UNSOLVED MURDER MYSTERIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 86, 2 July 1927, Page 9

UNSOLVED MURDER MYSTERIES

SKILL, IN DETECTION ANXIETY OF PUBLIC (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.') WELLINGTON, Friday. “THE public mind in Christchurch -*• is exceedingly disturbed at the non-success of the police in its inquiries in connection with the Burwood murder,” declared Mr D. G. Sullivan, Avon, in the House to-day, when presenting a question on the subject to the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Sullivan wished to know if the Minister were satisfied that the best experts available in New Zealand were engaged upon the task of tracing the person responsible for the murder of Miss Scarff, and if the Minister had given consideration to the advisability of introducing any outside experts for assisting in the inquiries. Mr. T. M. Wilford; We 'have not anything like enough police in this country.

Mr. Sullivan: Well, I don’t know anything about that, but the public mind in Christchurch is exceedingly disturbed. This is the fourth occasion in recent years that the New Zealand police have failed to trace those responsible for murders. The Minister of Justice, Hon. F. J. Rolleston, said the police officers engaged in the detection of this crime were among the best in New Zealand (Hear, hear, from Reform side) and inquiries were being diligently prosecuted, nothing being left undone to trace the murderer.

“I think,” went on the Minister, “that the detective force in New Zealand is as good as that of any other country, and nothing could be gained by making any importations from outside. (Hear, hear.) Later in the day, Mr. W. A. Veitch, leader of the Liberal Party, urged that something should be done with regard to the number of untraced crimes in New Zealand. He thought the police officers were called on to do too much work that was not properly within the scope of police duties.