CONSTABLE PROMOTED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1933, Page 2

CONSTABLE PROMOTED

POSITION AT TOKAANU. FAREWELL AT NEW PLYMOUTH. After being stationed 12 years at New Plymouth Constable W. Butler is to leave to-day on promotion to the charge of the police station at Tokaanu. Yesterday afternoon his colleagues in the force assembled to express their good wishes to him and to his family and to present him with a travelling rug and collar box as tokens of their esteem. Senior-Sergeant Turner said Constable Butler could be correctly designated as one of the old brigade at New. Plymouth. It was not many, weeks ago that they had farewelled another member of the staff, and Mr, Turner felt that he was unfortunate to lose two good men within the short period he had been at the office. As an inquiry constable Constable Butler had shown more than average ability. His work in this connection had been excellent, and he was one of the best inquiry men Mr. Turner had been associated with. It had never been necessary to return any of the constable s reports for further information, for he had the knack of'obtaining all the relevant information before presenting the report. That was a very necessary qualification for a satisfactory inquiry constable. ' The other members of the local force were all extremely sorry to lose Constable Butler, and he and Mrs. Butler and members of their family would be followed to Tokaanu by. their best wishes for success. Mr. Turner said he was shre the constable would get on well at his new station. They would always be pleased to see him should he return to New Plymouth. Sergeant T. Jones (district office) said he had known Constable Butler 12 years, including a short period at Wellington. After arriving at New Plymouth on August 1, 1921, Constable Butler had served a short time on street duty, and owing to his kindly and tactful manner he had won the esteem of the citizens. His work as an inquiry constable in recent years had found in him the necessary qualities for that work—qualities thatwere not common. Considerable intelligence was required by an officer doing this work, and as one who had handled the files Sergeant Jones said he knew that they were all that could be desired. At Tokaanu Constable Butler would be thrown more on his own resources, but there could be no doubt that he would carry out his duties satisfactorily. Sergeant McGregor said during the five years he had known Constable Butler he had found him . a tactful and efficient officer. He did his work very well and there was no need to send it back to him for finishing touches. Constable Butler had been easy to get on with and was amenable to discipline. In every way it had been a pleasure to work with him. Further tributes to Constable Butler, as a good friend and efficient colleague were paid by Constable J. O’Donovan (district office), Constable F. Antill, Detective P. Kearney and Constables S. Davis and J. Mitchell. Owing to the exigencies of duty Detective Meiklejohn and Constables O’Neal, Lincoln and Mills were unable to be present, but sent apologies. Constable Butler, while doubting whether' he deserved all the kind references to him, said that he had always tried to do his best in whatever he undertook. He had had the good fortune to

be associated with colleagues who were easy to get on with. His senior officers. had always been considerate, and in this connection he desired particularly td mention Senior-Sergeant .Turner, who had treated him with great consideration during an illness he had had in his family. Constable Butler said he regretted his departure from a town in which he did not think he had an enemy. He thanked ,them for the presents on behalf of himself and his wife. The singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” brought the gathering to a dose.