“GOT HIS MAN”

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1939, Page 12

“GOT HIS MAN”

FIJIAN CONSTABLE’S FEAT,

SUVA, July 1

Whatever derogatory may be said about the Fiji police, there is no doubting the tenacity of at least one Fijian constable.

Constable Esala evidently endeavours to live up to the slogan of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and he “gets his man,” though it involves a chase on land, a swim in the sea in full uniform, a struggle with the prisoner in the water and finally a willing fight ashore, with the subduing and capturing of the prisoner, a bigger man.

According to a story told by Inspector Halstead in the Police Court, Pita Ratunivatulele had been wanted by the police for some time on three warrants for breaches of Native Regulations. Constable Esala went to a house where the defendant was reported to be. As soon as he saw the constable, Pita went out a window and made for the wide open spaces with the constable in full chase.

Pita then decided that he would have a better chance by taking to the water, so entered the sea. However, the constable was not deterred, and in full uniform, and carrying a haversack, swam after his man. He caught him by the foot, whereupon Pita seized the policeman round the neck and did his best to drown him.

The eventual result was that the aquatic struggle ended in Esala getting his man ashore, and with the help of a district constable, to a nearby store. While Constable Esala was telephoning for the police van, Pita, who was nothing if not a trier, made another break for freedom, but this time he did not get far, and a willingfight followed with the constable gaining the victory. The inspector added that though he was smaller than his prisoner, Esala was something of a light-weight boxer, and deserved to be commended for his devotion to duty.

The acting-resident magistrate, Mr. •I. ,T. Real, also sommended the constable on his good work.

Pita pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting the police, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.