The Argus at KellyGang 8/12/1880
Debate in Parliament
Mr RAMSAY desired to bring under the notice of the Chief Secretary a matter of some importance, namely, the capture of the Kelly gang. He felt he would not be doing his duty to a most deserving officer-Superintendent Hare-if he did not take the first opportunity he had of bringing the conduct of that officer under notice. When he took office as Chief Secretary there were the greatest complaints throughout the country and in every newspaper about the disgraceful delay in connexion with the capture of the Kelly gang. He made the fullest inquiry as to what had been done in the matter, and sent for Superintendent Hare, because he believed he was the man in the whole of the force to capture the Kelly gang, if they could be captured.
After several interviews with Mr Hare, he induced him to take up the matter, and at the final interview Mr Hare said he would not return to Melbourne without the men having been caught. The result of the measures Mr Hare took were that in a very short time the gang were so surrounded that there was no possibility of their escape from the colony. The other matters in connexion with the capture were in the recollection of hon members, and he would now call the attention of hon members to a statement in connexion with the Kelly matters which appeared in a Melbourne newspaper a few days previously, and which he believed was authentic. The Chief Secretary had told the House that the pursuit and capture of the gang cost £50,000, and the depreciation of property in the North eastern district during the long time the gang were at large was almost beyond belief; in fact the whole district was in a deplorable state of terror.
Up to the time Mr Hare took charge of the matter, he believed very little was done. Mr Hare was not in good health when he took charge, and the amount of worry and anxiety he was caused in the pursuit and capture had seriously injured him. Mr Hare had also told him that he was the instrument of the capture of Power, the bushranger. For doing that Mr Hare was promised promotion after he had declined a reward, but he had not been promoted. Such a manner of dealing with men was most discouraging to those who risked their lives by trying to put down the bushranging and terrorism which made this colony an example and by word to the world. He felt the claims of Mr Hare so strongly, that before he left office he made the following memo concerning him: -
"Having with some difficulty induced Hr 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, that 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 the 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.
"ROBERT RAMSAY
“July 10 1880 ....
Had the Service Ministry remained in office Mr Hare would have been promoted to the first vacancy which occurred, and a substantial sum would have been placed on the estimates as the reward for his services. When he made that memo he did not know who his successor would be, but he felt it was only necessary to call the attention of the Chief Secretary now to the case, so that some measure of justice could be done to Mr Hare, Very great credit was due to him for the capture of the gang and there would be a feeling of universal satisfaction through- out the force if it were officered by such a man.
Mr BERRY said that on a previous evening he had promised to appoint a Royal commission to inquire into the Kelly matter, and the publication of the article in the newspaper alluded to would induce him to hurry his arrangements for the appointment of the commission. The appointment, however, was a matter of extreme delicacy, because only gentlemen should be selected for the commission whose decision would carry weight, and be approved of. He was anxious to select such men and that was why the appointment of the commission was delayed. He did not wish to prejudice that inquiry now by expressing any opinion on the case, because the commission should commence their labours unprejudiced, and he thought the hon member (Mr Ramsay) would have acted more wisely if he had not made the remarks which he had just offered to the House.
Without saying anything more, he must however, say that he thought the minute which the hon member had read carried out a reflection against the other officers, and he (Mr Berry) could not see the reason for that. He did not see any reason either, why a special convention should have been made with Mr Hare. That officer was ordered to go on the duty, and he was bound to go. He must say that he read with some surprise the remonstrance which came from Mr Hare in the first instance. That officer said the other officers ought to be sent, and when an officer was anxious that his seniors should take the risk of danger, he need not be surprised if they also had the right to promotion which might occur in the course of events. He had been particularly anxious not to express any opinion as to the conduct of the officers in the Kelly business, and appointed the next officer in rank to the late chief commissioner as acting chief commissioner with the distinct understanding that the appointment was not to be considered a permancy - that he was not to be in the slightest degree embarrassed or pledged to make the appointment permanent, merely because he had to make it then for the time being.
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