PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 854, 24 December 1929, Page 9

PUBLIC TESTIMONIAL

SERGEANT CRUICKSHANK’S SERVICES ONEHUNGA PRESENTATION All sections of the community were represented in the Onehunga Borough Council Chambers last evening to pay tribute to Sergeant J. A. Cruickshank, who is retiring from the police force after 30 years’ service, the last nine of which have been spent in Onehunga. The Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, presided and presented Sergeant Cruickshank with a bulky wallet of notes which, had been given by the citizens of the borough and several of the leading business houses in the City.

Speaking for the Onehunga-Manu-kau Chamber of Commerce, its president, Mr. D. 11. Kirk-Jones, alh:ded to the sergeant as a friend to all who had been so unfortunate as to transgress against the law, giving them the full benefit of any doubt. He had always met any reasonable request made by the chamber, and it would be a difficult matter to replace him. Mr. E. V. Sutherland, on behalf of tho Manukau Licensing Committ *e, said that during Sergeant Cruickshank's term in Onehunga the «onduct of the hotels had been excellently preserved.

Mr. D. A. Sutherland, J.P. and district coroner, had always found that in the many sad cases of bereavement in which the sergeant had assisted him he ever displayed a sympathetic and kindly attitude toward those in trouble The Rev. D. D. Scott alluded to the sergeant’s capacity of holding the scales of justice with such a poise as to cause them to lean to the side of mercy. He had always helped a man to rise, no matter how badly he had muddled his past life. Sergeant Cruickshank, in acknowledging the gift, said that he would always look back on his service in Onehunga as a pleasant memory. He had been willingly supported by the past Mayors and councillors, the Licensing Committee and the Chamber of Commerce, and considered that for ability and fairness the Onehunga justices of the peace had no equals in the Dominion. At the close fo his remarks the sergeant and Mrs. Cruickshank were heartily cheered.

Opportunity was taken to extend a welcome to the district to Sergeant D. J. O’Neill, who has been appointed to succeed Sergeant Cruickshank at Onehunga, Mr. Jordan remarking that the Department of Justice had made a wise choice.