A Hard Fight.

The odds I had to contend with have been heavy. The extreme reluctance of private citizens to give evidence, the stolid opposition of the officialism impreached, and, worse than all, the positive refusal of the present Minister of Defence, and the Premier, who was his predecessor, to give evidence. These two witnesses were possessed of the facts which were necessary, and in some cases essential, to complete sections of evidence. In many cases they only could tell the Commission why certain extraordinary things had been done. Although they were the trustees of the public documents, and alone possessed a knowledge as to the secret methods connected with the administration of the past seven years, they refused to give a word of evidence. No precedent was quoted in support of their refusal; I showed that they had tendered themselves as witnesses before another Royal Commission during the last four years. It is natural to conclude that the fear of exposure is the only reason for the Ministers' actions.

A summary of the matter is as follows:—This Ministry has been in power for nearly eight years, it has controlled the largest and most pliant majorities on record in this colony; its desire has never been questioned by its followers. Eight years is more than sufficient time to discover defects in any department. The late Commissioner made strong complaints every year about the unsatisfactory state of things, but absolutely nothing was done to remedy matters until a public exposure of the maladministration was inevitable, then haste is made to change the Commissioner, and in theory a measure of control is given him which has all along been denied to his predecessor. I submit that I have fully justified the demand for the appointment of the Royal Commission, and the expense of its inquiry.

I regard New Zealand as a veritable Land of Promise. Whatever of song, of art, of industry, of heroism, or of prosperity and knowledge has been won by the Britain of the North will be excelled in the days to come by the more richly endowed and loyal Britain of the South, and one of the chief concerns of citizens to-day should be the laying of strong, clean foundations for our public institutions and for our methods of administration. Such a condition of things as I claim has been proved to have been tolerated in the police force of this colony can only lead to a deterioration of our public services, and, believing that the recent inquiry will destroy largely the evil growth it was designed to attack, I feel that a full justification exists for my share in this inquiry.