IS DUMMYISM GOING ON

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3646, 20 March 1883, Page 4

IS DUMMYISM GOING ON

[From the Oamaru Mail.] SoA-ural diivs prior to the 27th of February last, the date on wliich the sale of the Otairo runs took place, the Dunedin Star sounded a warning note that an attempt Avould be made to obtain the pastoral deferred-paA-mcnt. lots by means of " dumliivism." this w;is at the time discredited, and the public journals which noticed the Star's remarks at all did so merely for the jmrposc of exprc-ssinp- their disbelief of the rumor. AVhen tho side came on, however, the probability of such an attempt being mado to subvert the intentions of the Act was ti matter of public conver.satiou amongst knoAving ones. It Avas openly stated that there avus in existence an orgiiuisation whose intention was to prevent the disseverance of the runs--aii organisation which would let no scruple stand in the aviiv of the accomplishment of their purpose. AVhatover may at the outset have been the feeling in regard to this rumor—a rumor attributing such grave Avroug-doing to a set of hitherto reputable men- -there was no room for incredulity when the >:alo v.-as over. AYe have heard the Avhole history of the movement from its inception. There seems to have been some difficulty in concertiuir a plan of iiction Avhich would not oxidise the plotters' fraud and fustrate rhviv designs. It Avas at first proposed th:i: several persons should anuilgiimate widi '.he object of purchasing con-ti-riijus sections in their joint names. But this course Avould have entailed an in-frina-ement of the -Vet Avhich would have been so easily ascertainable that it would probably have had to bo abandoned, even had the Government not issued a notice which checkmated the plotters. But they Avcre not to be; beaten. They hail resolved that the runs involved should not be wrested from the grasp of the present holders. They were- not over particular about any exposure Avhich their action might entail. They Avere gentlemen, because they possessed houses and hinds and seats in the churches. AVhat these '•respectabilities'' would not cover would be overwhelmingly covered by the high positions Avhich they held iv those organisations which profess to be the leaven of Christian virtue, Avheueo spring all those precepts nnd practices which arc ennobling to humanity. These patterns of Christian porfectiein did not fear what the vulgar public might think. What, they wished to avoid was a detection which would end in their being brou_hf under the penal clauses of the Act. Tliey therefore, as agents, se-t: to work and bid for the lots, and when the hammer fell they gave the names of persons as purchasers avlio avitc i-iiuply tools-pro-bably piiid to do the dirty work _ and who stepped over from the opposite side of the room and made the declaration required by the Act. It Avas perfectly apparent to everybody that ••dummying'' avus being per-pi-rti-ated, and that the intention of the Act to promote bm»i- f>'' .settlement Avas being fustrated. AYe l'lelicve tluit these iniquitous proceedings are to bo perfected by thesedummies •'renting" the laud to squatters now in possession. We Avere much surprised to sec men act as agents in this matter avlio, Avere they iiccused of dishonesty or dishonor, Avould indignantly disclaim such charges. Vet they_ induced ignorant men—those tools who signed the declaration —to commit perjury. Cannot some means bo devised Avhereby these offenders against the State and progress may be brought to justice and punished r AYe suggest that the Government should issue a'notice freeing those avlio fa.lsely sigucd the declaration from the penalty of their conducl on their exposing the names of their principals. AYe arc in a position to assert positively that what avc have described actually took place. In the interests of public morality, as well as State progress, such a man should be held up to universal obloquy ancl punished.