EX-SUPERINTENDENT C. W. HENDRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 11

EX-SUPERINTENDENT C. W. HENDRY.

i< TRIBUTE -'ROM CITIZENS. LONG SERVICE AT AUCKLAND. Mr. C. W. Hendry, who lecently retired from the position of superintendent of police at Auckland, received a presentation from sporting bodies and business men of the city yesterday afternoon, the ceremony taking place in the Otahuhu Trotting Club's rooms. Before presenting Mr. Hendry with a well-filled purse of sovereigns, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, who acted as chairman in the absence of the Mayor, said that the late superintendent was held in the' highest esteem by all who knew him. Speaking as chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. Mackenzie stated that at times when other oorts of New Zealand had experienced serious waterfront troubl*s, Auckland had avoided them, the latter fact being due largely : tc the efficiency and tact on the part ; of the superintendent and his staff. In times of trouble the police and harbour officials had met in conference, and the result had been highly satisfactory. Superintendent Hendry's career was a credit to the police force of the Dominion and an example for his junior officers to follow. Throughout his service he had displayed a marked fairness, and he was held in the highest esteem both for his ' manner, in carrying out law and order | and as a man. It was very pleasing that Mr. Hendry had decided to remain in | residence in Auckland, where he had I spent so many years of his life as a police officer. Superintendent W. G. Wohlmann said that he had known his late chief as a friend for something more than eighteen i years. Mr. Hendry had endeared himself to the force by the essential fair-1 ness with which he treated all .officers under him, and it was much regretted that he was retiring. Despite the fact that the police regulations stated that Mr. Hendry had reached the age for retirement from the force he was to all intents and purposes as young and active as he was twenty years ago. Previous police superintendents at Auckland, said Mr. Wohlmann, had blazed j tne trail and made it easy, and their ex-1 ample would serve as an inspiration and as a guide. In Auckland the fact that the force had the support of the people j made for easy duty. A policeman in j difficulties could ask a civilian for as- I sistance and could get it, and where ( those conditions existed the force was i sound, and could function as it was supposed to do. Messrs. C. H. Drysdale and E. V. Sutherland also spoke in praiseworthy terms of Mr. Hendry's services as a, police officer, and of his sterling qualities as a man. After returning thanks for the presentation and for the eulogistic references which had been made in his favour, Mr. Hendry said that he was | almost at the end of his police career. I His services, which would total fortyseven years and thirty-six days, were j very nearly a record for New Zealand. He had first enlisted in the Armed Constabulary in anticipation of war, and bad later been transferred to the police force. Since that date be had been stationed in all parts of New Zealand, although the greater part of his time had been spent in Auckland. Mr. Hendry paid a high tribute to the loyalty and , help of his wife, whom he described as a better "man" than himself. Throughout his- service as superintendent, said Mr. Hendiy, he had had the loyal co-operation of all ranks, and he was leaving behind a very efficient j force. The detective branch, which' contained men whose names were known all over the British Empire and America,' was an excellent one, Chief Detective Cuinming's being a man of outstanding ability.' I In years gone by, Auckland had had I her "pushes" and her hoodlums, and it I had not been safe for citizens to walk the streets. Mr. Hendry recalled a job which he and one of his fellow officers had accomplished in cleaning up a particularly notorious area in Auckland. The work had occupied nearly two years but during that period nearly two hundred disorderly men and women.had been arrested in the district. Cases of brutal assault and robbery with violence had been also very commor in past years. Now things were changed, and the streets could be walked in safety. For the latter fact, the people of Auck-1 land were indebted to the splendid service of tlie members of the police force.