LONG FAITHFUL SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 5

LONG FAITHFUL SERVICE

SENIOR-SERGEANT RETIRES TRIBUTES TO MR. H. McCRORIE. ' GATHERING OF BUSINESS MEN. Tn mark the retirement of Senior Sergeant H. McCrorie on superannuation after 38 years in the police 'force, 13 of which’have been spent at New Plyplymo'uth, there was a representative gathering of professional and: business men in the Devon Tearooms yesterday afternoon under the auspices of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. The president of the chamber (Mr. A. F. Sandford) -Was in ‘the. chair and among those associated with him were the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths) and Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. ;A number of apologies for absence were.iieceived. ‘A-' After, tea had been served, Mr. Sand- , ford said they desired to acknowledge the sincere and faithful manner in. which Senior/ Sergeant-McCrorie had performed his duties during the 13 years he been? at New Plymouth. It was hoped . he. would enjoy many years of happy retirement. On behalf of members of thp Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and others .in the town he conveyed to Senior, Sergeant McCrorie appreciation of, his'work at New Plymouth, and, good wishes for his happiness in retirement Mr< : J. McLeod associated.himself with the-Jockey Club, the Rugby Union and other < sports • organisations^in acknowledging the way in .which the seniorsergeant ■ had helped them smooth out varioifc difficulties on many occasions. On no single occasion had he failed__t° respond to any call for . assistance. His advice and help had always been given in aii unobtrusive manner because of his retiring disposition; and so the public generally did not know' of. the seniorsergeant’s many unostentatious acts. He had always, been on deck, but had dis- - played judicious moderation that had been appreciated ,by the public generally. There would therefore be a general wish that he would enjoy good health during a long retirement. ; - v t- As■ a justice of -thepeace, a- business man and a ■ ‘friend of - Senior-Sergeant McCrorie Mr. Gordon Fraser made:/a happy, felicitous speech concerning • the popularity and good qualities of ? the giiest-'of the afternoon. ' -Mr. ‘S. Rawle, inspector 7 for- Taranaki police' district, speaking oh behalf of his department,, said it was -’very 1 gratifying to hear the remarks that had been made concerning. the senior-sergeant, particularly. as the gathering ’ was more or less of!;a- public nature. 'Having -known' the sOnioij sergeant for 30 years she could say Aat the estimate t .of ' . his . character and ability formed by the speakers was just about correct. He had never been petty; he had always been a big man, willing ■to brush aside small things. ,

EARNED HIS RETIREMENT. .After .38 years in' the service SeniorSergeant McCrorie had earned his retirement, continued Mr. Ra.wle. He had . really been a martyr to his work,.for he had always been on deck. Perhaps he had' set himself more work than was necessary, but .he had always, made the best use •of the talents ; that had < been given..him. During the troublous/times of'earlier years on the West Coast the senior-sergeant had frequently been the only man on deck, and that was probably where he had learned the value of moderation and tact. He could see but not see, and hear but not hear. . The ? fact that 'Senior-Sergeant Mc- ‘ Crorifr was always known as “Good old Mac” Spoke, well for him and: his qualities. Such a gathering as this was good because it brought the work of the Police Department before the public in a way ' that no other means could, and showed that policemen were not so very different from other' members of ..the . public that they served. The ; Mayor presented ,to the seniorsergeant a wallet inscribed “To SeniorSergeant H. McCrorie, from NP. wellwishers; December, 1932.” Mr. Griffiths said -the senior-sergeant had done yeomah service to the public in many parts of ’ the: Dominion during his 38 years in ' the force—first at Wellington, then Christchurch, Westport and New Plymouth. During the last. 13 years he had been a conspicuous* figure in the town and had. taken a very prominent part in the administration of justice. Mr. Griffiths said .that all he had seen and heard •' of Senior-Sergeant McCrorie indicated his splendid and faithful services. * The expressions of Bench and bar at:the recent gathering at New Plymouth were evidence of his . popularity for his fine; characteristics. , • The senior-sergeant would carry into his .retirement the . hearty goodwill, best wishes and esteem of the majority of the people of New Plymouth, and there would be a general wish that he r'Puld long enjoy his health in his retirement. They were glad to know that he would remain at New Plymouth and so have the opportunity of continuing - the friendships he had made while in. the service. Senior-Sergeant McCrorie, whose reply was greeted with musical honours, said that his had seen many changes at New Plymouth since his arrival 13 years ago. Buildings had been erected and the population had increased, with the result that he now felt like an old resident, and he intended to stay. When he first re-ceived-notice to come to New Plymouth he had" asked himself what the ;people would be like. He’had-never felt sorry, for coming for he had found many friendly people. .Concerning .the duties of the police at sports gatherings, he said it . had always been a pleasure to go to the' sportsground or the racecourse for the crowds were orderly and one policeman could do what required seven or eight in some other places where the crowds shoved and pushed. Th? town generally was an orderly place and the hotels were well-conducted. There was very little drunkenness and most of the “drunks", came from outside. New Plymouth: was an easy station for a policeman. . . The senior-sergeant paid a tribute to Mr. Rawle, who, he said, was a worthy representative of the Police Force and would pay every attention to requests made io' him; 5 -'Hethanked Mr. Tate for his kindness and forebearance on many occasions in court. r

ESTEEM OF COLLEAGUES

at station. "SARK WAS WORSE THAN BITE.” ’ } ' ' ' ‘ . ’ ' . " ”■■ • A’ Westminster chiming, clock, suitably Inscribed, was presented, to Senior-Ser-geatot McCrorie at the New Plymouth Police Station yesterday afternoon. In parsing on this token of esteem on behalf of the district police Mr. Rawle trusted that each" hour struck would be a pleasant hour of retirement; for the reorient and his wife. He hoped that both Mr. and Mrs. McCrorie would long • be 4 spared to hear the chimes remind them* bf vthe goodwill that had actuated the gift. Members of the force and others who had come in contact with the sergeant at New Plymouth held him’in the 1 highest respect and knew that M•.’ggJL

Once he had accomplished what was on his mind the men had found him to < display a spirit of harmony. It ’’ was known that ’ during the later period of his service his health had been a burden to him, and. Mr. Rawle said he had often wondered how he had been able to carry on. That 1 had been; made possible only by his determination and his mental attitude. He had had the welfare of his officers at' heart If he could not do them a good .turn; he certainly would not do them a bad one. He had endeared himself to all. Now, however, he had arrived, at the point where he was to change • his work' for leisure well earned. It was hoped that his retirement would be, long and happy and that he would, ever be ' reminded that he left the force in perfect .harmony with the members gathered there that day. ■■■•.-

Sergeant Jones, of the district -office, said he had known Senior-Sergeant McCrorie 22 years. He, had first met him at Wellington, and for the past 12 years they had been intimately associated with one another at New Plymouth, working practically side by side. The seniorsergeant had been a conscientious and devoted servant of the Police Force. Unfortunately. he had not enjoyed the best of. health, but now that he would be freed from the responsibilities, of office and'the troubles and worries of a policeman it was the earnest wish of his colleagues that he and Mrs. McCrorie would long enjoy their retirement. Other tributes were paid to SeniorSergeant McCrorie by Sergeant McGregor, Detective Meiklejohn and Constable O’Neill, all of whom wished Mr. and Mrs. McCrorie a pleasant period of retirement. . -

Senior-Sergeant McCrorie said he accepted the dock with pleasure as an expression of goodwill'' He had joined the force in the old times that were now passing away and he had met many good men since retired and some of them now dead. , He had had very little trouble with his men since being, stationed at New Plymouth.. They had always responded to his requests. New Plymouth had a fine stamp of .police officer and he hoped they would rise to the top of the tree. Looking back, he recalled many conscientious officers who had done their duty well. - He had never had any serious . trouble with the public of New Plymouth. They were easy to get bn with and every policeman should be able to get on with them. He. wished all the officers, their wives and families, happiness,, long life and promotion. ; , Senior\Sergeant McCrorie paid- attribute'. .to Mr. Rawle, who, he said, had a wide knowledge of police work. He •was an officer whose desire always was to encourage his men towards proihotion to his own rank. Night - after' night he had .coached the men,, with the effect •that. the. examination results; were:;a credit to New Plymouth. He was a most approachable man and was always willing to assist those who: came to-him for advice;.; ■ . - •During the 13 years; he had been at New. Plymouth, said Senior-Sergeant. McCrorie,': he- had never - had • any. trouble with the Press, which had never published anything when a request not to had been made. The reporters had always been ready to. assist the police by refraining -from publishing precipitately details of.: burglaries, etc., that '■ might result in. the escape of the culprits. The local papers had never rushed'into print without consulting the police, as was done ,in some other places.

FAREWELL BY LAWYERS

GATHERING IN COURTROOM. “EARNED RESPECT OF ALL.* ■ \ ' • • • ■ • The farewell to Senior-Sergeant McCrorie by the Taranaki District Law Society appropriately .took the form Of a “sitting” in the Magistrate’s Court Mr. R.‘ W. Tate, S.M., bn the bench, presided over a representative gathering of the bar, members of the court staff and .Police Force being also present. ■■ ~ //- Sitting,in that place,:.said Mr. Tate,, it was very pleasant for him to. be able to speak of.the virtues of one whom; they all respected, instead, of. the misdoings of others. He was happy to associate himself with expressions of appreciation of their old friend “the Senior.” A policeman’s job ■ was onerous and often unpleasant, but one thing the magistrate had noticed was the senior-sergeant’s fairness and desire to give 1 everyone a fair deal. Those qualities, said Mr. Tate, had caused him to hold Mr. McCrorie in the highest respect and . regard. He expressed his best wishes for Mr. McCrbrie’s retirement

On behalf l of the Law Society and Taranaki Law Practitioners’ Society, arid especially the local practitioners, Mr. R. H, Quilliam said they all - desired.. to associate themselves with what the magistrate had said respecting Senior-Ser-geant McCrorie. They had had except tiorial opportunities of getting .to know him, and had learned-to appreciate his very fine qualities. He had been in New Plymouth a very long time and he had always. brought to the performarice of his duty—and that must have been, bn many occasions, a very unpleasant duty —a wide sympathy and a boundless understanding. They all regretted that they would., no longer be associated with him in an official capacity. New Zealand was fortunate in having a force of a high standard, and through all its ranks there was a sense of the grave responsibility which their work involved. Senior-Sergeant McCrorie had’ shown hiriiself a worthy representative of' aforce that had a standard certainly not below -that; of any other country. The senior-sergeant was a zealous and efficient officer. ‘ Practitioners, and perhaps the'public generally,, were inclined to take such qualities in police officers .for granted, but in addition to those qualities, great as they were, they had learned to appreciate in Senior-Sergeant McCrorie his knowledge of human nature and its frailties. He had shown a true appreciation of his duty as a police officer and as a citizen. The lawyers regretted his retirement, but they realised it had been well earned, and their one hope was that he would have a very pleasant period of retirement,-and that he would find it possible to spend that period at New Plymouth. Mr. H. Gilmore Smith, registrar of the Supreme Court, on behalf of the court office staff, said their association. with the .senior-sergeant had been of a most pleasant kind. He had been in intimate touch with thd members of the staff, and they had at all times fotmd him a courteous and obliging officer. He went about his work in an unostentious manner and always had a cheerful countenance. >

Inspector S. Rawle said he was pleased to have, the opportunity of associating himself with the remarks made in respect to. Senior-Sergeant McCrorie. Over a period of 30 years he had had. an opportunity of forming an intimate knowledge of the senior-sergeant’s qualities, and during the time he had occupied ah administrative position in the force he had shown that he was really more concerned with the spirit than the letter of the law. He appreciated being associated with this expression of esteem for an officer they all. loved. Ater-the applause had subsided SeniorSergeant McCrorie said he would enter upon his retirement .with a much happier feeling after this gathering than with counsel in the course of his work, with counsel in the course of his work, and he had often left 'the court feeling rather ashamed of himself, but he was that >e M

it all 'in good; part. He thanked Mr. Smith; for his" references to the association there had been between himself and the court staff. AU the court officers had ■ shown ;• him the greatest ■ kindness. So far; as'Ke knew he' intended to remain in New Plymouth,' and he would appreciate comitig, in touch in another capacitywith those with whom he had been for so long associated in his official work., He added a word of congratulation to the members ‘of the "bar on the.skilful way' in' which they conducted their court work, which he considered was on ■' a standard higher than in most places in which he had been.