THE PORTER-GOODALL AFFAIR.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 322, 9 July 1889, Page 2

THE PORTER-GOODALL AFFAIR.

We had a great deal less to say about the above subject than perhaps a sense of public duty demanded, because we felt perfectly assured it would in due course come before the House of Representatives. Mr Kelly has now given notice to move for the production of all correspondence between Inspector Goodall, Major Porter, and other officers engaged in the arrest of Te Kooti. We are not aware of anything special contained in such correspondence, but the production of it may lead to an understanding as to how such a serious matter can be hushed up for so long, and, which is much more important, it may result in the whole thing being honestly sifted. We can quite understand that the Government did not care to be troubled about the affair at a time when they had to face a very grave difficulty, but what we cannot reconcile with an honesty of purpose is the fact that one of those whose name has had a prominent place in the matter has been promoted to a responsible position in the public service, while another public officer had things made so warm for him in his own district that he was glad to apply for a removal to another district. Is the public service encumbered with such a network of wires and wirepullers that such things can be without some investigation ? From the facts

that have been made public, it is clear that the colony has now in its service two prominent officials one of whom must be totally unfit for his position. In regard to the action of which we accused Major Porter, an accusation which was subsequently affirmed before the Resident Magistrate by our special reporter, it has really little to do with the main question. To most people it no doubt seemed a most undignified, and perhaps hardly decent, procedure, but the denial of it was really worse than the pffeppe. However, what the people of the colony have to do with is a much more serions affair—that is, the efficiency of the public service. The service must be in a very bad state if such grave scandals as that which occurred during the arrest of Te Kooti are allowed to pass unnoticed. And after his arrest, too, there was the disgraceful spectacle of the Magistrate at Opotlki rushing off the Bench ■ and profusely shaking hands with the prisoner, in

open Court. What wonder is it then, when such things are kept in mind, to learn that Inspector Goodall, whose duties brought him in frequent contact with that Magistrate, among others,

should find things made very unpleasant for him ? The whole affair is one which—-W--quires to be thoroughly investigated, and one of the two officials immediately concerned should have a short shirift of it in the responsible position he holds. We are firmly convinced as to which one that ought to be, but an impartial enquiry would place the taxpayers in a better position to judge.