THE FIRE BUG

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 3

THE FIRE BUG

DISPUTED OPINIONS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, September 22

“To some extent Mr Wilford is.right and to some extent he is wrong. To some extent Mr Howard is right and to some extent Air Howard is wrong. There is an atmosphere of doubt about the whole matter. That was the statement made by a prominent police officer, when shown the reported-remark of the Hon. T. M. Wilford that there was no “ fire bug ” in*'Christchurch. “ There was one feature which connects several of_the big fires, providing it was not a matter of suggestion. That is where the doubt lies. The newspapers published full details of the circumstances surrounding; each fire—l don’t know whether this particular feature was mentioned—and it is possible that this feature was used by the criminals concerned to connect fires, which possibly were not the work of die same man. That is where the newspapers may have.done us a great deal of harm in our work. There are some things which are harmful to our work if published, just as publicity may help us tremendously in other ways.” Regarding Mr Howard’s statement that if the police had had psychological training, they would have been able to put tfieir fingers on the wanted man in a short time, he said that not all the psychology in the world would help the police, whilst they were tied down by law, as they were at present. The New Zealand police force ranked amongst the most successful in the world as regards the success of their investigations, but they were not always able to get convictions.

Other police officers questioned, expressed similar views. “From the point of view o>f my fire at the 'house in Tennyson street, the Minister’s statement is rubbish,” commented the Mayor of Christchurch. “In that case, four fires were delibately started. In Canon Mutter’s house there were three different fires, borne of,the fires in Christchurch may have -been accidental, but there is no doubt that the majority were wilful and incendiary. The Minister is talking nonsense.”

Superintendent 0. C. "Warner, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, declined to enter into any .controversy with the .Minister of Justice or with the Police Department. “ I wouldn’t like to make any statement,” he said. ”If that’s the' Minister’s opinion, lie’s quite entitled to' state it.”