A BUTTON BUSINESS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1242, 28 February 1878, Page 3

A BUTTON BUSINESS.

[From the Wellington “ Argus.” 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 mergorapda gnd corrcapoudepco ayd references to the officer or department. Naturally the old officers of police found things irksome, and the Grey Government being favourable 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 conespondence that took •place just before the departure of Colonel Moule from office on the subject of a plated button which Constable McGuffiu, of Wellington, lost duriug a scuffle with a drunkard. The correspondence is as follows : Constable McGuftin to the Inspector of Police. Wellington, February Ist, 1878. Inspector Atchison. Sir,—l have the honor to inform you that while I was on duty in Willis street, at two o’clock on the morning of the 25th January," I' observed throe ruen They were evifiot.Cy -under’ theTnfiudiico of strong th ink, and ’ as they wepe making a great neho I thought I should not be exceeding my duty if I took them into custody. Accordingly, I nuked into their midst, and, after a final figfit, succeed led in arresting one of tliom, who, on being taken before the Magistrate next morning, pleaded guilty, and was fined ten skillings, wfiicfi fic paid. Wfiilc I was arresting the person rot'en.ed to, ono of the offer me-. ma,to ai, attack"upon my, with ti e view pf rescuing my prisoner., arid a scuilic, ensued between him and myself, Ifio consequence being that tfic top button of my nuit'oim jacket vyas torn off and lost. I have now respectfully to request that yon will take ifio necessary steps to obtain for mo another button which 1 may substitute for the one which has been lost. —I am, &c., PilELlil McGui’FiN, Constable. Inspector Atchison to Colonel Moule. Wellington, February 2nd, 1878. Sir,—l have the honor to transmit to you the cony of a leiteg received by, me from Constable

McGuffin in reference to a button which he has lost and which he desires the Police Department to replace. Constable McGuffin 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 Moulc to Colonel Gorton, the Government Storekeeper. (Memo ) Wellington, February 3rd, 1878. Goloi el Gorton will oblige the undersigned by providing Constable McGuffin with a uniform button for his coat. W. Mould. The Government Storekeeper to Col. Moule. Wellington, February 4th, 1878 Sir, —I have read your memo, and also Constable McGufiiu’s letter to the Tnspec'or of Police, but. I regret to say that there is not in the Government stores a button similar to that which is required by the constable named, I may remind you at tha same time that every article issued from this department has to bo stamped with the Government stamp.—l have, <&c., W. Gorton, Government Storekeeper. Colonel Moule to the Colonial Secretary. Wellington, February sth, 1878 Sir, —T have the honour to report that on the 25th ultimo, Constable McGuffin of tin- Weflingt n Police Force, got into a sculfle with a drunken man and 104 a plated button off his uniform jacket. He has since applied to the Police Department to provide him with a fresh button, t have to request that you will kindly instruct the Government Storekeeper to procure one for him. I have, &c., W. Moulf., Inspector of Armed Constabulary Department. The Colonial Secretary to Colonel Moule (Private.) Wellington, February 6tb, 1878. Dear Moule, — Why the do il are yon bothering me about this button ? You know pe fectly well that I have nothing to do with buttons. For >'eaven’s sake get your b tton 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 Moulo. (Official.) 1117-78 Wellington. February 6th, 1878. Sir, —In reply to your letter of the sth in -4., ro Constable McGuffiu’s button, I have tho honor to state that the Government St rekeper will supply the button in qu- stion if, on appli ation to him, you can show that tho members of the Police Porco have any claim on tho colony for buttons which they may lose in scuffles with intoxicated men I have, &c., G. S. Whitmore, Colonial Secretary. Colonel Moule to the Government Storekeeper. 917-78 Wellington, February 7th, 1878. Sir, —I am directed by the Minister of Defence and the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary (the Hon. Colonel Whitmore) to apply to you for a un form button which is intended to replace one which Constable McGuffin lost in tho course of a scuffle with some intoxicated men on the 25th ultimo. I am directed to inform you that you have to provide the button in question if you arc 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 Bth, 1878. Sir —I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of yesterday’s date in reference to Constable McGufliu’s button, and in reply I have to say that 1 do not think the colony should provide for those constables whose buttons are lost in scuffles with intoxicated individuals. Therefore l , I cannot forward the button requisitioned for to your department at present, but I shall refer tho question to the law officers of the Crown for their opinion. I have, &c., W. Gorton, Govt, Storekeeper. The Government Storekeeper to the Solicitor General. Wellington, February Btb, 1878. 729-78 A. Sir, —Would you kindly inform me whether the Government is bound to replace the button referred to in the correspondence, of which I enclose a copy. It appears that Constable McGuffin lost bis button in tho cxcation of his duty, aiul if you are of opinion that the Government should supply him with a now one, I shall issue it to him at once. I have, &C., W. Gorton, Govt. Storekeeper. The Solicitor-General to the Government Storekeeper. 971-78 Wellington, February 9th, 1878. Sir, —I am in receipt of your note of yesterday’s date, in which you ask me to give my opinion as to whether, or not the Government are bound to replace the button which was lost by Constable McGuffin, of the Wellington Police Force, while he was seuflliug with an intoxicated man. Before I give my opinion 1 should like to know whether the said intoxicated man was an inhabitant of this city, or only a casual visitor. If ho 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, S olicitor- General. Tho Government Storekeeper to the Inspector of Police. (Memo.) 9th February, 1878. Was tho person who knocked off Constable McGuffiu’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, 1878. I do not know ; but he has been in gaol hero several times, and therefore I think we may consider him a permanent resident. F. Atchison. The Government Storekeeper to the Solicitor General. Wellington, February 10th, 1878. 1614-78. Sir, —In reference to the matter of Constable McGuffin’a button, 1 have the honor to forward to you herewith tho memo, of Inspector Atchison. Yon will observe that be thinks the intoxicated person wuo tore the button off the Constable’s uniform was a bona Jido inhabitant of Wellington. I have, &c., W. Gorton. The Solicitor-Genoi’al to the Government Storekeeper. Wellington, February 11th, 1878. _ Sir, —If we are to consider that tho intoxicated person who tore the button off Constable McGuffiu’s uniform coat during a scufllce (particulars of which are given in the various letters which have passed on tho subject) is a permanent inhabitant of Wellington. lam of opinion that the City Council is bound to supply the Police Department with a button similar to that which was lost by McGuffin during tho aforesaid scuffle. I think, however, that the question might be remitted to the Mayor and i Councillors with the view of getting tho matter i settled amicably and avoiding litigation; I may inform you at sqsae Bhic‘that if tlye City Council do not find the button T will advise the ■ Government not to do so, and if necessary, I shall take cave that ebe question will be refeyiTtl to the Privy Council. The colony is certainly not responsible for Constable MeGuffin’s button, and I may inform you that the Government arc 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. I have, wc., w. S. Reid, i Solicitor-General.

Ifc is unnecessary to publish any more of the letters which have passed on this sub jest. Suffice it to say that several more have passed, ami that the matter is not yet settled. We have not yet heard, however, whether it is one of the measures on.wl ich the Crcy Ministry will stand or fall nex session. .As we have said, the matter is not yet settled, but, in the meantime, Constable McGullin has borrowed a h.dtcm «'oa the cast-off jacket of one of his fellow-policemen and is'ghing about as well dressed as any of them.