PRESENTATION TO SENIOR-SERGEANT KING

New Zealand Tablet, 15 March 1917, Page 41

PRESENTATION TO SENIOR-SERGEANT KING

There was a large gathering of representative citizens of Timaru in the local Municipal Chambers for the purpose of making a presentation to Senior-Sergeant T. King, who is retiring on superannuation from the police force after 39 years' service. The Mayor (Mr. E. R. Guinness) presided, and amongst those present were Messrs. J. Craigie, M.P., W. Raymond (Deputy Mayor), F. A. Raymond, W. Evans, G. Cray, W. R. Pearson (chairman of Timaru Chamber of Commerce), J. Hole (president of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society), Sub-Inspector Hastie, W. W. Kinnerney (Timaru Borough solicitor), W. Hindmarsh (manager of the Bank of New Zealand), Councillors 11. Green, J. P. Murphy, J. E. Hurdley, Captain Oakey, and Lieutenant Hopkins. The Mayor said they had met for the purpose of making a presentation to Senior-Sergeant King, who was retiring and leaving Timaru. He had always found the Senior-Sergeant courteous and obliging. He had the pleasure of knowing Mrs. King and her son, Captain King, who had returned from the war. The Mayor expressed his regret at the departure of the Senior-Sergeant and Mrs. King. Councillor Green said he knew the Senior-Sergeant in the provincial days, when both had joined the force. Senior-Sergeant King had well deserved further promotion without adverse criticism. The police regulations provided that men must retire at. a certain age, hut there was no reason why, under present conditions, the services of the Senior-Sergeant should not have been retained. Mr. Kinnerney, on behalf of the legal profession, wished to express regret at the departure of SeniorSergeant King. The Senior-Sergeant had done his duty in a manner to win for him the respect not only of the legal profession but of all the residents of South Canterbury. Mr. W. Hindmarsh said he had known the SeniorSergeant for the past thirty years, and had never found it necessary to change the opinion he had first formed of him. Mr. Evans said he had known Senior-Sergeant King for a great length of time, but he had always found him courteous and obliging. He endorsed the remarks of Councillor Green regarding the action of the Government in his retirement. Mr. Craigie said he did not know Senior-Sergeant King as well as the previous speakers. He (the speaker) was not a member of the bar, nor the bench, and he did not often come into town after dark—perhaps if he did he might have a better acquaintance with their guest. In his dealing with the Senior-Sergeant he had found him intelligent, possessed of common sense, and an efficient officer. He endorsed the remarks which had been made concerning the action of the Government in retiring Senior-Sergeant King. Perhaps the Minister of Justice thought this was right, £ but he begged to differ from him. He concluded by wishing long life and prosperity to the Senior-Sergeant, Mrs. King, and their soldier son. •Captain Oakley wished to acknowledge the' assistance Senior-Sergeant King had always given to him and his staff on the occasion of military functions.

I 7 Mr. Raymond endorsed the remarks of the former • speakers. There were two kinds of police officers—one that prosecuted and the other that persecuted," and he was sure that the Senior-Sergeant could not be classed as the latter. The Presentation! The Mayor, amidst applause, presented their guest, on behalf of the residents of Timaru, with a silver salver, and asked him to accept on behalf of Mrs. King, a gold wristlet watch. Senior-Sergeant King acknowledged the presentation, and in doing so thanked the speakers for their kind wishes. He had come to Tiinaru four years ago by his own wish, although he had been offered the sole charge of other stations. He thanked them for the appreciative manner they had referred to the way he had carried out his duties. He was sorry to leave, but the regulations gave no option. He concluded by thanking the donors for their gifts, which would be long treasured by him as souvenirs of the pleasant time he had spent in Timaru. (Applause.) Messrs. Dawson, Pearson, Hole, and Hurdley also spoke in eulogistic terms. Sub-Inspector Hastie said he had known SeniorSergeant King for a long time. He had to thank him and Mrs. King for many kindnesses he had received from them in past years. During the time he had been associated with him their relations had been most amicable and he wished the Senior-Sergeant and Mrs. King all prosperity in the future. The toast of Senior-Sergeant and Mrs. King was accorded musical honors. ' Senior-Sergeant King proposed the health of the Mayor and said that he had always found the Mayor courteous, genial, and obliging. The toast was also received with musical honors, and the Mayor, in replying, said he was pleased to be present to do honor to one who had such a splendid record and who had proved himself a most efficient officer.