THE WESTPORT MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3078, 24 December 1908, Page 4

THE WESTPORT MURDER.

QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. by Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December~237~ The Prime Minister was interviewed to-night by a "Times" representative in regard to not granting compensation in the Hallinen and Andersen case. "The Government gave the whole matter very careful consideration," said Sir Joseph Ward. "It was very fully discussed from its various standpoints, and we came to the conclusion that we could not see our way to authorise a monetary payment, and in any case that we could not do so without reference to Parliament. Among other things it was shown at the first trial that these men were not put in the witness box to give evidence on their own behalf, and while in no way finding fault with those who were responsible for the conduct of the case or making any comment upon it from that standpoint.. I may say that the Government has been advised that if the men had given evidence in their own defence in the first instance they would nut have been found guilty of. the murder in other words they could not have been placed in the position they eventually found themselves. There is no fault imputed to any Government officer or tothe Justice Department concerning the case so far as we are aware; in fact, we ordered the prosecution of Connolly for murder, and are doing what is our duty in that respect. In the opinion of the Government the quastion of the responsibility of providing monetary payment in a case of this kind is of such importance that we considered Parliament should be consulted to decide finally as to whether the Government should be called upon to make monetary provision in cases of this nature. Naturally one has sympathy for anyone who has been placed in such a position, but it is not a question of sympathy, it is a question of doing what is right."