DUNEDIN GAOL REPORT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1115, 14 September 1883, Page 3

DUNEDIN GAOL REPORT.

[From Du'nCdin JCuaiiny Star.] The Minister of Justice having mid on the table iv printed copy of the report of the Royal Commission ■regarding the manageincut of the Dunedin Gaoh (as already published). t ; ( Mr Bracken condemned the report, which he said involve'l the ruin of at least one person—viz., the chief warder of the gaol—Who had been dismissed after 20 years’ faithful service without a complaint aga*nat his character—a man who was respected! by everyone who came in' contact with him. Mr Macaudrew'said that he had received numerous telegrams l from Dunedin, complaining that the report was one-sided and unfair, and h>d evidently been framed with the object of whitewashing the Inspector of Prisons more than anything else. Mr Jiathga' e submitted that the case of Chief-warder Flannery, was a very hard one, and ho reccommeded the Minister of Justice to make a special investigation into it. Ho hoped the Minister would not be guided by any ex parte statements on the part of Inspector, but would allow the accused to state his owa defence. .

Sir George Grey said that the Government having acted on the report without,,the advice of the House, the course was to bring it down by message from the Governor, and then it could lie on the table and be printed. If that coufse were not taken the action of Government should be cancelled, "and Hie. House bo asked to disoufc sthe recommendation, ; , Mr Fish expressed his Opinion that thi

-Jr Fish es ms 6pin. da Commission Was entirely unnecessary, It had been got up more on account of the' personal animus of a certain individual than with a desire to cure the evils existing in management of the Dunedin Gaol. As a resident of Dunedin for the past twenty years he was struck with surprise when he heard that tho Minister of Justice found it necessary to order a Commission at ail; The Minister was too prone to act with harshness and want of judgraeut. Mr Hurst scouted the idea that, any man whe had had a monopoly of an office for a long time, and who was found to be mis managing the duties of his office, was not to be called to account simply because he was a personal friend of certain members. Ho had read the evidence in tho inquiry, and there were some things very far wrong about tho goal.

Mx 1 Morales moved an amendment to the question that the report do lie on the table, and that “pending the House having an opportunity ef considering the report it ts inexpedient that any executive action should he taken to give effect to the reoommenda-i tiona embodied in the report.” Mr Snriiiiski seconded the amendment.

The Minister of Justice s.-.id that after what had been stated in the House that afternoon;ho would be most happy to coni sider whether in the best interests of the Dunedin Gaol and the prison service generally some different conclusion might not be arrived at in some respects than that indicated by the report. The members for Dunedin were only (icing their duty in asking him to reconsider: Chief-warder Flannery’s case. It had been-said that there ought to have been a departmental inquiry. That department consisted of himself and the Inspector of Prisons. No one could believe that the public would have been satisfied with an enquiry made by the Inspector, who, rightly or' wrongly (he believed wrongly), was charged with having an animus against the late Dunedin gaoler. It must not ho supposed, however, that the decision with regard to the 1 Chief Warder was filial, and he hoped after this that Mr Holmes would withdraw Ms amendment.

M r Holmes said that he would do so with pleasure. The motion that-the report do lie on the table was then, agreed to.