“MASTER MIND” CRIMINAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20828, 21 September 1929, Page 8

“MASTER MIND” CRIMINAL.

MR T. M. WILFORD’S THEORY. CAUSIJ OF UNDETECTED OFFENCES. (From Our Pahlia.mentart Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 20. lhat tlic machinations o£ the master mind ” criminal had to be taken into account in the assessment of undetected crime in New Zealand was a point made by the Minister in Charge of the Police Department (Mr T. M. Wilford) when the Police Estimates wore under consideration in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister said that the new methods of criminals had to be countered, and, although more motor ears were required’ it was not possible to do much in that regard at the present, Mr Wilford added that it was proposed on the suppplementary estimates to make provision for the engagement of 30 additional policemen ror the Dominion. New Zealand, on a population basis, had more detectives than Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria combined. In regard to the queries of members f 8 y mor ? crime was not detected, the Minister said it had to be recognised that many of the offences reported as not detected in the last year had been uhravelled since. Only recently an international safe blower had been arrested', lucre had been 40 safe-blowing offences, but none, had occurred since the apprehension referred to.. Consideration must be taken of the possibility of a number of crimes having been committed by a master mind.”