DISTINGUISHED POLICE OFFICER

Evening Star, Issue 21689, 7 April 1934, Page 9

DISTINGUISHED POLICE OFFICER

FAREWELL TO SUPERINTENDENT MMLVENEY FITTING CLOSE TO CAREER “ The command over which you have had charge for the past year is meeting here this evening to bid you an revoir from the police force after a long and trying experience of over forty years,” said Inspector D. Cameron* to Superintendent J. MTlveney at a function in the Dunedin Police Station last evening. Many eulogistic references were made to the services rendered by Mr MTlveney, and the frequent outbursts of applause from those present fully testified to his popularity amongst all ranks of the force, and the high esteem in which he is held by the officers who have worked with him over a long period of years. As a token of respect and appreciation of his association with his Dunedin command, Mr MTlveney was the recipient of a very handsome collection of fireside furnishings in bronze and a set of silver snoons for Mrs MTlveney. Inspector Cameron said that Mr MTlveney’s activities in the police force would provide interesting history to a great number of the younger men of to-day, because in the old days there was no such thing as set hours, particularly for the detective staff, on which Mr MTlveney spent a good deal of his career. He had to work hard and for long hours, and he had to bear the brunt of some particularly. trying times, particularly in northern cities'. The time had come, however, when Mr MTlveney had to lay down his office and take a wellearned rest. “I am sure you are going out feeling that you have done your duty,” said Inspector Cameron, “ and I know that the feeling of the men is that they have been fairly treated whilst under your command ” (Applause.) Inspector Cameron referred to the large number of strikes in northern cities in which Mr MTlveney and his comrades, many of whom had gone over the great divide, had been associated on duty, and particularly to the 1913 strike, when it was a case of working not twelve hours a day, but twenty-four hours a day. They were sorry to lose Mr MTlveney, but they did not want to deny him a rest which he had so well earned. He offered him his sincere thanks for all the assistance he had received and the knowledge he had gained in dealing with difficult cases, and, in conclusion, wished both Mr and Mrs MTlveney and their child a long and pleasant retirement.

“It is with a certain amount of sadness that we meet on occasions such as this.” said Senior-sergeant M‘Lean, “ but there is joy about it when we can get away from the iisual red tape of our vocation, and it is in that respect we wish you and your family long happiness in your retirement.” He contended that there were no more loyal men in the British Empire than the men in the police force in Dunedin. They were loyal because their officers treated them well and the men appreciated the kindness. (Applause.) Sergeant M'Entee, of. South .Dunedin, said that forty years' service in the ;police force was a great-: record,but if appearance was anything to go by Mr M'llveney had weathered the storm very well. (Applause.) Sergeant M'Carthy related his associations with Mr M'llveney twentyfive years ago when he was stationed in Auckland, and, as then, he had always found him to be an .honourable gentleman. (Applause.) Others who paid trubutes to Mr M'llveney and his work were Detec-tive-sergeant Young, Detective-ser-geant Doyle, and Constables Forsyth, Todd, and Herbison. At this stage of the programme Inspector Cameron welcomed the return to Dunedin of Superintendent D. C. Fraser, and assured him that the men under his care would give him the same assistance and show the same loyalty as were experienced by Mr M'llveney. In reply, Mr M'llveney said that the very kind remarks of the different speakers had so affected him that he hardly knew where, he was. “ Honestly, I do not think I have earned such eulogy,” he said. “ During the very many years I have been in the New Zealand police I have given my time and strength to the service of my country without stint or favour. When I first joined the force I made up my mind I would do so, and I am glad now that I stuck to the right path. I never ever swerved right or left, and I think I have now. earned a rest.” (Applause.) He continued.to relate some of the great changes which had been wrought in New Zealand during his service, in every city, and, in referring to the present.difficult times, he expressed the opinion that New Zealand people had sufficient tenacity to win through. He concluded by paying a tribute to the excellent work and efficiency of Sergeant M'Entee at South Dunedin, of the detective branch of the service, and of the clerical staff in. the district office. He also announced that there were fewer cases of breaches of the regulations by constables in Dunedin than anywhere else he had been, and he appealed to the staff to give Mr Fraser the same assistance as he had received.

Superintendent Fraser briefly replied, and the -gathering then honoured both superintendents by singing “For they are jolly good fellows'.”