The Argus at KellyGang 28/10/1881
THE FINDINGS OF THE POLICE COMMISSION
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir, – I cannot but admire the tone of the letters of your correspondent " Martini- Henry," and I am emboldened to ask you to give publicity to the opinions I have so frequently heard expressed during the sitting of the Police Commission, as well as my own ideas upon the subject.
I have paid great attention to the proceedings of the commission, and have read the evidence given from time to time by the press, and fail to see upon what grounds the conclusions have been arrived at, particularly with regard to the compulsory retirement of Mr Hare. The reason assigned is that of ill feeling between him and Mr Nicolson.
Now I trust the Government, before dealing with the report, will well weigh all the facts given in evidence and not be misled by the report of the commission.
These facts are as follow:– Mr Nicolson was sent to the Kelly country to endeavour to capture the Kellys, and he remained there for a period of 11 months, during which time no end of reliable information was furnished to him, from which he might have taken the outlaws, but for reasons best known to him self he failed to take advantage of the opportunities, and was therefore unsuccessful. When a change of Government took place Mr Ramsay, the then Chief Secretary, ordered Captain Standish to send Mr Hare to Benalla, and to recall Mr Nicolson. Mr Hare strongly opposed being sent up to relieve his senior officer, and also to his being selected when there were so many officers his seniors in the force, who had not been previously employed upon this duty. How- ever, his protest was of no avail, and he was sent up with the promise that in the event of his succeeding in capturing the Kellys, he should receive promotion.
After being in the district twenty-eight days be brought the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, but unfortunately was seriously wounded in the capture, from which wound he will suffer all his life. It must here be remembered that Mr Hare was only personally responsible for what actually occurred during the twenty eight days previous to the capture of the Kellys, as on the first occasion, when he was in that district for seven months, he was acting – as every other member of the force similarly employed did – entirely under the immediate directions and instructions of Captain Standish, who was on the spot.
The Police Commission, after all this, suggest that Mr Hare's services should be dispensed with, and that he should retire from the service, thereby compelling him to seek other employment, whilst crippled in his left hand from a wound received whilst performing his duty.
For what reason is this officer to be treated thus? Has he been proved guilty of any neglect of duty, or of having omitted to do anything he should have done? Surely the Government will not allow an injustice to be done to Mr Hare after the valuable services he had rendered to his country, nor will they allow such a blot to be cast upon the fair fame of this colony.
Sir, no doubt Mr Hare's success naturally caused Mr Nicolson's ill-feeling towards him and, from the evidence, Mr Nicolson lost no opportunity of showing it before the commission. But is Mr Hare to suffer for this?
I am told Mr Winch came voluntarily before the commission to show that Mr Hare was favoured by Captain Standish in being sent to Benalla. It would have been wise in Mr Winch not to have volunteered this evidence, even if it was true, but I deny its truth. Captain Standish positively swore that he bad nothing to do with sending Mr Hare to Benalla, and that he was only acting by the express orders of Mr Ramsay. Mr Ramsay made a similar statement. I would ask here how it was that Mr Winch, who is senior to Mr Hare, never volunteered for this arduous duty, or protested against a junior being sent before he was, to carry out this dangerous work?
Mr Ramsay, who took an active part in this matter, was not even examined before the commission. He could have given valuable and important information, and to the point, instead of which the time of the commission has been wasted by witnesses being brought before them who repeated the same story a dozen times over.
No doubt the fact of Mr Hare being successful has caused a certain amount of jealousy amongst the officers senior to him in the force. But is it not a fact that a successful man invariably makes enemies? whereas a man who slopes along in the ordinary way, and is all things to all men, never rubs shoulders against any one, generally is ready to take advantage of all the good things that turn up. I trust, Sir, the public will raise their voice against the proposed gross act of injustice being perpetrated against Mr Hare, and that the Government will take all these facts into consideration when dealing with the report of the commission.
Apologising for the length of this letter –
I am, &c.,
FAIR PLAY.
Oct. 18.
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