POLICE MATRON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 11

POLICE MATRON.

DEATH IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Many folk whose lives have come in * conflict with the law will deeply regret the loss of Police Matron Kate McCor-| iriack, who passed away in Cbristcliurch 011 Tuesday,-says the "Star-Sun." Affec-i tion in her was highly developed and aliej had that expansive Irish nature wliichl seer 11a capable of taking the whole world to its heart. In the course of her duties j at the Clirlstchurch Police Station she ( had many "tough" customers—women j on whom drink had taken a hold and I those who arc called unfortunate —to,, deal. with. They were not always in the , most reasonable frame of mind when'

most/ reiiMonauie name ui iiimu wueji they .cjyne into her hands and their behaviour . was '■ sometimes violent/'but Matron Kate seldom found it necessary to exert her great physical strength. She left Ireland too young, probably, to have kissed the Blarney Stone, but she had a "gift of the gab" which nearly always won round the wildest of those who suffered detention at the hands of the police, even if she spent hours ill persuasion when she could have accomplished her duty in a few minutes by force. When her "customers" had made the trip to the Magistrate's Court and received their sentences, Matron Kate's interest in them did not cease. She would watch for their emergence from gaol.and follow them up'and, if permitted, "mother" them. To. her, the worst cases were never bad: they were just unlucky or wrongheaded. The days when she was not on duty at the police station were often spent visiting the homes or lodgings of such acquaintances, and if they were having hard times her own pocket would supply groceries or other necessities that were lacking. If anyone questioned her spending her money in this way she would laugh the protest aside with the answer, "All, I've no one but myself to spend it on."