South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, JULY 18, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2597, 18 July 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, JULY 18, 1881.

When Captain Hume’s report on the prisons of the colony was published, we expressed an opinion that it was an exceedingly foolish document; that it was clearly the production of an incapable man. A few days afterwards we were astonished by an article in our local contemporary lauding the document to the skies. The dictionary appeared to have been raked to find terms of adulation. In fact, we were forced to the conclusion that the dictionary had been more consulted than the report. The readers of the journal referred to were told that Captain Hume’s report was the most valuable contribution on the subject of prison reform which had ever been issued from the Government printing office. That it was worth more than all the reports of Royal Commissions, Parliamentary Committees, Visiting Justices, etc. Now, it is our desire to make every allowance for difference of views, but those views should have an honest foundation. No intelligent man could have read Captain Hume’s report, and have come to the conclusion arrived at by the writer in the “ Timaru Herald.” It was not journalism, and it was not justice to the readers of that paper. A few days ago we published a report of the discussion in Parliament on the subject. Not a single member of the

House ventured to say a single word in favor of the Inspector of Prison’s report. No man dared to risk his reputation for common sense by doing so. Captain Hume is an officer of the General Government, and under ordinary circumstances the Ministry would have felt it incumbent to defend him; yet when Captain Hume’s qualificationswere being questioned in the most hostile spirit, Ministers withheld that defence which in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred is so readily accorded to an official when his qualifications are adversely criticised. It was evidently a bad case, and Ministers deemed it better to remain silent. There was remarkable unanimity amongst the members who spoke on the motion by Mr Jones that Parliament be placed in possession of all correspondence which may have passed between the Government and Captain Hume, whether that correspondence was confidential or otherwise. The Ministry opposed the motion on the general ground that it would be inconvenient in most cases to publish correspondence of such a nature, as officers would be chary about making reports in future reflecting on the character or qualifications of subordinate officials. Well, the more chariness that is observed in such matters the better. No person likes to be tried by a secret tribunal. There has been too much underhand work in New Zealand. Men have been preraptorily dismissed from, the Government service without being afforded an idea of the charges brought against them. After having carefully read Captain Hume’s report, we would not place the welfare of a dog at his disposal, let alone a number of men who have carried out their duties as efficiently and as faithfully as any class of public officials in the country. In Captain Hume’s opinion the gaolers of the colony are far too humane. That is a crime which colonists will regard with much leniency.

A few of the remarks made in Parliament regarding the Inspector of Prisons will be read with interest. Mr Andrews thought the confidential communication of such a man should be carefully watched. Mr Levestam was of opinion that his report was of such a nature as to create suspicion respecting the wisdom of his recommendations. Mr Hutchison said:—“ What was known about this inspector, whose report showed he was destitute of all knowledge of human nature, was calculated to excite grave suspicions respecting his confidential communication.” Mr Whitaker, a son of the AttorneyGeneral, followed and thought the matter of confidential communications should be considered “apart from the fitness or otherwise of the Inspector.” The above expression, coming from a strong Government supporter, certainly implies a great deal. Mr Pyke brought the matter to a point when he “ challenged Government to say whether this report was so vile that it could not be produced. On no other grounds could he interpret this desire for reticence on the part of the Government.” Ho answer from the Government Benches. Mr Turnbull characterised the Inspector of Prisons, judging from his report, as a very weak-minded man, indeed. Our morning contemporary stands alone in entertaining a high opinion of the fitness of Captain Hume, and that opinion was avowedly founded upon the most silly report that has ever been written by any public officer in this colony.