time to lower the BAC limit - New Zealand Police Association

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceObituary:John (Jack) Robert Duncan Craig (Life Member)One of the NZ Police Association’s mosthighly respected Life Members, JackCraig, died recently aged 96.It is hard to comprehend how long Jackhas been part of the New Zealand PoliceAssociation. Jack joined the Police inearly 1936 and was posted to Dunedinon the 20th of May the same year.Ironically, that is the same day that thethen Minister of Police, Peter Fraser,said he would “consider favourably” theformation of a Police Association.Shortly after arriving, Jack made hisfirst arrest. Sarah Elizabeth Smith wascharged with being drunk in a publicplace after causing a disturbance. Jackhad to catch a tram to make the arrestand when he arrived, he found Sarahlegless and escorted her back to thestation.CharacterOn one of her many appearances incourt the magistrate, Justice Blundell,no doubt frustrated by the continuedreappearance of Smith in his courtroom,asked her why she was continuallydrunk. “Well, your Honour,” Smithreplied “I knew it was your birthday so Ithought it fitting to celebrate it in style.”While Smith obviously had problemsholding her liquor, Jack recalls herwith some fondness: “She wasn’t anasty drunk, she was a real character, ahappy drunk. Basically, we arrested herfor her own safety. She was never anybother to anyone and was usually finedfive shillings and sent on her way,”Jack said. “She was a kindly soul as sheused to darn all the single men’s clotheswhen she was in the jail,” he added.When Sarah Smith died the Otago DailyTimes gave her a significant obituary.First meetingJack was at the first meeting of theDunedin branch of the Police Associationlater that year when SeniorDetective Bruce Young was electedchairman. Young later served as thePresident of the Police Associationbetween 1938-43, taking over fromDetective Bill Murray, the first President.Jack was involved in Police Associationactivities as a member of the DunedinDistrict Committee from 1947-1974including being secretary from 1969.He served as a National Councillor from1965-1969.He was the fifth recipient of a LifeMembership of the New Zealand PoliceAssociation in 1974 and at the time wassimply described as a “stalwart of theAssociation”. During the 75-year historyof the Police Association only 28 peoplehave been awarded a Life Membership,13 of whom survive Jack.Beat workWhen Jack started in the Police, policeofficers walked the beat every day andwere paid at a daily rate of 11 Shillings($1.10). There was no day off – theyworked seven days a week. They did afortnight of night shifts followed by afortnight of day shifts. It wasn’t untilthe1950s that our members got a dayoff each week.Jack was always highly regarded by hispeers and acted as ”advisor and fatherconfessor” to many police officers.During that time he had shown hisworth as “a balancing factor in alldiscussions”. He was a man who wasregarded by his peers as a person whospoke commonsense when those aroundhim, mostly the Police administration,did not.Jack retired after 38 years service in May1974. He later told Police News in aninterview: “I started work 38 years earlierat 4.30 p.m. and I knocked off exactly38 years later, to the minute, in the sameoffice”. Jack a modest man, did not wantany fuss. He had not wanted a farewellfunction but his colleagues insisted andfortunately won the day.Association workDuring his time as an Associationstalwart, Jack worked extensively withJack Meltzer, a lawyer, who served asNational Secretary from 1940 to 1966.Jack Meltzer, supported by Jack Craig,was instrumental in establishing a deathbenefit scheme for members. The initialpayment was set at £25 ($50) andgradually through the years this wasincreased to £50 pounds ($100). Jack• JACK CRAIG (Life Member and one ofnature’s gentleman): Fondly rememberedfor his commonsense approach and histireless work on behalf of Associationmembers for many years.recalled later that another Dunedin rep,Tommy Thomson, fought tooth and nailto get the death benefit raised and ratherironically, shortly after being successful,his widow was the first one to collectit. “I think Tommy must have known athing or two,” Jack once told me.Current members of Police owe asignificant amount of gratitude to whatJack and others achieved, as the deathbenefit started by Jack and his peers isnow worth up to $180,000 for servingpolice officers.Impetus for a pensionHe was also instrumental in followingthrough with one of the founding aimsof the Police Association – to provide apension for police officers when theyretired at the age of 65. By the time Jackretired at 60, they had been successfulin gaining that pension. Jack continuedto receive this pension for 35 yearsafter his retirement, which is almost aslong as his Police service. It was a justoutcome for a man who had devoted alot of his time for the benefit of othersin the job.Jack told me in 2005 that he didn’tenvy today’s police officers. “Things area lot harder now, and I doubt whetherI’d cut the mustard,” he quipped.134June 2010