DEPUTATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6495, 6 December 1882, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS.

RAILWAY FAHE3 JOB SCHOOL CHILDREN,

A;'deputation from the Dunedin School Committee waited upon the Minister of Works yesterda^forthe purpose of obtaining a concession' in ■■■■'. tha ' way of ■ railway fares for children during the vacation^ . ■-■.-.:. Mr Bolt (the chairman) explained the object of the deputation. He remarked that the children were-kept very close at their studies, and that if one free ticket was granted every year to each scholar, it would enable the pupils to make', atrip into the country that would . prove very beneficial to their health; while the ievenue of the railways would not be much affected by "the concession. The matter had been mentioned to the Hon. Mr Dick, Colonial Secretary, who had'referred them to Mr. Johnston, af'the same time expressing the opinion that the Government might consider it favourably. . The Honi Mr Johnston said: Ido not quite know why you should refer the matter to me, because everything that has to be done in the way of education is of;course done by the Minister of Education, and Parliament appropriates what amount of money it thinks fit for the purpose." Supposing that the Railway Department tfas called Upon to assist the cause of education in the Colony in any way, then I should expect to be paid for that by the Minister of Education; it is no business of mine simply as a carrier. If the Minister of Education desires r to distribute free passes to school children any time during the year, for any purpose whatever, he'has only to apply to me and receive'them and pay for them. Parliament appropriates a large sum for education, and it is not my business to supplement it in that Way or uxany other way. Mr Bolt thought that would not be a concession at all, as it was not likely that the Minister of Education would pay for such passes.- .-.■-,■■■ ..•■■.. ■-. - The Hon. Mr. Johnstonsaid he did not quite see the force of that either. Whatever public money_ was 'determined to' Iw spent, or privileges granted,1 must be done by Parliament. •" ■ ," ;; ■"'■■ :

Mr STUART asked if they were to understand that the'matter was One beyond the Minister's province. ; ' ' ■ ■ ■ " The Hon. Mr JonssTON: That is so. MrWEBRT pointed oat that a very liberal concession was already made to scholars and teachers for excursion trips, children being allowed to travel together at the rate of a single fare for every four, and teachers at the rate of a single fare for every two. Mr Stuart remarked that that applied to excursion parties, which was different to the purpose of .the deputation. However, aB the matter was outßide the Minister's department, they could only thank him for his courtesy in receiving them. '"" ' THE DUNEDIN GAOL. . A deputation consisting of Messrs W. J. M. Larnach, W. D. Stewart, A. H. Rosa, H. J. Walter, and Joseph Baxter, was introduced by Mr T. -Bracken, M.H.R. - Mr Ross said theoblect of the deputation was to support the resolution (a copy of which had been forwarded) that was passed unanimously at a meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce a fortnight ago. The feeling at that meeting ; was that if it were possible for the Government ■to retain the services of Mr Caldwell at the Dunedin Gaol, it would be very, desirable. At the same time, there was no desire on-the part of anyone.present at t c meeting to interfere with any arrangemonts the head 61 the department felt bound to make, or to do anything that would be prejudicial to the good working ..of the department. At the same time, Mr Caldwell had been so long in his # present ;positipn, had given such universal satisfaction, and gained such general esteem in it,-that the deputation would urge that ia . consideration of his great services he should not.now.'be removed, but that in his case>an .exception should be made to

the rule.. There was another question with reference to a subordinate officer. Sergeant M'Namara had also seen long service as a

warder in Dunedin Gaol, but had recently been degraded in consequence o£ having committed a trifling offence. Tho deputation would ask that his ease also be reconsidered, and his long flervice and good, character be remembered in extenuation, of the slight fault he had committed. It would satisfy the public that this should be done, if it.could be done without detriment to the public service. Mr STEWABTsaid the meeting referred to, which was fairly representative ol the citizens of Dunedin, had been entirely'unanimous, and in fact enthusiastic, in the expression of their desire that Mr'Caldwell should be retained in Dunedin. Sergeant M-Namara,- he believed, was a man of good reputation, and a deserving officer. ■

Mr Walteb testified to Mr Caldwell's long services, and said that his general knowledge of the criminal class rendered him an especially valuable officer to retain in Dunedin.

Mr Bracken said that Sergeant M'JSfamaia had been 20 years in .the gaol service, and during the whole of that time not the slightest charge had aver been brought against him ; on the contrary, He had been frequently rewarded for his pluck, his faithful discharge of. his duties, and his universally steady and sober conduct. Yet, for a recent slight error of judgment—it was nothing more—the stripes had been taken off him and his salary reduced by.'£3o a year. The taking away of his stripes must, degrade him in the eyes of his fellow officera and also of the prisoners, bringing him -into contempt with the latter especially, and such, punishment was about the most severe that could be inflicted on an officer. He (the speaker) trusted that the Minister would press the matter upon his colleagues on returning to Wellington. ■.

Mr Baxter endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, and' added that having served for some time as a comrade of Sergeant M'Namara, he could say that a more gallant, trustworthy,l arid steady officer could not be found. As an instance, two dangerous prisoners once escaped from the Gaol, one of whom shot at the" speaker's, brother, immediately after which Sergeant M'Namara shot one of them and captured the other. His slight offence consisted, it was understood, in simply having failed to report a case of drunkenness on the part of a fellow warder. As to Mr Caldwell, he (the speaker) served under him for some time, and could say nothing but what was in his favour. One had only to look at the ninny useful works he had carried out to estimate Mr Caldwell's value.

Mr Laksaoh spoke to Sergeant M'Namara's conscientious discharge of his duties, and urged that, if compatible with the regulations of the Government, he should be reinstated in his former position.

The Hon. Mr Johnston: Of course you know, this not being in my department, I am quite unacquainted with the occasion of the order for the removal of Mr Caldwoll, and I do not know the particulars of the charge which has led to Mr M'Namara's degradation and lino. I shall, however, out of deference to tha-wishes of the deputation, of course take care to represent to the Minister of Justice their views and their wishes. Of course I feel mire that there has been no other object in view than tbe promotion of the interests of the public service. No doubt that is the desire and interest of all of us—you equally with ournelves; and as they are actuated only and solely by that view, and are not acting from any tense of caprice, I can hardly have any hope that the action will be reversed.

Mr Labnach thought that if the case of Sergeant M'Nainara had been fairly put before the Miiiinter of Justice such severe punishment would not have been inflicted.

The Hon. Mr Johnston :If there is any general ijnprossion that the action has boon taken in ignorance of the real facts of the ca«e, would it not be better to forward a memorial to the Minister setting forth the facts for his information'—(Mr Laenaoh ; That can be done,) I will undertake to represent to the Minister the statements of the deputation. Of course, beypud that I cannot say anything, • ' JUO«.BIU. - A deputation from the residents of the borough of Maori Hill ftiid tlie settlors on the

road from Wakari to Waitati, consisting of Mr Mitchell (Mayor of Maori Hill), and Councillors Ibbot3on and Shaw, waited on the Minister in reference to tho road from Dunedin through the municipality to Blueskin. Mr Mitchell said that a sum of £3000 had been voted by Parliament for completing the road in question, but it had not yet been laid out. The deputation would urge that it should be done as'quickly as possible, and that £1500 should be laid out at once in forming at least the Dunedin end of this road and the bridges necessary, as the road was almost impassable and very dangerous to life. The Hon. Mr Johnston said that £2300 of the vote remained, but the sum had, he believed, been voted for completing the Waitati end of the road and building the bridge at tho Dunedin end. He was prepared to instruct Mr Blair to proceed with the works without delay, but he would expend the money according to the arrangement made at the time the amount was placed on the Estimates. Mr Ibbotson said then chey could only look forward to the building of the bridge. Mr Mitohull asked if the money could not be spent on the place pointed out by him on the map.. - The Hon. Mr Johnston: Within the limits of the Maori Hill borough ? Tho money wa.s voted by the House for the purpose I have explained, and for that purpose, of course, I shall expend it.