Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 984, 5 October 1881, Page 2

The question of Government interference with the police, which seems to be attracting . some attention just now, is one* of the greatest moment, and ncessarily affects every one. The allegation is, we believe, entirely against Ministers, and not against the Police; who, it is admitted, have done their duty, and would continue to do their duty, if allowed to do it. We fail to see the necessity for the Police taking the orders of the Ministry on any case, however urgent. If the Sergeants in charge of the Police know their duty, they are much better qualified to judge of the propriety of prosecuting suspected persons, than Ministers, who, it is presumed, cannot have entered as fully into the merits of the case, and mastered all its local surroundings, as a Detective or an Inspector does. We can understand that the Government might, occasionally, order the Police to prosecute when the latter were doubtful, but we cannot comprehend on what grounds the Government would dare to interfere to prevent a prosecution about which the Police were determined, and in regard of which it may be assumed they hold superior information. Where a case is at all doubtful, it is surely much safer and better to investigate it before a Magistrate. If the accused be innocent, his innocence is put past doubt; if guilty, he is probably punished as he should be. It seems to us that instructions by Ministers to the Police not to proceed are very dangerous. What guarantee have we, if they go so far, that they will not go a step farther, and instruct Justices of the Peace to refrain from doing their duty ? or the Magistrates, or the Judges from doing theirs ? It is only a matter of degree. We repeat that the position seems to be very unsafe ; and our duty to the public demands that we should watch this matter very narrowly, which our readers may rely we shall do in their interests.