Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1240, 5 February 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus ju rare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1872.

Although the law-making abilities of the legislative minds of this Colony have, from the commencement of its existence, been exercised to an extent perhaps without precedent in the history of civilised states, it is continually occurring that there is no in existence calculated to meet actual circumstances as tjiey transpire. It is notorious that the facilities which the external traffic of these islands afford to the dishonestly inclined for making their escape from the danger of arrest have always been of the most extensive nature, and have, on almost innumerable occasions, been taken advantage of. Fraudulent debtors, rogues, and swindlers of all descriptions have carried on a career of successful plunder until on the brink of discovery, when just at that time a friendly steamship or sailing vessel, as the case may be, has come to the rescue, and the victims ot the fugitive tiuijl too late that the criminal has escaped from the Colony. The Provincial Governments have ihemseh'es often been amongst the'victimistd, and this to a greater extent than may be generally supposed. Assisted passages to the several provinces have been granted in vast numbers of instances, it being understood that a portion of jthe funds advanced by the Government should be repaid after a certain time by the immigrant, an 4 this repayment was generally secured upon his promissory notes. such notes Jiavie often proved as valueless as so much waste paper, from the fact that iio means of retaining the immigrant in the province, or even in the colony, existed, and the whole sum advanced t£i- ..,.; ....u ... ••--.- ..- ■ • :.**.*«

has become an actual loss to the Government advancing it, its funds being devoted in numerous cases to the peopling of another colony. So long as our external trade was principally confined to adjacent colonies, the evil, .though bad enough, and cause of los enough to individuals, did not seem to caty particularly loud for special legislation — though it cannot be denied that much legislation has been devoted to less worthy objects—because in any case of gross dishonesty or extensile defalcation means exisi&d to stop the defaulter in a neighboring colony, and cause his return to the place from which he absconded. Tt is true that satisfactory results seldom accrued from adopting this course, and that in the majority of cases it has b.'.en judged best not to undergo the risk and expense of adopting it. ISTow, however, Jbhat o.ur trade is extended to another people, the case has become more serious. This gives the dishonestlyInclined a greater advantage than phey ever before possessed, as on landing in the United States they are virtually free from pursuit, and out of all danger of meeting the punishment due to their

ciimes. It does not appear to us thajb the question is of so much difficulty as to deter our Government from providing a remedy. If it was made penal ou the several masters of vessels who take passengers to take any such who had not taken his ticket on shore and passed at the Custom-house previous to embarkation, one great step in the right direction would be made, as this would give some intimation or indication of o ........ any intention to abscond. At present a person may visit an outward bound vessel, pay for his passage wiien on board, and tjuis escape any suspicion of his intention existing until too late. In the case proposed, not having his ticket, nor having his name in the passenger list, he would be sent on shore, and his object be defeated.