Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, JULY 23, 1894. THE JOHNSON CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4780, 23 July 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, JULY 23, 1894. THE JOHNSON CASE.

The Hon. Mr Cadman promised nn inquiry into the Johnson case, but did not redeem bis pledge. A statement from. Sergeant McArdlo was a mere travesty of an inquiry, but possibly political pressure was brought ' to boar on the Minister for Justice, and Party considerations prevailed over his sense of duty. Mr Seddon, with admirable candour, simply declined to grant an inquiry. The reason of this isquitoapparciit; The facts in the caso are damaging to the Government, therefore tlio Government will not fact them, The course taken by Mr Hogg docs more honour to his heart than his bead. Ho audtlio Sergeant have been intimate personal j friends for a long time, and it was a j matter of course, tlmt lie should do his best to'pull bis friend out of his difficulty. But lie neither denied nor disproved the allegations niado by Mr Buchanan, and contented himself with slanging the member for the Wairarapa. He imputed to Mr Buchanan ' a vindictive feeling ! against public officers generally and Sergeant McArdle in particular. We . ourselves endorso the view expressed by Mi' Buchanan, but Ave certainly have 110 prejudice or ill-feeling against the Sergeant. We consider that in the Johnson case 110 committed a grave error of judgment, but even for this some extenuating circumstances may be found. He is a very old officer, so old that it is said by somo that he is past the ago when, under tho regulations, active duty should be imposed upon him, This may or may not be the case, but if it be, it is evident that he is occupying an auomalous position, and that his failings may be'excused by his advanced years, The duties devolving upon tho head of the police in this district are numerous and'arduous, and it is unreasonable' to oxpect that. an .officer at Sergeant McArdlo's time of :life can cope with them. < We would, as far as Sergeant McAvdle is , concerned, be content for the matter to rest at tlio present stage, but the j wholo question of police ndministra- 1 tion is raised by it and we are not i contented .to. submit quietly toiMr 1 Seddon's" bluff." Some time back ' [before Mr Seddon became Premier, J

a high official in the police depart-' ment told us plainly that tho service was damoralieed and that Mr Soddon passed o yer , the heads' of -responsible officers, and gave direct instructions to subordinate officers, interfering with the discipline of the force, Mr Seddon is the despot of tho foico, and Mr Hogg is the genial despot of the Wairarapa district. Itis perhaps idle to mako a stand against the autocracy of either Mr Seddon or Mr Hogg, and most people prefer to bow the kneo to Baal. But when wo find Messrs Seddon and Hogg denying justice to a. poor and oppressed widow women, we consider some stand'should be .made. Tho facts with a few -Liberal falsehoods arri now fairly brought out, but before the matter is allowed to drop they should be sheeted homo a little more plainly, not out of any feeling or prejudice against Sergeant McArdle but iii the interests of truth and justice.