ISLAND POLICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1936, Page 8

ISLAND POLICE

INSPECTOR RETURNS

After spending three years in the position of inspector of police in Karotonga, Mr. F. W. Edwards, accompanied by his wife and two children, returned to New Zealand by the Makura today. Mr. Edwards stated when interviewed by "The Post" that he liked the life in the islands and had found the work interesting, but had decided to return to New Zealand because of his children, who are now about school age.

The Rarotonga police district covered a wide expanse of the Pacific, Mr. Edwards said; one station being seven hundred and fifty miles to the north of Rarotonga. The constables were all natives and were very reliable, some of them having been in the Force for many years. They numbered about forty, eight being on Rarotonga and the others doing duty on about a dozen islands in the group.

Although the white population of the islands was comparatively small, said Mr. Edwards, they had a happy time, as the natives were well behaved and the Europeans had all facilities for spoi't and entertainment, including tennis, cricket, and Rugby, and sound pictures, which were received after being shown in New Zealand. Mails from America and New Zealand were received once a month, and communication between the islands in his district was carried 'on by trading schooners.

Mr. Edwards's place in Rarotonga has been taken by Constable A. Carlyori, who was last, stationed in Wellington.