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constitutional grounds , though morally in .agreement.
sixth paragraph of Wedge 's motion,
Neverthless, the
to make other such enquiries into the abuses in the Convict
Department, \hich may appear to affect the Colonial interest:
gave Miller the openi.ng he needed.
On August 8 and 10 he struck again
at the Convict Department , this time with Hall's assistance, ccusing it
of the murder of convict children by treating them
in such a manner as to almost ensure their death for some
faults of their mothers .
Since these children were native born citizens of the colony and, as such,
demanded the interest and protection of the colonial legislature, it was
no longer a political question of privilege but the right of the
legislative assembly to watch over the community's welfare.
Althugh Hall discussed his findings ·at the Cascades Factory
in 1854 with Miller, he, nevertheless, did not wish at first to become
personally involved in the dispute and would not allow his statements to
be used as evidence against the convict officials ; but when he found that ,
in spite of his and Jackson 's protests to the Principal Medical Officer,
the mothers and chi ldren were moved to the Brickfields in June to enable
portion of the Infirmary to be used as offices , and that, subsequently,
in the space of several months , at least one quarter of the chi ldren died,
eight in one week, he chnged his mind.
Consequent ly, on August 11, the
Tasmanian Daily News devoted its editorial entirely to Hall 's experiences
at the Cas cades Factory and accused the Comptro ller-General of 11reckless
inhumanity11•
Who will now declare that we have no right to ask for a
committee to investigate the maladministration of the
Convict Department·. The lives of those who have actually
sprung from our very soil have been sacrificed to heartless
officialism.
When the vote was taken on August 14, Wedge 's statement , that neglect and
want of proper food and care had been responsible for the deaths of two
to three hundred chi ldren within a comparatively short time and that this
alone furnished amp le cause for an enquiry, clinched the matter;
result was eighteen votes to six in favour.
The first meeting of the Committee of Convict Enquiry, with
Sharland and Anstey as· additional members , was held on August 17.
the
, I
From
May 18 to this day more than thirty articles against the convict officials
were written by the Daily News with no assistance whatsoever from the rest
of the Hobart Town pres s.
On August 21 the Legislative Council made a
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