PRAISE FOR POLICE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 48

PRAISE FOR POLICE

(xV Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Police activities round the Wellington harbour on April 10 this year were almost beyond praise, according to the report of the Court of Inquiry into the foundering of the Wahine. The report said the police were beset by many problems on the morning of April 10. The storm ravaged the area and caused much damage and 'danger. The police were constantly being called upon by the general public for assistance; nevertheless, the force seemed never to have lost sight of its obligations should the Wahine be involved in disaster requiring the rescue of her people. The report said that although the greatest dangers and the most harrowing I scenes were encountered by |the police on the eastern shore of the harbour, the 'greater number of survivors came ashore at either Seaitoun or Wellington wharf, Iwhere a total of 515 was recorded. The police organised ample i transport at Seatoun, and

survivors were supplied with hot drinks, and with blankets supplied by the Union Steam Ship Company which were wrapped round survivors as they came ashore. Receiving Station A receiving station was set up at the Wellington Railway Station and police brought survivors into the railway station, obtained the necessary particulars, and generally looked after them by making transport and other arrangements. Survivors were given hot food and drink and those who had nowhere to go were! handed over to the Red Cross I and Salvation Army, both ofj which organisations assisted I greatly. Those survivors who required medical attention were taken either to hospitals at Wellington or Lower Hutt. The police also had to try to establish the number of survivors: the report said much patient work solved the problems. “Many civilian volunteers were accepted and joined the police officers who went to give aid to survivors landing on the shoreline,” said the report. As survivors eame in to the heavy surf on the eastern side of the harbour men went into the sea to help them out of the water. “Conditions were terrifying. At many points along that coast there are jagged rocks. The rescuers were wading into the surf and dragging survivors up to the beach and then returning to the water. The waves were estimated at up to 20ft in height.

“There is no doubt that the rescuers themselves were exposed to great personal danger and it is probably best simply to say that the Court is satisfied that the police,' well assisted by their civilian helpers, did everything they possibly could, in many cases with a complete disregard for personal safety. “It is easy to understand why Senior-Sergeant Courtney said some of the men engaged in this work were in the end as shocked and exhausted as many of the survivors."