South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2463, 9 February 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1881.

form of justice that was in active request before the term “ Anno Domini ” was invented, is stated to have been resuscitated by the Union Steam Shipping Company. A box of gold, valued at £SOOO, having disappeared in a mysterious way from the strong room of one cf the Company’s steamers during the passage between Dunedin and Melbourne, the directors are said to have concluded a fruitless search by dismissing all the hands connected with the boat, from Captain downwards. The Company having an unquestionable right to do what they like with their cmplo3 T es, to comment adversely on their proceedings, did we feel so inclined, would be an unjustifiable interference with joint stock privileges. Fortunately our inclinations entirely harmonise with the doings of the Company. Our task is an agreeable one. We admire things that are worth doing when they are done properly. Half and half measures we abhor. Hence we congratulate the directors on the revival of that pure and unadulterated despotism that flourished before “ Anno Domini ” came into existence. When Nero fiddled he could afford to be supremely happy, for he knew that xlorae was burning and the big conflagration would immortalise his fame as an incendiary. But Alexander the Great, with his love of conquests, nor Nero, with all his cruelties, extravagance, or debaucheries, failed to climb the ladder of despotism to its topmost rung. It was reserved for the brilliant genius of Herod to discover the pinnacle of arbitrary authority, when he caused all the infants in Bethlehem to he massacred in the hope that one dreaded life might be extinguished. This expensive form of justice has not grown in popularity, simply, we presume, because it is so very expensive. But if costly it is undoubtedly effective. It beats Jedburgh justice, which hangs a man and tries him afterwards, and it is .an improvement on the procedure of the jurymen in Ireland, who convicted a man of murder because they assumed him to be guilty of horse stealing. If the rough, ready, and indiscriminate kind of justice (pardon the misapplication) dealt out by the Union Steam Shipping Company, were more generally applied offences, would speedily be extirpated. In aiming at a difficult object nothing beats a blind

smash. The terror inspired by the catting down of a whole regiment because one individual deserves punishment, is known to Lave an excellent effect on the discipline of an army. The trite saying that it is better that ninety-nine guilty persons should escape than that one innocent individual should suffer, is a fallacious illustration of old womanish philosophy. The Union Company, abandoning discrimination, have resolved that the innocent shall suffer along with ths guilty. This may not restore the missing ingots, but it will perhaps gratify the pecuniary wounded feelings of the shareholders and directors. The example made of Captain Muir and his men in being turned about their business with a compromised reputation, will doubtless have a striking effect on Unionists generally. But will it induce men of good character and capabilities to enter a service from which they are liable to be turned away at a moment’s notice if the boats arc not burglar proof? The justice of the U.S.S. Company is the justice of Herod. It may not be in strict accordance with the golden rule, but it is a sweet revenge for the golden ingots. How distressing the penalties inflicted on the whole of the disbanded steamboat’s company must bo to the unscrupulous burglar, that is provided be has a conscience, and burglars, like the directors of joint stock companies, invariably have consciences ! Will his feelings overpower him to such an extent that he will divide the booty among the sufferers ? Or will be restore the missing treasure to the bereaved, conscientious, and humane directors ? What if he should imitate the justice of these gentlemen and make reparation by investing his illgotten wealth in an indirect way! Invested in Union shares she money might give him an influence at the Board sufficient to enable him to reverse the wheel that has this time crushed the innocent.

We need scarcely commend the example of the Union S.S. Company to employers generally. The code of justice to which we have directed attention is so beautiful in its simplicity as to recommend itself. To the factory manager and proprietor we would say :—Go thou and do likewise. If a screw is found to be loose, tear down the machinery. If a coin disappears, discharge the paymaster and his staff. If a safe is tampered with, let the clerks be summarily dismissed. If a window pane is broken from without, send the factory operatives from within to the right about. When letters disappear from the mail hags, the Postmaster-General need not trouble his mind over the how, why, or wherefore. All lie has to do is to get rid of the sorters and carriers. Nor need judges and juries exert their discriminating faculties in investigating crime and weighing evidence. When a murder takes place, why not hang the community ? Have they not the example of Herod and the infants of Bethlehem, and the directors of the Union S.S. Co., and the captain, officers, and hands of the s.s. Tararua ? The code of justice disengaged by these gentlemen is unrivalled. Solomon’s is a fool to it. No head-lopping Caliph, Mogul, or Pascha with all their infernal contrivances for human torture, have ever invented a more efficacious means for potting the innocent and the guilty together. Appreciation of such lofty wisdom should prompt the dismissed seafarers to present the directors of the Company with a testimonial.