BAUME'S RELEASE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 46, 18 November 1926, Page 10

BAUME'S RELEASE

THE MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY WHO WILL RECEIVE REPORT? ANOTHER STATEMENT BY MR. ELLIOTT In the course of a further statement made yesterday, the Rev. Howard Elliott said:

“I notice to-day that Tuesday next has been set down for the solemn farce which has been designated a magisterial inquiry into the charges levelled against the administration of justice under the Reform Government. Were the facts not so disturbing one would be inclined to laugh at the Gilbertian proposal. Although I have made it clear that I will not appear to substantiate the charges of preferential treatment by which the rules of the prison were broken in the interests of one prisoner, yet the inquiry is to proceed with no specific order of reference; that is, it will have no particular charges before it, and the Department is going to mafce a solemn parade of calling an unlimited number of prison officials to testify that each and every one is like Caesar’s wife—above suspicion ! “This may be the administration of justice, but it strikes one that the farce is more suited to the theatre than to a court.

9 The comedj- is heightened when it is noticed that by the provisions of the Prisons Act Amendment, 1919, section 17 of the Prisons Act, 1908, under which the proposed inquiry is to. be held, the Magistrate, who as a visiting justice to the prison has bgen appointed to hold the inquiry, has to report, not to the Minister, but to the Controller-General of Prisons, whose administration of his new Department is under inquiry. Apparently the officials of the prison Department know so little of the legislation under which they operate that they have advised the" Minister that he can abrogate the provisions of the law and have the Afagisterial report sent to hiniself. It is a screaming comedy that the Controller-General, whose abilities as an administrator are under review, is the person to receive and decide on the report on his administration. Perhaps the ATinister, as Attorney-General, will refer this point to the Crown Law Office!