CONFIDENCE IN POLICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 11

CONFIDENCE IN POLICE

MR. WILFORD ON ELSIE WALKERJNQUIRY “NO FINER SERVICE IN WORLD” Press Association WELLINGTON, Thursday. Complete confidence in the police force of New Zealand is expressed by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, in commenting on the report of Mr. E. Page, S.M., on the inquiry into the Elsie Walker cae-e. The Hon. T. M. Wilford says the Government and the people of New Zealand will find satisfaction in the report. “We must not be misled,” says Mr. Wilford, “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 proof that any particular person killed her.” In Mr. Wilford s opinion, the Commissioner’s report not only clears the police from even a suspicion of failure, but shows them to be a zealous, capable, aud conscientious body of public officers, who have done their duty. As Minister, and on behalf of the Government, he heartily congratulated the officers concerned in the Elsie Walker inquiry on their complete exoneration from any charges which may have been made against them, and on their splendid efforts to unravel the mystery. “It is good for New Zealand.” says the Minister, “that this inquiry has been held, for it has proved, as i have always contended, that there is no finer body of police in the world than the members of our service here.”