THE AWARDS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2675, 12 February 1866, Page 5

THE AWARDS.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sir,— l do not think that every letter requires or deserves a reply, but please allow me a few remarks upon your correspondent with, the big superscription "Honesty is the best policy." That gentleman does not seem to be aware that he has cut his own throat, or rather the throat of his own argument. He remarks, "The Commissioner in his report says that he made an uniform reduction in the claimants' estimate; consequently the honest claimants are punished, and the dishonest ones rewarded. " Now, if out of 350 to 400 awards there are 350 honest and 50 dishonest ones, are the 350 again to be £Ut to the trouble, loss of time, and expense of coming down to Auckland, from all the extreme parts of the province, in consequence of the possible dishonest practices of the 50. If so, the honest majority are to suffer for the acts of the dishonest minority. This is lame logic. I quite agree that "honesty is the best policy," and I am perfectly willing that my claim should undergo any possible scrutiny ; but how are we to know when this scrutiny has an end, and when we are to be paid ? If one ac t undo what another set have done, what stability is there in any act? Surely we must add to our fresh claims " expenses of being compelled again to attend the Provincial investigation of our claims." I believe the cheapest course would be for the Government to pay the £71,000, for I am certain that the new claims will amount to more, and equally certain that in many of what are called the exorbitant and dishonest claims, proof is absolutely impossible. Much, very much, must be taken on trust, and we shall have to do as we have done before at Taranaki, which was considered satisfactory. If the Government merely wish to screw the awards down because they have not the means to pay them, let them honestly say so, but not at the same time raise the Superintendent's and other salaries. — I have, &c, J. CfUSFE.