The Argus at KellyGang 17/2/1882
THE POLICE COMMISSION
TO THE EDIT0R OF THE ARGUS
Sir,-With many other friends of Mr Hare I have been anxiously looking forward for some time past for the decision of the Government with reference to that officer. It is now 11 months since he was suspended from duty, and it is surely time he should be relieved from his unpleasant position, and sent back to his duty. His case, in my opinion, is so exceptional that I feel sure the Government have not been made aware or have not mastered all the facts, otherwise he would ere this have had full justice done him. Permit me again to draw attention to the facts of his case, which do not appear to be generally known or understood. These facts can be corroborated by the evidence given before the police commission.
1. In 1870 Mr Hare was selected with two other officers, and was sent after Power the bushranger, after he had defied all the police in the colony for l8 months, being away from Melbourne for 16 days only. When the officers engaged in capturing Power returned to Melbourne , they were promised promotion by the then Chief Secretary Sir James M'Culloch. The two officers who accompanied Mr Hare received promotion, but Mr Hare did not, but only holds now the rank be did then, and the promise made to him remains unfulfilled.
2- When the, Kelly outbreak took place, Mr Nicolson, the officer next in rank to the chief commissioner, was sent to take charge of the search. He remained in the Kelly country two or three months, and being completely knocked up he was ordered to Melbourne, the chief commissioner himself taking charge. Captain Standish ordered Mr Hare to leave his own district (Bourke) and report himself at Benalla. For seven months Mr Hare worked hard and endured hardships which but few men at his time of life could have stood long. He also knocked up, and he then asked to be relieved. Captain Standish about this time returned to Melbourne , and Mr Nicolson again took charge. He remained in the district without effecting the capture of the outlaws eleven months when the Government of the day (Service) deemed it advisable to make a change, and ordered Mr Nicolson back to Melbourne, and Mr Hare to take his place at Benalla. Mr Hare protested in the strongest possible manner against the injustice of being sent back both to Mr Ramsay and Captain Standish, and pointed out that there were four officers senior to him upon whom the responsibility should be thrown, but notwithstanding this protest he was directed to proceed to the North-Eastern district. After being there 26 days Aaron Sherritt was murdered by the Kelly gang. Mr Hare at once took steps to effect their arrest, and whilst proceeding to Beechworth fell in with and at once-attacked them, surrounded the house they had been driven into, and so brought about their destruction. In the affray Mr Hare was severely wounded, and for months his life was in danger, and when convalescent he returned to his duty in his own district. Shortly after the Kelly gang were destroyed Mr Ramsay left office, and before doing so put the following minute on record, which was produced before the Police Commission:-
"Having with some difficulty induced Mr Hare to take charge of the entire arrangements for the capture of the Kelly gang on the distinct promise from me that, as he did so at the imminent risk of his life, he should be substantially rewarded if successful, I feel it only due to him to place on record that, had the Ministry remained in office, Mr Hare would have been promoted to the first vacancy in the force, and a substantial sum would have been placed on the estimates as some acknowledgment for his most valuable services. The great energy he displayed, the risk he ran, and the serious and unfortunately permanent injury he has sustained, all render this duty so incumbent on those who follow, that I feel assured my successor will have no hesitation in adopting the same course.-18th July, 1880."
In selecting Mr Hare over the head of his seniors to undertake the operations in search of the outlaws has caused great jealousy, and much ill-feeling has been shown towards him; but surely the Government, after making use of him, and his having been again successful in capturing dangerous bushrangers, are not now going to allow him to suffer, and deprive him of that reward he has a right to expect, viz., promotion in the service in which he has passed the greater part of his life, and to which he is warmly attached.-Yours, &c,
Feb. 15. FAIR PLAY
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