NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY.

Although they are, we supposo naturally,_ doing their best to persuade their readers that the Committee which investigated Me. Hine's charges has placed beyond dispute the almost unearthly- rectitude of the Government, some, at any rate, of tho Ministerialist newspapers are unablo to conceal their true feelings about the Committee's findings. The Lyttelton Times, for example, says of Mr. Symes : '

The latter gentleman was certainly voiy fortunate in the view the Committed took of the extraordinary letter ho addressed to one of tho directors of the "Stratford Evening Post." This gentleman had sought the assistance of Sir. Symes in getting the name of his newspaper added to tho list of publications that were receiving Government advertisements. "This," Mr. Symes wrote in tho course of his reply, "will depend entirely on tho treatment that is meted out tu me during the election. I believe that I could fix this matter up, but will not do so until after the election, and as I am treated, so I.will treat tho paper." A majority of tho Committeo thought that Air. Symes may not havo meant what ho said, and on that ground found that "the charge of a threat" had not been established. The newspapers would have little occasion to find fault with tho libel law if it were administered by a tribunal ns ready as this Committee- appears to have l«en to make the host of a writer's intentions. ' ' I

That is the sort of Committee it was, certainly. And anybody can calculate for himself tho odds that such, a Committee would bo disrespectful to tho Government, or overzealous in the interests, of anybody but the Government.