THE REYNOLDS CASE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 660, 10 November 1909, Page 3

THE REYNOLDS CASE.

Sir,—l notice in this morning's issue of your ; :<. papotthe ( decision; of'the Court in the cascof'v. "■ Reynolds, -the dismissed Customs official. :.;I-;;*': :'.■; am absolutely surprised that a man coold be so ..■■.-■ unjustly treated. •' Hero is a v man dismissed-; : . from his cm'plpyment, for a charge that called for « departmental inquiry. At ( tho/time'of '' .- the'inquiry Reynolds was ill, iand of course, -■' could not attend, so ho.instructed his solicitor'.'/ ; to appear for him.' Tho Court, consisting 'of'■•..'■'•'■' Messrs.' Hutton : and Bowles,, refused to hear ..the'V ' .''.'■ solicitor, and prbcoeded' with-the.inquiry with-;. ■'-.-.' out' calling' for tiny defence. . Could:any 'sane ''■''.' person, conceive : such a ridiculous procedure? Charges wcrel brought against Reynolds,'for; : ';' which 'he:was refused; permission' to.'&fend-v;'- , ? himself;' in fact,' he was ■ absolutely' refused ■a ■ '. hearing. Very just, wasn't it? Where are the ■'■■>'■% various Government employees' societies, that , »; r they-do not-.protest against such a;:'seriou»': V ■'. precedent for. a Court to establish? ■''■In.:my:r'',: - opinion, 6very ■man: or woman, employed, in- : >\ ; , Government must ask or ■ herselt if they ; are, safe in their positions. /As'it is .now,,; a, ; ;';. ; charge can}; be.unade ngainst.,.onTonc;' l and no.:, •;.; guarantee j)f a fair, and .impartial I;•.-'■ *;i;'sincerely hopo moro will. bp;lienrd«of■ this. ' ter, as it affects all ■ State •. employees';.''/ In: iny' .V :.'•'■'. opinion, this ■is a .very important matter, and r.v.;'; it. is to be hojied members of Parliament' will "':; ;. have some questions to ask thoEo>who are Te-'.U V. sponsible for this -muddle.. I. think; you , .wittk-'i ■;', agree with me;, sir, that it has t cometo a'niceV,', V tfiing if-a person caniibt cither'defend himself : .- in person "or. geta'solicitprtoappearforhim,:.irhieh.amounts;to the same , thing.-. I siiiccrely \)P,:: hope, sir, the "■. will»teko this'; case *, :; up, and got the public to^Tcalite -what"tuay'.bt ;'..'• ,'■ expected in timo tq.come if;this Court of Jus- :!.:. tice (?) should,extend their:powers.' , Thankini , ;';;,;•; you- for-the sp'ace,; and again hoping; you' wi]}' v , .'•.!. cliamiiion this Case.—l am,- etc.;- •: . -.:■■'■■•'.; ,''''■'■:■: '-■■-. :■ \ ■.■■; ■'■■' •■■' :'■-;:•'-■ -'DiSGUSTEDy :--\.\v; Packakariki. '.' ,-: ', ";;, . ■'. . : ''•'■■'■'■'■, [We haye.already commen,tcd on thisjcasej .O: