The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 144, 18 November 1874, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1874.

TnE sudden appearance of Mr C. C. Bowen in the political arena as a Minister of the Crown, will take the majority of the people of Canterbury by surprise. Hitherto he has only been known as a most efficient Eesident Magistrate, and as a gentleman who took a large interest in every question, which had for its object the social well being of the people of the province. Not that he is unqualified for the office which he has taken; on the contrary, his administration of the Department of Justice will be in striking contrast with that of his predecessors in office, in whose hands it has for many years been scarcely anything but a sinecure. And yet if the Minister of Justice did his duty he has a most important work to perform. The state of our gaols has long been a reproach to the colony. Time after time our judges have directed attention to the necessity of a radical change, and they have not scrupled to style them nothing better than nurseries of crime. And yet each successive Minister of Justice has been content to draw his salary and let things take their course. We anticipate a different state of affairs when Mr. Bowen takes the reins of office. He goes into power intimately acquainted with the real state of affairs, which his lengthened occupation of the bench has given him. It is also well known that he has long been deeply impressed with the importance of the reforms we have indicated. He will, therefore, bring to the task, not only an intimate knowledge of what is actually required, but also an enthusiasm for the work which must be productive of the greatest good to the colony. The JSFeio Zealand Times,in announcing the appointment, sees fit to denounce it in the most unmeasured terms. Our contemporary takes it for granted that a similar arrangement to that made with Mr Gisborne, has been made with Mr Bowen. 'We have no official authority for saying so, but we feel perfectly certain no such arrangement has been made. Mr Bowen has too high a sense of honor to permit himself to follow the example set by Mr Gh'sborne. He has elected to go into public life, and he is no doubt prepared to take the consequences. Of course, our contemporary is at perfect liberty to hold his own opinion as to the propriety of the appointment. He cannot be expected at present to judge of Mr Bowen's capabilities, but we are confident, that twelve months hence, should he remain in office, till then, the colony at large will acknowledge that in Mr Bowen the ministry have added immensely to their strength, and that in him the colony has secured the services of a most efficient Minister of Justice.