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Respecting the Native Police Force -
7. November 1866.
His Excellency the Governor again directs the attention of the Council to a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, (the Right Honorable E. Cardwell,) No 18 of 26. March 1866, —,— making certain enquiries respectiong the Native Police Force; — which despatch His Excellency had laid before the Council in May last, immediately after its receipt.
The Council then advised that since the Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly appointed at the beginning of this year's session to enquire into the organization and working of the Civil Service of this Colony would probably examine and report upon the condition of the Police Force in all its branches, it would be expedient to delay the reply to Mr —,— Cardwell's questions until this
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this additional information should be available. However, the Select Committee referred to had not time during the Session to extend its enquiries to the Police Force; and His —,— Excellency now observes that his reply can no longer be delayed, and requests the opinion of his Responsible Advisers on the entire —,— subject. At the same time, His Excellency communicates to the Council a Memorandum furnished by Mr Herbert, the late Colonial Secretary, who was the Minister responsible for the management of the Native Police during the first six years after the creation of this Colony; and a report from the Commissioner of Police. (Mr Seymour.)
The Council again deliberate on this subject, which has already engaged on various previous occasions, their earnest attention. The documents furnished by Mr Herbert and by Mr —,— Seymour will be found to supply the information required by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Council further observe that
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that Mr Cardwell refers to what has been "published in the newspapers" respecting this subject. On this point it will be sufficient for the Council to remark that Mr Gideon Lang, a gentleman resident in Melbourne, who formerly distinguished himself as the principal advocate in the press for the separation of Riverina from New South Wales, having failed of —,— success in that scheme —,— appears now to be writing about the affairs of Queensland in the journals of the neigh-bouring Colonies. Mr Lang, however, has been fully answered in the Press of Sydney by Mr Gordon Sandeman, a prominent member of the Parliament of Queensland, and who, as a frontier settler of long standing, has been more seen more of the Aborigines than most men, and is peculiarly qualified to write and speak with authority respecting their condition, and the conduct held towards them by the Colonial authorities.
The Council desire to take advantage of the opportunity
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opportunity afforded them by Mr Cardwell to submit the following remarks upon the Native Police question in general: —
1. The Native Police Force was established by the Govern-ment of New South Wales for the protection of the —,— settlers in the Northern districts which now form the new Colony of Queensland, in or about the year 1848. At that period, the Colonial Executive was not responsible to the Local Legislature; and it is presumed that this Force was first —,— established by the direction, or with the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Government of Queensland is not —,— responsible for its first establishment; but the Queensland Parliament legalized its existence for the first time by the Police Act of 1863x; and these were issued for the first time under the authority of that Act, binding rules for its discipline and the guidance of its Officers.
2. There are three ways in
x27. [Vict?]. No 11. See "Statutes of Queensland" Vol III p. 25[...].