“The Inquisition.”

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 433, 2 December 1876, Page 2

“The Inquisition.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sib. —I have read with much interest your very able article in the Standard’s issue of the 22 November on the subject of the late “ Royal Commission.” Your conteinporary appears to agree with you on this subject. It may be that you both see this matter from a journalist’s point of view, and desire, very laudably, to obtain the fullest and most authentic information on all current subjects of public interest. The thanks of the public are therefore due to you both for directing attention to the manner of the enquiry and exposing its unsatisfactoriness.

Where matters interesting only to private individuals, or to certain social bodies, are brought uuder investigation in our courts of justice, the public are allowed to be present, and to hear every word that jgsses ; and to obtain every information as to the fairness of arguments used on each side, as well as the patience and impartiality with which each side is heard and judgment is given, and this in matters where that public is not one atom interested, except so far as regards the precedent which may be established by the hearing of, and judgment in, the case. Now with regard to this Commission, you and I, Mr Editor, and every one of the public are actually interested parties, yet we have not been allowed to watch our case. We can have no idea as to whether our interests have been given due consideration to, and for all we know to the contrary the whole affair may have been “one grand sham.” Mr Wilson may not (setting aside what we know of him) have properly advanced his claims to lands which we hope will become the public estate ; and the public interests (the great matter at issue) may have been entirely lost sight of in personal matters. Mind I don’t wish to insinuate that these things have been so, but I say that for all we know, or for all the public know, they, the real parties interested, may have had their claims ignored, and yet we are perfectly ignorant of it, and could not, and cannot influence the matter one bit. Again, I am inclined to think that evidence would be much nearer the truth if given in public. Men are more inclined to “ tell the truth and shame the devil,” before a large number of their fellow men, some of.whom they know can follow their evidence, and note any departure from the truth, and tax them with it out of court, than if such evidence be given before a select few, who, eitherdon’t know, or won’t notice any inaccuracies. Of course none but prejudiced persons could cavil at your opinion, that parties resting under such grave imputations should have been suspended until the truth or the reverse, of those imputations shall have been arrived at. Excuse my prolixity, for it is difficult, in a matter of such moment, to be'concise and yet explicit.—l am &c., One of the Public. East Coast, 27 Nov. 1876.