Innocent Victims

NZ Truth, Issue 1172, 17 May 1928, Page 1

Innocent Victims

turned-soldier farmers generally — the department has been put into its place by the common-sense of jurymen and the straight- spoken criticism of the judge.

The facts of both cases were very simple and do not call for any detailed description.

The whole question boiled down to a simple fact. Did these men sell sheep covered by the security — or did they not?

Sheep were sold, as was readily admitted, but it was proved beyond all doubt that the sale was quite outside the security.

This must have been apparent to any departmental officer who had a grain of common-sense and perspective after investigating the position, but for some obscure reason prosecutions were insisted upon — with farcical results.

These case3, however, have left a nasty taste In the mouth of the public, and "Truth" has no intention of allowing the matter to rest with the mere recording of the result of. the trials.

Two innocent men have been humiliated and harrassed without the slightest justification.

They have been put to the expense of employing counsel to clear their names as honest men, not to mention the worry and anxiety which the criminal charge hovering over them involved.

The Lands and Survey Department or the Advances Department — one or the other — has blundered. And blundered badly.

The callous indifference shown towards these men and the Insistence to hound them through the criminal court without adequate reason is a disgrace and a scandal which cannot be overlooked.

It is the duty of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to look very carefully Into the whole question and instituta a rigorous inquiry concerning the bombastic attitude of the officers initially responsible for the shameful persecution of Blair and Nunn, so that they can be called to account.