The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MAY 12, 1876.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 802, 12 May 1876, Page 5

The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MAY 12, 1876.

The report that the Government nas determined to send to England for an Inspector of Prisons seems to have given rise to a strong feeling of dissatisfaction throughout the Colony. The necessity for the appointment of such an officer must be apparent to everyone who has ever given any consideration to the subject of the treatment of criminals, and the method of conducting penal establishments; and if the inspector were to be chosen from amongst the many competent men in the service of the New Zealand Government at the present time, the public would have little reason to complain. In the present instance, however, the Government seems inclined to overlook the qualifications of men who are Colonial servants, simply because such men are Colonial servants ; and having come to the conclusion that an Inspector of Prisons must be appointed, the powers that be have determined that nothing but " the imported article" will do. There are many reasons why the Government should not adhere to the determination it is reported to have arrived at on this question. "We do not wish to rake up .the-" wretched past " by referring at any length to the fact t|wt most of the men who have been, brought

from Great Britain by the Government, to fill public offices in the Colony, have not given satisfaction, to the people. It is also almost unnecessary to point out the injury done to the civil service of the Colony, by overlooking the claims of the tried public servants—men who have for years discharged their duties carefully and faithfully in the hope that they would some day receive a well-deserved promotion. Having asserted that there is not the slightest reason why the Government should look; outside the Colony for a man to .fill the. position of Inspector of Prisons, we simply wish to state our grounds for the faith that is in us on this particular point. Without wishing to detract in the slightest degree from the character and ability possessed by other men in charge of gaols in New Zealand, we venture to assert that the Government might search through Great Britain and America without being able to find a man better qualified for the appointment of Inspector of Prisons in New Zealand thau Mr Caldwell, the Governor of the Duuedin Gaol. Mr Caldwell is known to the public as a man who, during his tenure of office, has performed his onerous duties in a most satisfactory manner. Visitors from other colonies — persons competent to express an opinion on such a matter — have frequently expressed their admiration of the condition of the Dunedin Gaol, and of the discipline exercised there since it has been under Mr Caldwell's care ; and, on more than oue occasion, we have heard on reliable authority that the Dunedin Gaol, so far as system and management is concerned, is not surpassed by any penal establishment in America. Mr Caldwell has had almost a life-long experience in connection with gaols and their management, and we know, of our own knowledge, that there are few men in this part of the world who have devoted as much attention as he has to the subject of the reformation of criminals. In his present position Mr Caldwell would undoubtedly be "the right man in the right place" if there did not happen to be open for him a wider field for the good use of the peculiar experience he has acquired, and the zeal he possesses. At the present time, when it has been found necessary to appoint an Inspector of Prisons, we desire to point out to the Government that a great mistake will be made if Mr Caldwell's claims are overlooked.