OFFICER RETIRING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 7

OFFICER RETIRING

SERGEANT CRUICKSHANK OF ONEHUNGA RECOGNITION OF SERVICES The recent transfers and promotions in the police department have brought about the retirement, after 30 years’ service, of Sergeant James A. Cruickshanlc, who has had charge of the Onehunga station for the past nine years. He joined the force in Dunedin as a constable in June, 1898, and was transferred to Bluff in 1900, where he remained for the next seven years, when he was placed in charge of the Ross station, on the West Coast of the South Island. His duties at Ross were many and varied. In addition to his ordinary police activity he was clerk of the Magistrate’s and Warden’s

Courts and bailiff for both; mining ; registrar, receiver of gold revenue, j registrar of births, deaths and mar- ; riages. Labour agent and inspector of ; factories. The wide experience thus gained ] earned for him the sergeant’s stripes, and He was promoted to the Mount Cook Police Station at Wellington in 1914. From there he was placed in charge of the ■Wellington South Station in 1917 and came to Onehunga in 19.20. Sergeant Cruickshank is now enjoying three months’ leave of absence on full pay and will finally retire under the statutory age limit in February next. He has been succeeded at Onehunga by Sergt. D. J. O’Neill, late, of Taihape. During the nine years in which Sergeant Cruickshank has had charge of the Onehunga police force the good name of the borough and surrounding district has been well maintained. Crime has been kept in check and pub-

lie and private property has been efficiently protected. He has always held out a helping hand to the wayward, encouraging them to do better, while his prosecutions in court have invariably been conducted impartially. ! with a strong leaning to the side of I mercy. The citizens of Onehunga, at an informal meeting, have decided not to allow Sergeant Cruickshank to retire | into private life without recognition being made of his services to the communitv. A sub-committee comprising i the Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, Cr. A. S. Tonkin.’ Messrs. E. V. Sutherland. | member of the Manukau Licensing ■ Committee, and J. E. Green. J.P.. have been appointed to arrange for the presentation of a public testimonial to him at the Onehunga Borough Council . Chambers at 7 p.m. on Monday, Decerni ber 2i»-