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Evening Star, Issue 3821, 24 May 1875, Page 2

Tiie < Private Petitions Committee of the Provincial Council, we observe, are this year putting through their work with unusual expedition. several petitions have been before them, and in nearly every case each has bten at once disposed of on the evidence or opinion alone of the departmental head affected. We do not presume to say that in any single case a just decision has not been arrived at; but there appears to be an indication of something radically wrong in the mode of dealing with statements oi suppositous private wrong. Every man has a right to come to a representative House to seek for redress. In most cases private petitions are demands for consideration that will not be conceded by heads of departments, or perhaps, that cannot be conceded. In these cases it is manifestly unjust to take the evidence of such officers, and not to examine the petitioner or his friends. To adopt such a system of trying the rights of private memorials as a rule, is to defeat the object of free redress of wrongs, supposed to be open to anyone. If the m dixit of departmental officers is to he a bar to the examination of memorialists. ' v ,° fai l to see the use of committees at nil. Jhe officer is clearly j. a =*tl above the committee. One of the eases disposed of so cavalierly this session was a petition asking for consideration for ton yei.m’ service in the Police force, which the memorialist had had to leave trom shattered health. In this case there was no objection as to character or inefficient service, but because the petitioner had to leave the service before he was discharged he is held to be entitled to no consideration, lie is advised to approach the Council in the constitutional manner provided. He does so, and yet without examination or opportunity to state his case himself, the committee reports that there is no claim for consideration. This mode of dealing with private petitions is nob satisfactory.