for £100 from New Zealand motorists. Constable Stewart was seriously injured when he was crushed against a stationary car, and ho is still a patient at the Auckland Hospital, where the presentation was made by the Mayor (Mr. G. \V. Hutchison). "I am here as Mayor of the city at the request of all the automobile associations of the Dominion to present to you something tangible to mark the motorists' appreciation of your attempt to apprehend what motorists call a car thiof, but which tho law is pleased to term a converter of cars," said Mr. Hutchison. The cheque had been subscribed to by members of eight automobilo associations, and also by tho Pioneer Sports Club, and the Ashburton, South Canterbury, Southland, and Nelson Motor-cycle Clubs. Inspector Hollis, on behalf of tho Police Department, thanked the auto mobile associations for the enthusiastic manner in which they had taken the matter up. Constable Stewart ■ had simply done his duty. It was very pleasing for men of the Department to know that motorists thought so much of the constable's effort that they had made him a handsome presentation. Tho inspector said ho hoped that Constable Stewart would not be permanently crippled. Whatever happened, he would be retained in tho service as long as his health allowed. "I only did what any other constable would do under the circumstances," said Constable Stewart. "Any other constable would do the same thing tomorrow in such a case; it is only a matter of doing your duty." Constable Stewart added that he was only sorry that his attempt to catch the thiof had not been ul, as it was seldom that the police got the opportunity of catching such an offender red-handed. Tho handsome cheque would compensate him for the injuries ho had received. He asked that his appreciation should be convoyed to all those interests which had subscribed to the presentation.