COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 14

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

MR. W. G. WOHLMANN’S RECORD. A POPULAR DISCIPLINARIAN. Superintendent W. G. Wohlmann, who has been appointed Commissioner of the New Zealand Police, is the senior officer of high rank in the police force today. He joined the police force in 1895, after serving in the New Zealand manent Artillery. He was stationed at Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch, and then in Auckland, whence he was transferred in 1907, doing duty in both the clerical and executive divisions, and passing through the various ranks; When a sub-inspector he was appointed, on November 1, 1920, as Commissioner of Police in Western Samoa, at the time the substitution of civil status for military regime was made. During his period of service in Samoa Mr. Wohlmann remodelled the police force there and. brought it up to rank as an efficient service.

In February, 1922, Mr. Wohlmann returned to New Zealand as inspector, and was given charge of the Waikato police district, with headquarters at Hamilton. He remained there until February, 1920, when, as superintendent, he replaced Superintendent C. W. Hendry in Auckland on the latter’s retirement on superannuation.

Mr. Wohlmann has had varied experience in all ranks of the service. In Saihoa he dealt successfully with many important and intricate situations. The trial and conviction of chiefs of a Chinese secret society for the attempted murder of a Chinese police officer involved prominent local personages, and had far-reaching' results. So also did the attempt to pervert the course of justice by highly-placed members of the Samoan race. This developed a political situation of much local importance. Mr. Wohlmann had also to deal with Hie prolonged strike or Sa, illicit smuggling and illicit liquor manufacture. These were so firmly dealt with that the evils practically ceased to exist.

To maintain strict discipline and at the same time to earn the deep respect and affection of his subordinates in an organisation like the police force is an achievement of which Mr. Wohlmann is justly proud. . '

Eminently fair and just to members of the force, and also, the outside public, Mr. Wohlmann is also an extremely courteous, unassuming gentleman, and confidence is expressed that he will fill the office of Commissioner with credit to himself and to the force.