RUAWARO MURDERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1934, Page 14

RUAWARO MURDERS

REWARDS FOR POLICE

[pee press association.]

AUCKLAND, December 20. - Recognition of the work done by all members of the police force who were on duty at. Ruawaro, in connection with the investigation of the mnrdeis of Samuel Pender Lakey and his who Christabel Lakey, in October, 1.M.5, has been given by the Department. All detectives and members of the uniformed branch who served at Ruawaro are to receive additional leave of from four to eight days, while two officers who played leading parts in the long inquiry, Detectives T. Sneddon and T. W. Allsopp, have been granted increases in their pay, to be OS from April 1 this year, and records of merit. Official advice concerning the Department’s decision has been received by the Superintendent of Police m Auckland from Commissioner \\ohimann. In his letter the Commissioner said: “In view of the efficient manner in which Detectives Sneddon and Allsopp discharged their difficult duties in connection with the investigation of the Ruawaro case, for which they were commended by the trial Judge, which commendation meets with the hearty endorsement of .the De-i partment, it has been decided in lecognition of their services' to grant each a record of merit for exceptional detective ability and fceal displayed in the investigation and in the accumulation and preparation of evidonee. “Records of merit are re ceived only in exceptional cases,” Inspector Till said. “They are few and far between.’ He added that this form of reward really consisted of a special and highly prized note being entered on an officer’s merit sheet. In his long experience he could recall comparatively few previous cases in which it had been granted.” There were about 50 detectives and uniformed men who had qualified for special leave granted by the Department, Inspector Till added. They would be permitted either to extend their annual leave by the additional days granted or else they could take special leave separately. He had no information concerning the monetary rewards. He had not been advised concerning the payment of the sum of £lOO offered by the Department for the finding’of Lakey.