The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, October 9th, 1941. KOITERANGI TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1941, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, October 9th, 1941. KOITERANGI TRAGEDY

The West Coast in the eighty years of its history since the coining of the Europeans, has had comparatively few recorded homicides, but the awful tragedy yesterday in the little farming settlement of Koiterangi mus' rank foremost in seriousness. Jr is the greatest one which has befallen the police force, in the country, and the sympathy of Ihe whole population will go forth to the relatives of the five men numbered as victims on the very sad occasion. It was another illustration. in a long list, of the trials which the guardians of the law are under an obligation to face in the discharge of their vita l , duties. Another lesson of the happening has been the lurking nature of such a danger. There appeared on the lace of the incidents leading up to the shootings very little of a warning, that the police officers and their i supporter were destined all to be , so suddenly subjected to murder ous attack. Whereas at the out set they quietly approached the scene of trouble, the denoument ‘saw them all lying victims, three dead and two most gravely injured. There will be a fervent hope that in the case of the latter medical skill will avail to save them. It is over six year.-, since tin* previous murder case on the West Coast occurred at Blackball, and nearly a quarter of a century since the last tragedy comparable with this one, happened near (Ireymouth, prior to which murders had been few and far between since 'the crimes of the Burgess-Kelly gang made history in the sixties. In none of those instances, however, were so many persons either killed or injured on the same occasion as on this one, which will remain as indelibly in the annals of crime in this part of the Dominion a.s the gravest of those by which it was preceded. There may prove to be features in the case distinguishing it from such murders as were definitely premeditated, or committed in a normal mental state, but the loss of valuable lives

is none the less lamentable. The Commissioner of Police, in noting this to be the most serious loss of officers in the history of the force, and himself making an express journey to the scene of the tragedy, illustrates the fact that his 1 corps has obligations whiph at any time may entail the risk of death or injury, and call , for courage and co-operation of the higest When civil life follows its usual peaceful course, the part which the police play in the maintenance of law and order might not-be adequately realised by the ordinary citizen, whereas the happening yesterday vividly brings into prominence the obligation under which the community lies to the police for its protection. The tragedy is indeed, most regrettable and, in the condolence felt for the victims the public will also sympathise with the Police Force with a renewed recognition of their service to the nation.