PAMPHLETEERING.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 585, 24 November 1871, Page 2

PAMPHLETEERING.

We have received a tract published by one J. H. field, and purporting to be an account of certain correspondence and an interview between that person and Colonel Balneavii. The subject-matter appears to be the refusal of Colonel Balneavis to give to Field the printing of the electoral rolls. The reason given for this refusal is furnished by Colonel Balneavis in the words—" You cannot do the work ; I am responsible for its execution, and I will not employ you." To most persons the reaaon —which we have no doubt Colonel Bajneavis gave after assuring himself of its correctness —will be quite satisfactory. The Returning Officer is responsible for the correctness, of the rolls, and naturally prefers to have the work completed a(. the acknowledged and respectable printing-offices of the city ; and things will luvo come to a deplorable pass when ev> ry person that sets up a mangle and gathers together a few type establishes a right to a share in Government work. The tone of Field in his communications with the Colonel, as shown in the tract, wai one of extreme impertinence, and the Colonel has shown a forbearance that is creditable to him. " There lias been ■corrupt influence somewhere, and I can asiure you I will spare no pains to sift the matter thoroughly." " I am prepared to take such further sieps as no doubt will prove very unpleasant to you, but I think it well to give you one further opportunity of setting tho case right before I proceed." " I will giveyou a week to reply," <&c, &c. Such is the tone in which Colonel Balneavis is addressed. On Field calling on the .Returning Officer, that gentleman, after a short interview, and bearing with much iusolence, it appears from the tract, ordered the fellow but" of his office; tho wonder is he did not kick him out. Field subsequently addressed himself to the Colonial Secretary, by whom he was very properly snubbed; whereat' Field winds up his publiv cation with a peroration about the vox populi, "Our burdens being increased year by year," " A twopenny duty ■ imposed, 1' and what was it done for? asks the enthusiastic Field—"To provide for:men like Colonel Balneavis. When will the colonies of New Zealand awake tan. i n-ici of XIW necessity of taking~"an active interest in public affairs ?" The man is evidently crazed"; avid we should not refer to him at all except to notice this very dangerous practice indulged in by a person who on every ebulition of temper employs his type in bringing but a fly-sheet, which he circulates about the town. Colonel Bulneavis is too well known and too much respected -to be affected by. the. petty venom of a disap-. pointed tradesman, whose publication, if transmitted to Wellington, will be the best proof of his unfifcness to be entrusted with Government work. But really this dangerous practice of pamphleteeriug should be suppressed. A newspaper is registered, and its publishers are responsible to civil or criminal prosecution, but an irregular and unbridled institution of pamphleteering, such as that introduced by Field, is a positive, danger in our midst.