CONSTABLES DECORATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18412, 30 May 1923, Page 10

CONSTABLES DECORATED.

THE KING'S POLICE MEDAL. ;' GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNITION., ; [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.} .-_".••'- WANQANUI. Tuesday. . At .;; a i largely-attended j : public 1 meoting held this "evening the King's police medal was presented to Constables F. O'Donoghue and R. ; Wilson, by the Minister for Justice, Sir Francis • Bell, on 5 behalf of the' Government. '; \-, '•'■; *•. ■ • ;': Sir Francis Bell: said i the award was made ) for the arrest ,of two -armed burglars at Wanganui in May, 1921. > It*was a striking instance of gallantry, and th-.': constables were to be congratulated on the example they set. ; The award was regarded as the Victoria' Cross of the Civil force. , ■:'<</'■/ . : • /',-,. ■'.■.-*'■■ The hunt of the savage class of criminal was attended with grave danger. The police were called' upon at any time to take their lives in their hands, and when constables rendered meritorious service they were entitled to recognition. On behalf of the .Government, he thanked both constables for having won for New Zealand such a rare distinction, it being the first occasion in the Dominion when the; award was made for -gallantry. 5/a _ Sir Francis Bell read a message from ; the Govenor-General congratulating the constables on their courage and bravery.' The meeting passed a resolution of appreciation of the conduct, of the Thornson brothers, owners of the grocer's shopwhere the arrests look place, % and who assisted the police in arresting the burg-