ELSIE WALKER INQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3927, 6 April 1929, Page 3

ELSIE WALKER INQUIRY.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. PO LICE EXONERATED. 'The report o'f the lOomanissio nor appointed by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) to inquire into the conduct of the position in connection with the Elsie Walker murder mystery completely exonerate the police officers concerned frojm any charges that have been levelled against them. The Commissioner (Mr. E. Page, 5.M.,) finds that the steps and inquiries 'taken by the police were prompt, thorough and exhaustive, and he expresses the view that they were well and capably directed throughout, and methodically and faithfully carried out. The existing rules and instructions to the police ifl the manner of prosecuting their inquiries and conducting their duties are deemed to be adequate. The report was considered in Cabinet at a meeting on Thursday afternoon, and was subsequently released for publication.

MINISTER’S SATISFACTION. A statement expressing satisfaction at the findings of the Commissioner, and (congratulating the po - lice on their exoneration from any charges levelled against them was made by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. T. M. Wilford) on Thursday afternoon in releasing the report for publication. “The Government and the people of New Zealand,” said Mr. Wilford, “will find satisfaction in the report of the Commissioner who has /dealt with the Elsie Walker inquiry. “In Auckland city, where the duties of the police are most onerous and 'multifarious, the Commissioner finds as a. fact that no fewer than 1000 people were interviewed by the police officers in order to elicit the mystery of the disappearance of Elsie Walker. He further finds that districts were ‘combed’ for information bearing upon the investigation, and that no fewer than 158 written statements were taken and no fewer than 243 written reports were 'made in relation to the same inquiry. These facts entirely justified in any (opinion the finding of the Commissioner, viz., that the investigations were ‘prompt, thorough, and exhaustive,’ while The steps and inquiries were well and capably directed throughout, and methodically and faithfully carried out.’

“We must not be misled in reading the report into saying, ‘Yes, but they didn’t find the murderer.’ My answer to that is that it has not been proved that Elsie Walker was murdered, nor is there any proof that any particular person killed Elsie Walker. The inquiry, it must be nlearly understood, was not instituted for the purpose of finding who murdered Elsie Walker (if she was imurdered), but for the purpose of finding whether the members of the Police Force entrusted with the investigation failed in their duty. By the Cbmimissioner’s report, in my opinion, they have been not only entirely cleared from even a suspicion of failure, but have been proved to 'be a zealous, capable, and conscientious body of public officers who have done their duty. “As Minister in charge of the police, and on (behalf ,of the Government, I heartily congratulate the officers concerned in the Elsie Walker inquiry on their complete exoneration from any charges which may have been made against them, and I congratulate them for the splendid efforts they made to unravel the mystery of the disappearance and ideath of the late Elsie Walker. It is good for New Zealand that this inquiry has been held, for it has proved, as 1 have always contended, that there is no finer body of police in the world than the members of our service here.”