JUSTICE AND PUBLIC POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1134, 23 May 1911, Page 6

JUSTICE AND PUBLIC POLICY.

[To the Editor-I I Sir,—lt would bo difficult to describe the feeling. of' disgust that came over mo this morning when I opened Tim Dominion arid read that the Honourable T. Kennedy. Jlacdonald, JI.L.C., had been discharged an account , of ill-health. That such an event can take place in this boasted democratic country'is u serious blow, to thosa of us who, prided ourselves on our standard of life. As a layman, 1 would liko what'is the dilference between tho present ease and one that occurred' to my knowledge, some, years ago. An ordinary working man was, being sentenced for some wrongdoing, and he pleaded illhealth. Ko was .ill, too. there was no mistaking that, but the Judge told him ho could go to the gaol hospital, and there "ho would be looked after. Although the case was,a hard one, it,was accessary for ■the prisoner to bo punished, in order that ■ the demands of the law may be satisfied.

But'in'the present case'wo; find that tho defendant, v,'ho is an Honourable) and a mart of influence, can .misappropriate the, funds, of tljase whom lie was appointed to protect, plead ill-health, and escape the consequences of his actions. Nice, isn't it? I am not concerned with the personal aspcct ( I do not know Mr; Hacdonald). but I am very much concerned with the aspcct of public policy. It simply means,, according to this finding, that it is oiilj-' necessary to find some, influential person who has some disorder that may cause death- if he is excited, by being sent to'gaol (but who would not suffer by the cxcitcmont of borrowing other people's nioney) and get him appointed • trustee, etc., etc., and blaze away. We are on tiio lines of America, and will soon be enjoying all -the. benefits tliat they have enjoyed for so-long. Justice? Bah! —I am, etc., . GRAFT. LAW-MAKING AND LAW-BREAKING. [To the Editor.] Sir,—Are we now to bo faced with the ipectacls of a trustee v.-ho 'has been pronounced by our highest legal tribunal :00. feeble in health to bo sent to gaol In punishment' of his misdeeds, sitting in Parliamont as a.member.of our Legislature and taking part in the making of laws for honest people?—l am, ctc., . AN HONEST TRUSTEE. Vla'y 20, 1911. IS IT JUSTICE? [To the Editor.] Sir,—Tho Hon. Thos. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.C., who has been proved, to tho satisfaction of tho Court, to have misappropriated trust funds to tho amount of over .£3OOO, is not sent to gaol becauso ho has doctors' evidence stating that he is suffering from some wrm of' Brighfs disease and-oa-.that

ovidence lio is permitted to go freo to conduct his business and associato with peoplo who arc, or should he, honourable) • iu- their dealings. Yet, the Chief Justice 'who sat on tho Bench in Macdonnld's case has just sentenced a poor wrctch who has 110 .influential friends, to a term of H months' gaol for tho offence of attempting to procuro a. noxious thing. This is. the. case where a man, it is stated, obtained from a chemist medicine to procuro an abortion. Tho man gavo the mixturo to the girl's father, and 110 handed it to tho polico who had tho medicine analysed only to find it contained no harmful drug. Yet this man is to serve 11 months' gaol, whilo tho other is free to join his club friends. — I am, etc., W. A. THOMSON, May 20, 1911. . ! •