Police Reply To Critic Of Goose Bay Search

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 14

Police Reply To Critic Of Goose Bay Search

Questions asked in a letter to the editor of "The Press” about the search for a schoolboy hunter who accidentally shot and killed himself near Goose Bay have been answered by Superintendent C. L. Scanlan, of the Christchurch police.

The correspondent, “Oaro,” wrote:

“With regard to the search at Goose Bay there are a - few questions 1 would like to ask: (1) Why were only 12 men sent out on Friday and only 40 on Saturday? (2) Why did the men not stay out at night? (3) Why was the Marlborough search and rescue organisation not called in to help? The men spent between five to seven hours walking to and from the area each day. Was this not a waste of valuable time? On Saturday we were told ‘lf the boy is not found by 2 p.m. they won’t find him today.’ What about the rest of the afternoon? (4) Why was not more notice taken of Mr Dowle? A searcher informed us on Sunday afternoon that if more notice had been taken of Mr Dowle the boy would have been found on Saturday. This search has brought up a lot of whys. Where are the answers?”

Police Comment

Mr Scanlan said in his comment that numbers included in search parties were as indicated by information available at the time and by consultation among those concerned in the control of the search. The men did not stay out at night because experienced, proven men considered such a course unwise. The Marlborough organisation was not called in because there was no shortage of manpower. “1 think I should add that neither 1 nor any member of my staff is able to recall any instance where there has been any shortage of voluntary helpers in any such search,” Mr Scanlan said. He added that as the search area was only four miles from the home of Mr Dowle, he was unable to understand the statement that between five and seven hours was spent walking to and from the area each day.

“The statement, ‘lf the boy is not found by 2 p.m. they won’t find him today,’ did not, as far as I can ascertain, come from anyone in any sort of authority,” , Mr Scanlan

said. “I would be very disappointed if it did, as it is so obviously and utterly illogical. Letter Quoted

“I have on my file a letter from Mr Dowle which clearly shows that he did not consider that he was not taken notice of, and also reports from my own staff to the effect that his assistance was invaluable. The final paragraph of Mr Dowle’s letter (quoted by permission) reads: ‘No criticism can be made of those engaged in the search, and we should be grateful so many are ready to give their time to such operations.’

“I agree with Mr Dowle that we should be grateful to the many willing and highly skilled volunteers for the demanding, arduous, and often thankless public service which they perform. “As your correspondent has not seen fit to disclose his identity, I am not in a position to know whether he was one of the searchers in this case. If he was, then he should know the quality of the men in control of the search and also that no-one could have been expected to do more,” said Mr Scanlan. To suggest that men who took part in the search approached their task with anything less than enthusiasm, ior that their decisions were I arrived at with anything less ; than mature, serious and [thoughtful judgment, was a i very poor reward to them for the services they so unselfish- ; ly performed.