Rarotonga

Special Police Leave

Eight Months’ Duty, No Incidents

AFTER eight months special duty in the Cook Islands the six remaining members of the New Zealand Police Force are being withdrawn. Three of them reached Auckland in the “Maui Pomare” in early November and the other three are expected back on the next trip of the ship.

Fourteen New Zealand policemen were sent to Rarotonga in March when a CIPA picket-line threatened to prevent the un loading of ships carrying essential sup plies. The arrival of the police caused a sensation and except for an abortive at tempt by women members of the CIPA all picketing was dropoed.

Eight of the police returned to New Zealand within a few weeks. Six have remained. They have taken no part in the ordinary police work of the island but it was felt that it would be unwise to lose the advantage of their presence by early withdrawal.