A SPLENDID TRIBUTE.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 26 November 1919, Page 3

A SPLENDID TRIBUTE.

Polico Commissioner O’Donovan, in making an address at tlio funeral of the late Constable Dudding, who was killed in Wellington recently while in execution of his duty, paid a splendid tribute to the dead policeman. His remarks were so appropriate, and formed such an eloquent proclamation of the vocation of,police officers generally that*the press throughout the Dominion has been requested to publish the address in full. We have pleasure in reprinting below the text of the Commissioner’s remarks: — "We are banded together to preserve for civilisation the priceless boon of peace, and to maintain the conditions that promote it. Ours is not the duty of the soldier who gallantly takes up

his weapons and goes forth, as we have lately seen, to fight the foes that threaten to overwhelm our countries, and even our civilisation. When that duty is done once for all (he soldier rests upon his honours in peace. But that peace applies only to the external foe. All that the soldier lias achieved docs not necessarily secure that internal national pence for whose preservation the Police Force exists. That is the work of the police officer, who from time immemorial has been known to the law as a peace officer. This work is not entered upon with the pomp and circumstance attending the departure of the soldier to the.front. Its circumstances have become so familiar to tfie ordinary citizen that he rarely, if ever, thinks of the reality: that the coh- ( stable is at all times in 1 lie line of battle, ready always to risk his life in the execution of the duties which lie has sworn to perform faithfully and to the best of his ability. The soldier in battle is often liable to be ambushed, but the police-, officer throughout his whole career is liable to fail into fluambushes which exist in the dark streets and alleys; the burglarcd dwelling or shop; in the unprepared encounter with the lunatic, the drunkard, tlie street rowdy, and the domestic disturber. At all times-he literally carries his life in his hands. “Our dead comrade here is a witness of the truth of what I say. He is the last of a long list of men of our Force who have laid down their lives in the execution of duty, either in obedience

to orders, in answer to requests fur their protection, or in response to a still higher call to risk their own lives to save others. Their unhesitating obedience to the call of duty in the face of all risks is an example to us.

"From this graveside you return to your daily routine of duties with your vocation exalted by the conduct and death of our comrade. You are the witnesses here of his fidelity unto death. Wo leave him here; his sightless eyes now look up to the firmament above, and watch upon the countless revolutions of sun and moon and stars, awaiting, with the patience and sub-

mission to higher control that characterised him during life, for that last day* mentioned in the burial service read by the minister of the church,

when,the last trumpet calls men o judgment. On that dread day and in thht vale of judgment you will be the witnesses, as you arc here now, that this our comrade was faithful and obedient unto death, and gave up his life for his fellow-being. Peace to his ashes, eternal bliss to his brave spirit.’’