POLICE PRAISED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 13

POLICE PRAISED

33 Club Luncheon

COMMISSIONER AS GUEST

Wellington business men connected with the motion picture industry paid tributes to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, 1.5.0., and through him to the New Zealand Police Force yesterday at a 33 Club luncheon at which Mr. Wohlmann was the guest of honour. The luncheon was held in the Royal Oak Hotel. The president of the club, Mr. 8. Craig, together with Mr. A. R. McElwain, welcomed Mr. Wohlmann. “We are proud of our force, which in New Zealand so splendidly upholds the traditions of British fair play and honesty, and which as a. reward usually receives scant praise, and more often than not Ignorant criticism,” Mr. McElwain said. “And much that goes to constitute the fine force that we know must be credited to the man at its head.” 'The commissioner was known aS an upright officer, a gentleman and a sportsman. He had brought to his high and exacting position wide vision and actual experience in all branches of police work. “I do think New Zealand has no reason to be ashamed of its police force,” Mr. Wohlmann said in reply. “It is recruited from all ranks of the people and is a truly democratic service. There are men from the plough and the bush, from the office and the ship— I was almost going to say from the university, for we have men of certain high qualifications. These men have their friends and relations, and. therefore we have a basis upon which the police force is able to work with some success. The public of New Zealand, because of their consideration for the force, recognise, I think, how much its success depends on their support.”