Retirement of a Popular Police Officer

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 42, 26 October 1922, Page 17

Retirement of a Popular Police Officer

SUPERINTENDENT McGRATH HONORED. ..’ Superintendent- who is retiring on superEam&atioa after 44 years of service, was entertained at a social by members of the police force at Kroon’s Hall last week, prior to his departure from Dunedin. The social Was largely attended, and was marked by an excellent camaraderie. Sub-inspector Eccles occupied the chair.

"The chairman proposed the toast of Ex-Superintendent McGrath. He said that they were •-. gathered there that evening to do honor to Ex-Superintendent McGrath, who was retiring from the police force. Their guest of the evening had joined the armed constabulary as a raw recruit away back in June, 1878. He had been through Parihaka and through the various branches of the force till he had reached the rank of superintendent. During 35 years of his service he had served in the detective force, and had been called on to carry through many important cases, his work in which had always been marked with the greatest care, intelligence, and foresight. It& was, however, as an inspector and a superintendent that their guest had displayed his greatest ability in the police force. He would say without fear of contradiction that ExSuperintendent McGrath had proved one of the best officers he had ever served under. He thought in saying that he was echoing the voice of every man in the Otago and Southland division. —(Applause.)' Their ex-superintendent's control had always been marked with kindness and consideration. '. There was nothing of the martinet about him. The days of the martinet, in fact, were past, and, moreover, he was not necessary, as in his (the speaker's) opinion they had the most efficient police force in the world. He considered that this pleasing state of affairs had been brought about in a large degree by the fact that during the -past2s years they, had had officers from the police force- as commissioners. • Every policeman knew, and also •very layman, too, that for" the police force to be brought op to an efficient state they must have a. police officer rising from:-the ranks as the "head seraing." The officers ia the lower ranks, and one of them was Mr. McGrath, had;;also played their part in building up the officering of the* force. The great tact, kindly manner, and discretion of- Mr. McGrath had played an important part in placing him in the high position to which he had attained. That'his-work* had been appreciated was demonstrated by the large attendance that night of policemen and officers from tha Otago and Southland district. The young policeMen'had always received a square deal from Mr. McGrath, and he had always been very good to the man who walked the beat. Mr. McGrath knew his work from A to Z—ft© man knew ,it better. There was no intricate case or question of law that he could not unravel, " He. had worked himself to his high position by his own sheer ability.. Both the plain clothesmen arid the men of the other ranks would sever their connection with him with, very great regret;. :< He hoped that their retiring superintendent would fee long spared to enjoy good health and that he would live to epiend many happy days in his new home in Wellington. -—(Loud applause.) __ -\_ • ' .-.--. v C\ief Detective Bishop and Senior-Sergeant Mathieson also spoke in testimony of Mr. ; McGrath's excellent qualities (&?u*? police officer and to the ~ great esteem in which he was Ifeld by those, in every grade of. the service.' V?f-

The chairman then presented ex-Superintendent McGrath with a handsome coffee service, a' set of stainless knives, a photograph of the last parade of the Dunedin Police Force, and a gold chain and locket. He also presented him with a handsome bag for Mrs. McGrath and a bangle for Miss McGrath. Ex-Superintendent McGrath, who was received with loud applause, ; said that he had to thank them most heartily for the splendid testimony of their friendship they had given him that evening. He was pleased and proud to see such a large gathering of his comrades to bid him good-bye _on the eve of his retirement from the police force. Many of them had come long distances, atmuch inconvenience he , was sure, and their presence was on that account all the more appreciated by him. He noticed with great pleasure that some of his oldest comrades of the old days were there; looking hale and hearty. .That encouraged him to think that he too would survive the shock ; of being severed from his old associations. .He had always valued the good opinions of the men who had been associated with him in the force above all-others, and he had every desire not only to gain but to deserve that good opinion—(Applause.) That he had succeeded in gaining it was clear from what had been said that night and from their presence in such large numbers, and above all by the very handsome and valuable presents they,had given him, and for which he sincerely thanked them one and all. He also had to thank them very heartily for the presents for his wife and daughter. He had been very pleased indeed with the remarks that had been made about him. He knew, of course, that they were not deserved (Voices: Yes they were),- but nevertheless he appreciated them deeply. He would always have many pleasant memories of his long connection with the police force, but the function that night would certainly be the brightest of the memories of the past. —(Applause.) He had had a very easy time during his three years in Dunedin, and this was due to the fact that the whole of the staff throughout the district, from top to bottom, had performed their duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Ho had had no trouble at all. He was sorry to leave Dunedin, where he had many friends, but for family reasons he found it necessary to settle in Wellington. Ho desired to warmly thank the promoters of such a highly successful gathering, and all of those who, had in any way assisted in making it such a pleasant function, Mr. and Mrs. McGrath and daughter (Miss Madeline McGrath) left by the North express on Thursday. A large gathering of the police force who were off duty, together with many personal friends of Mr., Mrs., and Miss McGrath assembled at the railway station to wish them farewell, hearty cheers being given as the train drew out.

Klan Condemned by Government What was said to be the first official government denunciation of the Ku Klux Klan transpired recently when United States Attorney-General Daugherty referred to the movement as a “distinct menace to decent government in a letter to Governor Olcott concerning the move against the Man in Oregon. The letter replies to one from Governor Olcott, thanking the Federal department for its cooperation in the prosecution of men said to be klan members for alleged outrages in Jackson county: \ ■ . •The text of the letter is as follows “Please accept my sincere thanks for your letter of the 4th with regard to the assistance rendered the State of Oregon in its prosecution of several members of the Ku Klux Klan for outrages committed in Jackson county. “It is a source of great satisfaction to know that the Department of Justice has been of any assistance whatever in assisting you and your subordinates, as well as the executive officers of other States handling an .extremely serious situation. - 1 ,

“Please accept my hearty commendation of the splendid spirit manifested in, your fearless proclamation and prosecution. I can only repeat what I have already said to certain executive officers in California engaged in a similar prosecution that I think you and your assistants are rendering a signal service to the public in general, as ..well as to your • own State, in endeavoring to stamp out a distinct; menace to decent government.*’ , ■ . i