SENIOR SERGEANT DART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16685, 4 May 1916, Page 2

SENIOR SERGEANT DART

FAREWELL BY BENCH AND BAR

In the City Police Court yesterday, pr ; or to the commencement of the business to be dealt with, the presiding magistrate (Mr H. Y. Widdowson) said he would like to make reference to the departure of Senior Sergeant Dart. He said that Dart had been in Dunedin for three or four years, and in tliat period it was no exaggeration to say that his high character, ability, courtesy, and personality had commanded the respect and esteem of the Bench, Bar, and general public. In that period the senior sergeant had, sometimes for a lengthy period, occupied the position in the Police Court of police prosecutor, and on such occasions his work had been marked in conspicuous degree by ability, tact, and fairness. He had also been, associated with the speaker and with Mr Bartholomew, S.M., in the wcrk falling "upon them as coroners, and had shown tlie same qualities in that capacity. The speaker regretted very much, and his feeling was endorsed by Mr Bartholomew, S.M., that Mr Dart had decided to retire. At the same time, since he was entering the profession of law, the Bench had pleasure in extending to him the best of wishes that he would be successful and properous. Mr J. C. Stephens (president of the Otago Law Society), in endorsing the magistrate's remarks, specially apologised for the absence of the Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. C. MacGregor, K.C.) and Mr A. C. Hanlon, both of whom were out of town. .It gave him great pleasure to acknowledge, on behalf of the profession, the ability, courtesy, and tact displayed bv Senior Sergeant Dart while stationed in Dunedin. In his forensic contests with the Bar he had fought keenly, but he had fought fairly, always extending to the profession any help in his power, while safeguarding the interests of his department. Senior Sergeant Dart's retirement was a distinct loss to the department and to the State, and it seemed a remarkable thing that some way should not have been found of retaining the services of a man of such ability and long experience. The Bar took leave of him as a police officer and a gentleman, and welcomed him into the ranks of its profession. Messrs B. S. Irwin, C. N". Scurr, W. B. Hay, Sub-inspector Broberg, Mr F. 6. Cumming, and the Rev. E. A. Axelsen expressed regret at the loss sustained by the departure of Senior Sergeant Dart, who had always been a gentleman in every sense of the word.

Senior Sergeant Dart, in reply, said it was difficult to convey his feelings. He had elected to leave the service because, ■while he had recovered from his illness of a year or Wo ago, it had left him in a condition that might render it impossible for him to carry out duties that might arise in the course of his duty as an officer of police. He proposed spending a few months in the country to effect a further improvement in his health. He could say v;ith honesty (hat nowhere had lie received more consideration and forbearance than in Dunedin, and sometimes a police officer needed forbearance in carrying out his court duties. No one who had been 16 or 17 years in a particular service could leave it without considerable regret, but it was fine, in leaving the police service, to feci that the force had maintained a high degree of efficiency, and that one need not feel ashamed to have bo;n a member of it. There was, of co'irsc, mom for improvement—improvement, for example, in business methods, routine work—but it was not his function to (Tit'ri.e, and he would merely express his giutitu 'e for the feeling conveyed to him by the Bench, Bar, and Police.