INSPECTOR CUMMINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 7

INSPECTOR CUMMINGS

GUEST AT FAREWELL FUNCTION TRIBUTES FROM COLLEAGUES OF THE POLICE FORGE AN EFFICIENT AND POPULAR OFFICER Numerous _ and sincere were the tributes paid to the character and ability of Inspector J. Cummings by the members of the Dunedin Police Force who spoke at a farewell gathering given in honour of this officer at the police station last night. The function was very largely attended, _ and Superintendent Eccles, who presided, presented Mr Cummings with very fine gifts for each member of his family. Mr Cummings will shortly leave for Wellington on promotion to the commissioner’s office, where lie will probably specialise in criminal investigation work, C.I.D, WORKER. Superintendent Eccles said that in many ways it was not a pleasant duty to have to say farewell to Inspector Cummings, even though they all knew that he was going away on promotion. Inspector Cummings had won his way into the highest esteem of his colleagues in the force and of the public, and they were sorry to see him go. However, they could not help being pleased with the fact that he was leaving to take up a higher post, and so was meeting with well-deserved success. In outlining the history of the inspector’s distinguished career in tho New Zealand Police Force, the speaker mentioned the rapid promotion which had come Mr Cummings’s way in Auckland, where, before coming to Dunedin in 1930 as sub-inspector, he had served as acting detective, detective, detectivesergeant, chief detective, and senior sergeant. The career of Inspector Cummings, continued Superintendent Eccles, was an outstanding example for young men who wished to get on in the service. His swift promotion had been earned by ability, energy, and strict attention to duty. The great thing in the force was service, and Mr Cummings, by means of his great qualifications, had always given honourable service. He had shown great ability in both branches of the service, but to his (the speaker’s) mind he was especially strong in the branch called the C.I.D. In that field he had proved himself outstandingly efficient, and no doubt the powers at headquarters in Wellington thought they would like to have such a man attached to the staff at the commissioner’s office. It was a good idea, for the time was ripe to have there a man who could give his attention to that class of work. He was safe in saying that Inspector Cummings had very few equals in criminal investigation, and he thought that this was a truth which the department realised. He was sure they all regretted that he was leaving Dunedin. Personally, he regretted the inspector’s departure very much. During the seven months he had been associated with him in Dunedin he had found him very efficient, and he hoped* that he would get on well in the service. He wished Mr and Mrs Cummings and their daughter and son all health and happiness in their new sphere. Inspector Cummings would not find a city cleaner as far as crime was concerned than their Edinburgh oi‘ the South, (Applause.) UNLIMITED ENERGY.

Mr J. C. Willis (ex-superintendent at Dunedin) said that, although it was to be regretted that Mr Cummings was leaving them, tho parting was tempered by the fact that he had been called to a high and important position in the Commissioner’s office in Wellington. It must bo gratifying to Mr Cummings to know that, out of the whole of the New Zealand Police Force, he had been singled out for that position. From what he had learned of Mr Cummings during their three and a-half years’ association at tho Dunedin station he felt that he would do great credit to his new post. Mr Cummings did not adhere to union hours; ho was a worker all the time. He thought it was that factor, combined with his exceptional ability, which had carried him to his present position. He had heard it said that tho inspector was a hard man. Perhaps he was in his attitude towards shirkers, but no man who was keen on his job and who showed that he was anxious to do his best had ever found him hard. He himself knew of several cases in which Mr Cummings had put his hand into In’s pocket to help men whom, in the course of his duty, he had been called upon to prosecute. He certainly was a disciplinarian, but,_ as one coiild not have law without discipline, discipline had to be maintained. Without discipline in tho service they would be a mere rabble. During the time he had known Mr Cummings he had found him full of unlimited energy. He had also found him to be a man of high ideals, who placed tho public interests before his own convenience. He was a policeman the whole twenty-four hours of the day, and that was what every member of the force who wished to get on should be. He was sure that the young men would all miss Mr Cummings’s kindly assistance and advice, and he felt that they would all join him in wishing Mr Cummings and his family happiness, prosperity, and advancement in the future. (Applause.) FURTHER APPRECIATION.

Senior-sergeant Cameron said h© had first met Inspector Cummings in the firing squad which did duty at the interment of the Rt. Hon. Richard Seddon. Since then they had been closely associated and had always been friends. He had to thank Mr Cummings for his frankness, and for the just and fair treatment he at all times accorded everyone who worked under him. It was distinctly noticeable that all men who appeared before him received fair, treatment, and he was never harsh towards defaulters. He felt sure that Mr Cummings need have no thought but that, under the guidance of Superintendent Eccles, the Dunedin force would uphold its good name. The good name which Mr Cummings had earned for Dunedin would not he let down by the officers who followed him. He had Avon the loyalty and confidence of his men during his term in Dunedin, and he could assure him that he would go away with their goodAvill. It was to be hoped that he got the further advancement which he deserved. (Applause.) Chief-detective Quartoniiuin said that it was tAA r enty-ouo years since Mr Cummings and he had been first associated in the force. That 1 was at Auckland, and at that time ho was Mr Cummings’s superior. Throughout a long connection ivith him he had ahvays found Mr Cummings a zealous officer, and alAvays scrupulously fair to Ins comrades and subordinates. He was very sorry indeed to see him leave Dunedin, but at the same time he was glad to knoAV that promotion Avas coming the Avay of a man so eminently descrA’ing of it. lie could only Avish Mr Cummings the best of everything in the future. —(Applause.) Sergeants Boulton, MAKutce, and M'Carthy, ■ and Doloctiro-sorgeant Nuttall, and Constables Harvey, palmer, and Hamilton alsp. spoke* expressV

ing the regret of the force in Dunedin at the departure of Mr Cummings.* Representatives of the Press present assured Mr Cummings that he carried with him from Dunedin the goodwill of all the newspaper men with whom he had come in contact. He had always been ready to assist pressmen in the prosecution of their inquiries, and the happy relations which existed between the Press and the police were in large measure due to Mr Cummings. GIFTS PRESENTED. Superintendent Eccles then presented Mr Cummings with a large easy chair and a gold pencil on behalf of the officers and men of the Dunedin Police District. He also handed to Mr Cummings a handsome handbag as a present to Mrs Cummings, with the best wishes of the force in Dunedin. A similar gift was also provided for Miss Cummings, and a fountain pen was handed over for Master Cummings. Superintendent Eccles then referred to Mr - Cummings’s successor, Senior Sergeant Cameron, who, on January 1 would take the rank of sub-inspector. He asked that the same loyalty and attention to duty which the men had shown in their service under Mr Cuminings would be accorded to 31r Cameron. He was sure he was worth lt ' MR CUMMINGS REPLIES. In returning thanks to the assembly for ihe gifts and for all that had been said, Mr Cummings referred to what the various speakers had stated about energy and efficiency. It might be true that a little energy had helped him on in the force, but he had never forgotten that his success was due to the superintendents, inspectors, sub-mspec-tors, senior-sergeants, chief-detectives, and sergeants in the various centres, who had at all times helped him and advised him. His advice to junior members of the force was never to miss opportunities of being helped and taught something. There were greater opportunities for advancement for young men now than at any point of his own career, and they should all take advantage of them. In this connection Mr Cummings referred to the value of a training depot, the weekly classes, and the police coach. He advised them to settle down to study. He had had experience in both Wellington and Auckland, and he was glad to be able to say that he had yet to find a more efficient staff than the force stationed at Dunedin. They should all remember that if the present efficiency of the force wa: to be maintained they must have unity, harmony, and loyalty. The efficiency of the service was never higher than at the present time, and there were exceptional opportunities for keen young men. Before sitting down lie wished to thank Superintendent Eccles and Mr Willis for all the help they had given him by way of assisting him to carry out his duties. He was also grateful for the support of the senior-sergeant, the chief-detective, sergeants, and constables. In paying a tribute to Mr Cameron, the speaker expressed the hope that they would give the new sub-inspector all the assistance they had given him. If they did so, the record of the force at the end of another year would be even better than it was to-day. Mr Cummings also spoke of the happy relationship that existed between court offices and the police department, and referred in warm terms to Sergeant Boulton’s work when he took charge of the ponstAbles^CApglaase^