A BUTTON BUSINESS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 828, 1 March 1878, Page 3

A BUTTON BUSINESS.

—o As soon as the police force of the colony was militarised by the Atkinson Government it got into and under a beautiful system of red tape which made even the most trivial matters the subject of memoranda and correspondence and references to Ihe officer or department. Naturally the old officers of police found things irksome, and the Grey Government being favorable a determined effort has been made to make police administration simple and inexpensive. But with little avail as yet. The trammels of red tape have been bound so tightly that it will take time to loosen them. To show this, we publish a correspondence that took place just before the departure of Colonel Moule from office on the subject of a plated button which Constable McGuffin, of Wellington, lost during a scuffle with a drunkard. The correspondence is as follows : Constable McGuffin to the Inspector of Peirce. Wellington, February Ist, 1878. inspector Atchison, Sir, — I have the honor to inform your that while 1 was on duty in Willis-street, at 2 o’clock on the morning of the 25th January, I observed three men fighting. They were evidently wider the influence of strong drink, and as they were making a great noise I thought I should not be exceeding my duty if I took them into custody. Accordingly I rushed into their midst, and, after a bard fight, succeeded in arresting one of them, who, on being taken before the Magistrate next morning, pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s, -vhich he paid. While I was arresting the person referred to, one of the other men made an attack upon me with the view of rescuing my prisoner, and a scuffle ensued between him and myself, the consequence being that the top button of my uniform jacket was torn off and lost. I have now respectfully to request that you will take the necessary steps to obtain for me another button which I may substitute for the one which has been lost.—l am, &c., Phklim McGuffin*, Constable. Inspector Atchison to Colonel Moule. WePiugton, February 2nd, 1878. Sir,—l have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter received by roe from Constable McGuffin in reference to a button which he has lost and which he desires the Police Department to replace. Constable Me.Guffin is a most efficient member of the force, and I think he might be allowed the button he asks for. F. Atchison. Inspector of Police. From Colonel Monte to Colonel Gorton, the Government Storekeeper. (Memo.) Wellington, February 3rd, 1878. Colonel Gorton will oblige the undersigned by providing Constable ‘ McGuffin

with a uniform biillmi fur his coat. I 'o' ~W. Moyle, j The Government Storekeeper to Col. Moule. | Wellington, February 4th, 1878. I Sir, —I have read your memo and also Constable MoGufiln’s letter to the Inspector of Police, but I regret to say that there is not in the Government Stores a button similar to that required by the constable named. I may remind yon at the same time that every article issued from this department has to be stamped with the Government stamp.—l have, &c., W. Gorton, Government Storekeeper. Colonel Moule to the Colonial Secretary. Wellington, February 5, 1878. Sir, — I have the honor to report that on the 25th ultimo, Constable McGuffin, of the Wellington Police Force, got into a scuffle with a drunken man and lost a plated button off his uniform jacket. He has since applied to the Police Department to provide him with a fresh button, 1 have to request that you will kindly instruct the Government Storekeeper to procure one for him. I have, &c., W. Moule, Inspector 'of Armed Constabulary Department. The Colonial Secretary to Colonel Moule. (Private.) Wellington, February 6, 1878. Dear Moule, —Why the devil are you bothering me about this button? You know perfectly well that 1 have nothing to do with buttons. For Heaven’s sake get your button from the Government Storekeeper, and let us have no more bother about it. I send you an official letter on the subject. By the way, how are you betting on the election ? Yours lovingly, G. S. Whitmore, Colonial Secretary. The Colonial Secretary to Colonel Moule. (Official.) 1117-78 Wellington, February 6, 1878. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the sth instant re Constable McGuffm’s button, 1 have the honor to state that the Government Storekeeper will supply the button in question if, on application to him, you can show that the members of the Police Force have any claim on the colony for buttons which they may lose iu scuffles with intoxicated men. 1 have, &c., G. S. Whitmore, Colonial Secretary. Colonel Moule to the Government Storekeeper. 917 78 Wellington, February 7, 1878. Sir,—l am directed by the Minister of Defence and the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary (the Hon. Colonel Whitmore) ■ to apply to you for a uniform button which is intended to replace one which Constable McGuffin lost in the course of a scuffle with some intoxicated men on the 25th ultimo, j 1 am directed to inform you that you have to provide the button in question if you are satisfied that the members of the Police Force have a claim on the colony for lost buttons. I have, &c., W. Moule, The Government Storekeeper to Colonel Moule. 726-78. Wellington, February 8, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of yesterday’s date in reference to Constable McGuffin’s button, and in reply 1 have to say that Ido not think the colony should provide for those constables whose buttons are lost in scuffles with iutoxicated individuals. Therefore I cannot forward the button requisitioned for to your department at present, but I shall refer the question to the law officers of the Crown for their opinion. 1 have, ftc., W. Gorton, Govt. Storekeeper. The Government Storekeeper to the Solicitor General. 729 ?Sa. Wellington, February 8, 1878. Sip,—Would you kindly inform me whether the Government is bound to replace the button referred to in the correspondence, of which 1 enclose a copy. It appears that Constable McGuffin lost his button in the execution of his duty, and if you are of opinion that the Government should supply him with a new one, I shall issue it to him at once. I havu, &c., W. Gorton, Govt. Storekeeper. The Solicitor-General to the Government Storekeeper. 971-78. Wellington, February 9, 1878. Sir, —Tam in receipt of your note of yesterday’s date, in which you aak me to give my opinion as to whether or not the Government are bound to replace the button which was lost by Constable McGuffin, one of the Wellington Police Force, while he was scuffling with an intoxicated man. Before I give my opinion I should like to know whether the said intoxicated man was an inhabitant of this city, or only a casual visitor. If he was a permanent resident and a ratepayer, I think the City Council should find the button, but if he was only a casual visitor I am of opinion that the colony is responsible for it. I am, &c., W. S. Reid, Solictor-General. The Government Storekeeper to the Inspector of Police. (Memo) 9th February, 1878. Was the person who knocked off Constable M‘Ruffin's button a permanent resident of Wellington or merely a casual visitor ? W. Gorton, The Inspector of Police to the Government Storekeeper,

(Memo) 9th February,')B7B. 1 1 do not know ; but ho has boon to gaol ! here several times, ami therefore 1 think've | may consider him a permanent resilient. 1 F. Atchison. The Government Storekeeper to the Solicitor General.. Wellington, February 10th 1873. 1614-78. Sik,—ln reference to the matter ef Constable McGuffin’a button I have the honor to forward to you herewith the.memo of Inspector Atchison. You will observe that he thinks the intoxicated person who tore hafc button off the Constable’s, uniform was a honajide inhabitant of Wellington. 1 have, &0., W. Gorton:. The Solicitor General to the Government Storekeeper. Wellington, February 11th, 1878. Sm,—lf we are to consider that the intoxicated person who tore the button off Constable McGuffms uniform coat during a scuffle, (particulars of which are given in the various letters which have passed on the subject) is a perraanentinhabitantof Wellington, 1 am of opinion that the City Council is bound to supply the Police department with a button similar to that which yvas lost by McGuffia during the aforesaid scuffle. 1 think, however,, that,the question might be remitted to the Mayor and Councillors with the view of getting' the matter settled amicably and avoiding litigation. I may inform you at the same time that if, the City Conn oil do not find the button I, will advise the Government not to do so, and if necessary, I shall take care that the question will be referred to the Privy Council. The colony is certainly not responsible for Constable McGuffin’a button, and I may inform you that the Government are determined to test this question to the fullest extent, in order that it may be taken as a precedent in any future disputes which may arise, regarding policemen’s buttons.—l have, &c., W. S. Reid, Solicitor. General. It is unnecessary to publish any more of the letters which have passed on this subject. Suffice it to say that several more have passed, and that the matter is not yet settled. We have not yet heard, however, whether it is one of the measures on which the Grey Ministry will stand or fall next session. As we have said, the matter is not yet settled, but, in the meantime, Constable McGuffiu has borrowed a button from the cast-off jacket of one of his fellow-police-men and is going about as well dressed ss any of them.—Wellington Evening Argus.