MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume LV, Issue 41, 15 October 1930, Page 721

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

Resignation. No. 3055. Constable Muggeridge, Bernard Pither. 7th October. 1930.

Memorandum.] Persons charged with Offences falsely designating themselves “ Commercial Travellers.” --JJomplaint has been made by the United Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association of New Zealand that personS'charged with offences sometimes designate themselves “ commercial travellers ” who have never been, or arc not then, memberstef the Commercial Travellers’ Association, but are perhaps merely salesmen, agents, or hawkers. This false designation receives publicity in the press, and is very distasteful to the association, the-members of which are usually men of standing in the community. It is suggested that when a person charged with an offence gives his occupation as that of commercial traveller ho be questioned so as to ascertain his claim to such designation, and asked to produce his membership ticket of a Commercial Travellers’ Association. If his designation is found to be more accurately describable as a salesman, hawker, agent, canvasser, &c., rather than traveller or commercial traveller, such more accurate designation should be entered in the charge sheet and other records. W. G. Wohlm Commissioner of Police. Wellington, Bth October, 1930. (P. 26/737.)

Memorandum.] Motor Collision Cases: Statements made to the Police by Witnesses. In view of recurring requests by interested parties that statements made by witnesses to the Police be made available for use in Court, usually in civil proceedings, it appears desirable to set out the Department’s point of view, which is that while there is no objection to the continuance of the existing practice of suppling names and addresses of witnesses to any interested persons, thus enabling them to pursue any further inquiries they may deem necessary, the statements themselves should not be made available to the public. However, where a person has been so injured in a collision as to have been deprived of reasonable opportunity to obtain evidence to assist him in obtaining legal redress, it would be proper for the Police to afford him assistance and all reasonable facility to obtain redress as can be given without prejudicing the interests of the Service ; but the statements obtained by the Police are not to be supplied to the injured party unless those making them are agreeable. • W. G. Woiilmann, Commissioner of Police. Wellington, 13th October, 1930. (P. 30/1276.)