Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1881. OFFICIALS FROM ENGLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 69, 29 April 1881, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1881. OFFICIALS FROM ENGLAND.

;• » . The colony has not obtained very many officials from England, and if •we are to profit by experience we shall get still fewer in the future. Dr Skae. the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, one of the imported officers, holds a very unfortunate position jusfr now through the recent enquiry at Wellington, as it has been shown that flagrant abuses in connection with Whitelaw's management continued for years, while I)r Skae was either ignorant of or winked at them. The Inspector of Prisons, Captain Hume, another importation, is also acting in a way that suggests either incapacity or a domineeing spirit which must be cheeked. His circular warning all ga -lofficials noc to furnish the Press with information was a piece of foolishness which has been commented on severely. His action in ignoring the judgment of the visiting Justices of Dunedin Gaol on a warder for dereliction of duty, and inflicting a heavier penalty, has also been condemned throughout the colony. Still another instance of his despotic tendency has been brought to light by the Wanganui Chronicle. It appears that a gaoler is allowed to be absent from the gaol six hours without leave. Recently the Wanganui gaoler was absent for three hours, during which time a pr:soner attempted to escape. He was instantly recaptured. The Visiting Justices acquitted the gaoler of all blame. Then the Inspector appeared on the scene, aud he held another enquiry, after which he severely re- j primanded the gaoler. (Shortly afterwards the gaoler received a notice that his services would be dispensed with and on applying for the reason was told that it was for leaving the gaol without placing the chief warder in charge, notwithstanding that he was absent only three hours, and that before leaving he told his next officer that he was going out. The Chronicle thus criticises the action of the Government regarding the dismissal :- The whole blame with regard to this escape rests with the Government, who, in the face of numerous remonstrances, have •ef used or negleted to enclose the gaol by a suitable, fenoe> Setting on one side the fact that the Visiting Justices had already held an enquiry and dealt with the case, we think' that the arbitrary dismissal of the gaoler was a great piece of injustice. He had served the public satisfactorily, and th,e Visiting Justices had, so far as we can learn, never made any complaints against him. Nevertheless on the hare word of Captain Hume he is summarily dismissed from his situation, and left to seek a livelihood,; for himself and his family as fbest ho|hifiy. That, whilst acceding to the Inspector's request for the gaoler's dismissal, the Government did not look upon the alleged offence' as of a very grave character, is sufficiently shown by the fact that he is not to be deprived of his appointment till the end of the current month. The heaviest sentence is* pronounced against him, but a month is to elapse before it takes effect, the time being allowed either to give the culprit an opportunity for looking about him, or to enable the Government to deterniine on his successor. It is evident that, if the sentence of dismissal was just, it ought to have been carried out without an hour's delay. If the gaoler has done nothing to render him unfit to be left iv charge; of the Gaol during the month of April, we cannot see why he should be ad. judged unfit to continue at his post in May and June, and bo on until either the Gaol is abolished or he is guilty of some fresh crime really worthy of dismissal. la fact, not dismissing this official at once shows conclusively that in the eyes of the Government, he is not in reality worthy of dismissal at all. ] There.csinj be no disputing the arguments^ the Chronicle, which prove two things :■ first, that the Inspector p$ Prisons is determined to override everybody; and second, that the Minister, p| Justice ia utterly un.fit for Hi's poslftdnV "His action in 'acceding to the request of Captain Hume thac the Wanganui gaoler should be dismissed was certainly what the Chronicle described it, " a great piece of injustice." The Chronicle's remarks

coming from a thick -aud-thiu sup* porter of the Government, are espe cially cutting. We shall not be sur prised if both Dr Skae and Captain Biiiiiie 'are made short work of by the House Viext session.