POPULAR OFFICER

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 19

POPULAR OFFICER

INSPECTOR. LANDER

FAREWELLED BY FORCE

Genuine regret at the departure of Inspector J. Lander from., Wellington was expressed by officers and members off the Police Force yesterday afternoon when an opportunity was taken to farewell him prior to\ his leaving for Warigarnii.:; - Inspector Lander has been stationed in Wellington for 13i years and is a' well-known figure in the city.

Inspector Lander was- well known to all of the members of the Polico Force present, Superintendent A. T. Emerson ?a£d in making his farewell remarks. They were all sorry to lose, him and could not let him go without some expression of their regard. Personally he could not speak too highly of _ Sir. Lander. He was not only an ideal police officer, but a splendid man and good,friend. On behalf of tho Wellington Force Superintendent Emerson wished Inspector Lsinrlcr success and prosperity in his new homo and presented him with a silver tea and coffee service. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach said that Inspector Lander had won the eonfta-1 ence and respect of all the officers and ' men he had worked with. He had alwavs been popular with members of the Force and members of the general; public' Senior-Sergeant J. Dempsoy, Sub-In-spector J. Carrol (Detective Branch), Senior-Sergeant G. Sivyer (Petone), Senior-Sergeant D. L. Calwell (Tarnnaki Street), Senior-Sergeant S. J. Martin (Wellington South), and other members of the Force representing country districts and the district office also spoke, and a letter of apology was received from Senior-Sergeant D. J. O'Neill, who was on duty. Prolonged, applause greeted Inspector Lander when he rose to reply. During the years he had been in Wellington he had been very happy, he said. Ho thanked both officers and men for the loyal support he had received while in the city, and said that ho was glad of the opportunity to acknowledge the debt he felt he owed to them all. He appreciated their beautiful gift and tho I complimentary remarks they had made, but he felt that he scarcely deserved them. He had always tried to temper justice with mercy and during his- service in 'Wellington had found every branch of the service willing to cooperate with him.