Royal touch to centenary

Press, 28 February 1986, Page 1

Royal touch to centenary

PA Wellington The Queen’s visit to Police centennial celebrations at the Police College turned out to be an extraRoyal occasion yesterday. Speaking at the end ofa_. graduation ceremony for the college’s hundredth recruit wing, the Queen told police and visitors she had conferred the title “Royal” on the college, so that its new name would be the Royal New Zealand Police College. “I wish it well and I extend to all members of the New Zealand Police

my warm good wishes as you enter upon your next 100 years of service to the country,” the Queen said. First on the agenda for the Queen'was.the unveiling of a memorial to the .18 policemen who were killed on duty during the last 100 years. The Bishop of Wellington, the Right Rev. Sir Edward Norman, conducted a short memorial service. Later, the Queen watched police displays, inspected the 1 hundredth recruit wing, presented graduation prizes, and attended a luncheon.

The police had had to become more; .sophisticated in a wider sphere of skills today, the Queen said in. her address. .She .< said , the police could only go so far though, and were having to rely on members of the public to help them. “So schemes such as the Neighbourhood Support Group are much to be commended as a way in which people can demonstrate their wish to co-operate with the police,” she said. The Queen also opened a police museum which

contained the efforts., which had been - made to r salvage the history' aricTartefacts of New Zealand police highlights and heroes. . But the main pomp and ceremony of the day was reserved•i.fdr. the. parade. ground, where the Queen inspected the hundredth recruit wing to the strains of a combined police band. The 96 recruits, including two women and two members of the Cook Islands Constabulary, then marched past and the Queen took the salute.