POLICE FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1931, Page 6

POLICE FORCE

LOYAL AND EFFICIENT. EULOGISTIC SPEECH BY MINISTER. WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. The Government’s appreciation of tlie services of the New Zealand police force during the present year was expressed by the Minister of Justice, the Hon J. G. vobbe, in an address to officers and men of the force at the Wellington central . station this afternoon. He spoke to a large gathering in the station yard, and he paid a high tribute to both the uniform and plain clothes branches. The Minister said he had sought an opportunity of ' addressing the force entirely on lii.s own initiative, having been invited by no one, for he was anxious that he should express his appreciation of the loyalty and efficiency that had been shown by the Police Department throughout the year. He fully realised that the year had been a difficult one, for crime was apt to flourish during tunes of depression. As a member of the Government lie considered it his duty to state officially that the ‘force had given the utmost satisfaction. It had gone about its work with the idea of giving the least possible amount of trouble to tire- public generally. It was gratifying to know that there was a spirit of loyalty and satisfaction throughout the force which, ip common with other branches of the public service, had been subjected to salary and wage cut. No finer police forces than those throughout tlie Empire were to lie found in the world, and they were known lor their honesty and efficiency. The London policeman was famous among travellers, and it was gratifying to know that people could turn to the police of the Dominion for assistance when it was needed. The navy was often referred to as the silent service, but the term could he well applied to the police force, for it did its work and said nothing. WORK DONE CHEAPLY. Another important consideration was that tlie force did its work cheaply. a fact that appealed to a Minister at a time like the present. The upkeep of the force cost the Dominion 6s O.jd per head of population each year, whereas tlie cost in Australia was 10s 4d or about 71 per cent, more. Air Cobbe paid tribute to tlie work of the police in Napier and Hastings after the great earthquake of last February, when Inspector J. Cummings and his staff were responsible for carrying out their duty in the face of fearful odds in a manner that should lie an inspiration to every man in the force of New Zealand. The force was well aware of tlie action of the constable who carried on, in spite of the fact that his wife and child had both been killed, and his loynltv to 1 his duty was worthy of the highest praise. In addition, the work of the detective force was worthy of mention and it had been responsible for the carrying out of many difficult cases to a successful conclusion during the year.

The Minister wished the members of the force the compliments of the season and he expressed the hope ( that the work of the coining year would he attended by that show of loyalty and initiative that had for so long marked the activities of the department.