THE MISSING COUNCILLOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11751, 1 December 1898, Page 4

THE MISSING COUNCILLOR.

The Minister of Justice, when interviewed by a deputation from the creditors of Councillor Joseph Myers, of Wellington, refused to recognise the case as one in which the Government ought to incur the expense of bringing the absconder back to the colony, and as the creditors appear to be unable or unwilling to guarantee r.ire necessary amount, it seems that Myers has effectually escaped from justice. We axe sure that tire regret at the Minister’s decision will not be confined to the people of Wellington, but that it will be shared by every rigirr-mi tided citizen in the colony. It is, tod, extremely difficult to see on what grounds the decision is based. It is true that the defalcations of Councillor Myers are not so largo as those involved in at least one other case in which the Government undertook to bring the offender to justice; but the amount is stated to be a very considerable one, and the offence is grave enough to justify some, expenditure from the public puree. If the Department of Justice is to make expense the first consideration in matters of this kind there will be no security whatever to the citizens of the colony. Every thief who contrives to quit the country before the discovery of his peculations will be practically safe, and the effect will certainly not lie to discourage the commission of cnimo. In the Myers case there are special reasons why the debtor should be brought back to the colony. It has boon hinted in different quarters that prominent public men, as well as the police, know more of the matter than is at present known by the public, and whilst we are far from wishing to give any credit to. mere rumours and vague hints, we think it extremely unfortunate that the Minister of Justice has refused to (interfere. It is to be hoped that Mr Thompson will reconsider ids decision, and that on second thoughts he will issue the necessary instructions to

Tm —— mill ' Secure tbs extradition of the-fugitivei. It! is certainly as much the duty of tho-Govern-menfc-as of the creditors-in this case to- 'Lear the cost of bringing before the-Courts ami who, however much he has himself been! wronged, has- shown no mercy to the-widovr and the toiler.