Armed Constable Knocks Camera From Reporter’s Hands

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1950, Page 4

Armed Constable Knocks Camera From Reporter’s Hands

NELSON, December 1 (P.A.).— When Cecil Robert Gurr Otto arrived under police escort at the Maruia Springs Hostel, the only press representative on the scene was Mr A. Hastwell, a reporter of the Nelson Evening Mail. Soon after 5 p.m. Mr Hastwell saw a car draw up. The car was driven to the back of the hostel, near a hut.

Several policemen had drawn their pixels. Otto and a young woman stepped out of the car. The reportergot into position to take a photograph. A policeman called out: “Don’t be a fool. Drop that camera.” Someone else called: “You musn’t take a photo.” Before the reporter was able to take a picture, a constable, who was armed with a pistol, knocked the camera from the reporter’s hands on to the ground. While this incident was taking place, Otto and the woman had been escorted to the hut.

Five or six constables stood at the ready, with their pistols out, when Otto and the woman left the car. Inspector W. Kane, of Greymouth, who arrived on the scene soon after the capture, took charge of the arrangements. The woman was taken to the hostel, where she was searched, with the assistance of the Misses Morris, who conduct the hostel. Inspector Kane was asked in a telephone interview this evening about the incident, of the reporter and the camera. He said he had not been there at the time, but had he been there he would not have granted permission for anyone to take a photograph.

“Unwarranted Attack”:

Newspaper’s Protest

NELSON, This Day (P.A.).—“The Nelson Mail is protesting to the authorities against the unwarranted attack on a member of its staff, who was carrying out his duty of representing the public,” reads a panel in today’s Nelson Evening Mail.

It continues: “So that the officers responsible may be dealt with, and in the hope of preventing -a repetition of this unnecessary interference with representatives of the press, the Mail is placing the facts before the Commissioner of Police and through ’the member for Nelson, Mr E. R.' Neale, the Minister in Charge ,of Police, Mr Fortune. The incidents are also being reported to the New Zealand Journalists’ Association and to the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors’ Association.”