CURTAILED REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 6

CURTAILED REPORTS.

MR. FISHER AND PRESS CORRESPONDENTS. • While tho Hen. F. M. B. Fisher was touring tho West Const recently, a brief Press Association .telegram was circuateil, stating that Mr. Fisher had "said the Hon. Jamos Allen had too much 6enso to offer 8000 men for service outsido New Zealand." It was poiuted out in 'Ihe Dominion at tho time that Mr.Fisher obviously, could not luivo made the bold statement attributed to him.

"The incident arose during tho course of my meeting .at ■ Wostport," said Mr. Fisher when tho paragraph: was submitted to him yesterday. "I was asked whether I had soon a statement in the newspapers that Mr. Allen had offered 8000 troops from New Zealand for service abroad- In reply to tho question, I said that I was quito suro that every member of Mr. Mnssey's Administration had far too much sense to enter into any arrangement which would compel any single New Zcalander to go out of his country against his will,'and that whatever troops should leave Now Zealand to assist the Empire would do so voluntarily." Whilo upon tho subject, Mr. Fisher. 'mentioned another.instance of a similar, kind. "I was npporontly reported," ho remarked, "as having fniado statements during my visit to tho West .Coast-which reflected upon tho Right Hon. Sir Joseph Word. I havo not seen tho paragraph referred-to, but I will recount tho. statement' I made. Spoaking at' Hokitika, I said that tho late Liberal party had come into power six years ago, .with Sir Joseph Ward at its head, with, a majority of fe; and that, by n constant series of blunders, Sir Joseph Ward had .succeeded in rushing his party over \ precipice to destruction. I said that-.ns a leader. Sir Joseph Ward had been found wanting in every respect. Then I wont on to 6ay that there was this gratifying feature about public life: thnt however much men differed in tho House, their personal friendship outside the Chamber was not af-, focted in any way, and I reminded my hearers—especially the young New Zenlanders who wero present—that, how'ever much we might differ from Sir Joseph Ward in his leadership and his politics, :hewas entitled'to. the ..very greatest: credit for having risen from the', position of telegrnphj messenger to that of Prime Minister, and that in that respect his career was nn example to every New Zealand:born boy. I said that he was an excellent administrator; and a' good'Post-master-General, but the fact still, remained that his leadership had' mined the Liberal party. I have made tho same statement in tho prosenco of Sir' Joseph Ward, in the House, and I shall not hesitate to make it again as often aa it suits mo to do so. ..,' , ■.' ■... ■

"If a public man is to be judged by tho curtailed reports' of a press correspondent vlw.jis' rushing to catch ,tho telegraph, wires," romarltod 'Mi'. .Eisner/ in leaving, tho subject, "then tho fault is not niine."