FAREWELL FUNCTION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 95, 16 January 1926, Page 4

FAREWELL FUNCTION

PROMOTED POLICE OFFICERS TRIBUTES BY BENCH AND BAR Tn the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon members of the Bench and Bar assembled to bid farewell to SubInspector Hollis and Chief Detective Kemp, both of whom are about to leave Wellington to ’ take up higher positions in other parts of New Zealand. Messrs. W. G. Riddell, S.M., and li. I’age, S.M., were on the bench. Also present were Mr. W. B. Mcllveney (Superintendent of Police), Mr. O’Donovan (ex-Coinmissioner of Police), !Mr. A. 11. Wright (retiring Commissioner of Police), ami Mr. P. S. K. Macassey (Crown Prosecutor). The legal profession was well represented. Mr. R. Kennedy, president of the Wellington Daw Society, said that Inspector Hollis had been in Wellington in his present office for about a year, and he would take with him upon his promotion to his new office the congratulations of all who had met him. Chief-Detective Kemp had been in Wellington for four years and had filled an office in which he had very frequently come into contact with solicitors. ' They had heard with regret of his impending departure, although they naturally congratulated him on his well-earned preferment. It was because Chief-Detective Kemp had been uniformly courteous, fair and just that they had assembled to extend to him their best wishes on his promotion. (Applause.) , Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. On behalf of the members of the Bench, he congratulated' Messrs. Hollis and Kemp, on being ' promoted to the lank of inspector. Both were officers of experience -and ability, and had been here sufficiently long .to enable the Bench to form" some estimate of their worth. ■ Sub-inspector Hollis had been in Wellington for a little over a year, and prior to coming to this city had had considerable experience both in the detective force and in the uniform branch' of the service. The knowledge so gained had been put into valuable application ’ in Wellington. Chief-Detective Kemp was better known to the Bench because he had received part of his early tiaining here under Chief-Detective McGrath, who was one of the ablest detectives in New Zealand. He had a very sound knowledge of the law and. set a high standard of efficiency in Court work. He had always carried out l>i« duties iu a conscientious and able manner, and thus had gained the respect of ■ the Bench, members of the Bar, and the general public. The work of both Chief-Detective Kemp xnd Sub-Inspector Hollis was noted for its careful preparation, and both of them had on all occasions, when it was possible, said anything that was in favour of the unfortunate people who were brought before the Court. “The Magistrates in Wellington are deeply Indebted to them for having on all occasions'., discharged their duties with the proper sense of British justice,” added Mr. Riddell. “We regret the. Joss of the services of these two officers, but at the same time wish them every, success in their new positions.” (Applause.) Mr. I.- Salck, on behalf of the members of ■ the Justices’ Association, expressed appreciation of the assistance given by. Sub-Inspector Hollis and Chief-Detective Kemp. “This is indeed rather a very cmbarrassirij* occasion, but nevertheless a proud one,” said Chief-Detective Kemp in reply. The position of a chieidetectivc. in Wellington, he continued, was no sinecure. It entailed endless cares and worries, and if he had lived tip to tlie standard of his predecessors he had nothing to cavil over. He I thanked the members of the Press, and the Justices’ Association, for the'.kinoness he had always received from themHe desired especially to thank Mr. O’Donovan, his old friend and superior officer. “This is probably my last appearance in this Court,” he said, “and I say it with feeling of regret, as it has been in this building that I have had my little victories , and losses. I came here as a. young man full of ambition, and I go'away with the realisation that the fulfilment of one’s ambition is little more than an empty dream. You who are able ’to judge have put the hall-mark on my work-; here, and it will be my ambition to see- that that hall-mark goes unsullied during the few remaining years that I have in the force.” (Applause.) Sub-Inspector Hollis thanked both the Bench and Bar for the kind things said about him. He had always endeavoured, he said, to carry out liis duties conscientiously and fairly, and was pleased to know that his cflorts had met with appreciation. (Applause.)

Later at the Detective Office Mr. Kemp was presented with a pair of field glasses by the detective staff. In making the presentation Superintendent Mcllveney said while it was his'.pleasure to have had Mr. Kemp working under him, he had observed the very able manner in which Mr. Kemp had carried out the duties which had devolved on him. “I know just liow. valuable your expressions of opinion have been.” he said, “and how valuable they have been not only to me, but in the head office.”

Mr. P. S. K. Macassey said he had worked with Mr. Kemp in connection with the punishment of crime in both Courts, and he paid a tribute to the chief detective’s outstanding knowledge of criminal law, bis sound judgment, and his remarkable fairness. ‘‘l am sorry he is going, away,” said Mr. MacaSsey. “I shall miss him very much indeed, but he will carry wjth him tiie very best wishes of the Bar of Wellington.”

Mr. T. P. Mills, probation officer,' also spoke, and described the chief detective as a strong humanitarian with a large heart. “If lie has ever erred, it has been on the side of the accused person,” he said. "He has a heart veg)' liig, and I have learnt to love him. I wisli him God-speed in his new work.” Detective Walsh, senior detective, paid a tribut'e to .Mr. Kemp as an 'administrator and a head-Of the staff. “He lias been an ideal chief detective in every way,” be Said. Mr. Kemp bricy replied, and said, he onlv wished he coitld express-the sentiments he felt at severing bis connection with Wellington after a quarter of ■ a centurv’s work. He paid a tribute to flic detective staff, which he said, was tiie best in New Zealand, .containing men of good cliafaeter, good families, zeal, ami ability. “I hope we will always 119 on the vei'j’ best of friendly terms,” he concluded.. . - ■ A canteen of cutlery. was presented to Mr. Kemp for Mrs. Kemp. Mr. Kemp left .for. the sputh last night to take up his new duties. . /