The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 21, 1901. CLOSED INQUIRIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 16, 21 January 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JANUARY 21, 1901. CLOSED INQUIRIES.

We suppose the Collector of Customs for Gisborne was acting well within his official rights in refusing admittance to the Press representatives ,to the inquiry held into the circumstances surrounding the death by drowning of the unfortunate young man who was washed overboard when the Grace Harwar met such fearful weather on Boxing Day. We have no intention of cavilling at the action of Mr Pasley. He, unfortunately, may be so closely tied down by Marine departmental regulations that very little choice is left in the matter. But on behalf of the public we do most strongly protest against the holding of any inquiry of public interest, in which every fact should be brought before the light of day and of public criticism, in anything approaching a hole-and-corner fashion. No harm can possibly come of publicity where the circumstances surrounding the losing of a man’s precious life is concerned. There are occasions when the secrecy observed might prove harmful, and cause the public to lose faith in departmental inquiries that, merely through lack of publicity, and not perhaps through want of efficiency or thoroughness, are looked upon as investigations resembling the Star chamber inquiries of the unenlightened times, fortunately long past. At one time in this colony investigations into the circumstances surrounding deaths by accident were held within closed doors. But such a widespread cry of indignant protest was raised that it was deemed expedient to effect an alteration, and since that time all coronial inquiries have in the interests of those concerned, the public, and the Press, been thrown open to the newspaper representatives. In this particular instance no shadow of blame can be attached to those on board the ship—that has been shown by the independent investigations of Press representatives. The man’s death was the result of one of those unfortunate combinations of circumstances against which human power has no control, so that no insinuations can be, or are, made-against anyone in authority. But these lines are written as a protest against the holding of private inquiries into matters of more or less public interest, and we trust that whenever the circumstances under which a man’s life is forfeited are inquired into no secrecy will be attempted, but the fullest publicity eagerly courted.