NOTED OFFICIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 11

NOTED OFFICIAL

ME. J. CULLEN'S DEATH FORMER HEAD OF POLICE YEARS AS COMMISSIONER The death occurred in n private hospital last night of Mr. John Cull on, 1.5.0., formerly Commissioner of Police, in his 89th year. During a long and notable career, Mr. Cullen performed every kind of police service in Now Zealand, from beat duty to the administration of the j entire force. Born at Cullentragh, [County Lei trim, he spent six years in the ]?oyal Irish Constabulary, from which he resigned to seek bis fortune in New ZealajuL Soon after his arrival in 1876 he joined the Armed Constabulary, a semi-miliary force used mainly for preserving order in native districts. When the provinces were abolished the same year their police forces were merged under the control of the general Government, and Mr. Cullen was transferred to civil duty at Blenheim, where ho was promoted sergeant in 187 S. King Country Liquor In the next 15 years he was stationed successively at Timaru, Christcliurch. Napier and Wanganui. His capabilities were recognised when he was sent from Wanganui to the King Country on a special mission against the illicit liquor traflic. In three months he secured the conviction of 2(5 persons for sly-grog selling. Klevon of these were .sentenced to imprisonment, and the others were fined a total sum of over £6OO. In 1897 Mr. Cullen was appointed inspector at Greymouth, and in the following year was transferred to Auckland, of which district he bad charge until 1912. when he was made Commissioner of Police. Trouble in Bay of Islands While at Auckland Mr. Cullen was called upon to deal with potentially serious native trouble in the Bay of Islands. In 1902 some of the Ngapuhi Tribe, under a chief named Iraio Ivuao. sought to prevent the Native Land Court, which was sitting at Kaikohe, from dealing with certain lands, and threatened an armed raid on the town. Inspector Cullen took a party of armed police to the district. While the insurgents were holding a meeting in the open, his men surrounded them and arrested the leaders. After their village had been searched and a quantity of arms seized, Kuao and his followers agreed to keep the peace and were bound over. The Strikes of 1912 and 1913 Mr. Cullen's four years as commissioner. from 1912 to 1916, were marked by serious troubles which called for great administrative capacity. The first was the Waihi miners' strike of 1912. which was controlled by a large forco of uniformed police without auxiliary aid. In the waterfront strike of the following year Mr. Cullen was responsible for raising and utilising many hundreds of special constables, mounted and on foot, who guarded the wharves at the main ports and prevented a complete hold-up of shipping. In the course of the strike he was fired at during a riot in Buckle Street, Wellington, fortunately without effect. Affray in Urewera

In April, 1916, just before his retirement, Mr. Cnllen led a police expedition into the Urewera Country to arrest the Maori prophet Run. who had been persistently defying the Government and who was wanted on a variety of charges. In an affray at Riiii's mountain village of Mangapoliatu four constables were seriously wounded. Two Maoris were killed and two wounded before the resistance broke down.

After retiring from the- Police Force Mr. Culleu was awarded the Imperial Service Order and the King's Police Medal. His wide experience was used from 1917 to 1919 in the registration and' supervision of Yugoslavs and other aliens under the war legislation. Having made his home in Auckland lie devoted much of his time to acclimatisation matters, and the development of the Tongariro National Park. As honorary warden of the park he was responsible for introducing the heather which now covers a considerable part of the area. When the Tongariro National Park Board of Control was set up he became one of its members.

Mr. Cullen is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.