NEWSPAPER FOR WORKING MEN.

Evening Star, Issue 3955, 28 October 1875, Page 2

NEWSPAPER FOR WORKING MEN.

A public meeting was held at the Temperance flail last evening to take into considera■ion the propriety of establishing a working man’s newspaper. When the Chairman (Dr Bake well) took his seat on the plat form there cnuid not. have been move than forty persons present, but the attendance gradually increased and there must have been close on ninetv present at the termination of the proceedings, .'dost of those present took an active part in the meeting lately held on the unemployed question. After some remarks by the Chairman, Mr Mourns moved —“That in the opinion of this meeting the Now Zealand Press does net adequately represent the interests r.nd opinions of the working classes ” Doubtless the meeting would agree with him in saying that the resolution was truthful—that is to say, that the Press did not adequately represent the opinion of the working classes. The workingmen were repeatedly spoken of by editors in unjust and harsh language, and false statements were made by the Press of theta, and when they wrote in reply their letters were consi ned to the waste paper basket.— i “ Shame, shame,” and contusion ) It was important that they should have an organ through which they could hold foith their views. Mr M. J. Thomas seconded. He hoped to see the “good and glorious” cause on which they were er tenng satisfactorily carried out. The Press of New Zealand only scoffed at the working classes when they wanted recress. Mr J. G. S. Grant proposed the following characteristic amendment“ That, in the unanimous judgment of this assembly, the newspapers of Dunedin do not reflect in any sense whatever the impartial and dispassionate and impersonal public opinion of the community ; that they are simply the mendacious oigans of worthies? cliques and dishonest men—whose God is their bellies, who glory in their shame, and whose principles, like the vanes of steeples, perpetually veer with the varying wand of passion, interest, prejudice, avarice, and the ccaisest selfishness generally • that, therefore, in self-preservation, it is absolutely expedient and even necessary to start a free and independent organ of real public opinion m this benighted and misgoverned City of our habitation.” For the violent language Lo used in speaking to the amendment he was time after time c,.lled to order by the Chairman. Indeed a scene between the two at one time seemed imminent. In one part of his speech he sud that a working man's paper was w-amed was as dear as noonday but the question was, had they spirit to form one? Mr David Thomson [seconded the amendment. ■\ show of hands haying been taken, the Chairman declared that the original motion was parried, whereupon Mr Grant demanded a division, which was taken by a show of hands, when forty three were held up for the amendm.n , which was carried. Mr Grant then moved That this meeting, accordingly, resolves to take prompt steps towards the formation of a joint-stock organisation for the publication of a daily journal in the, interests of the people generally, and for the advocat ion of the rights of the working classes particularly.” For entering at length upon the question of the working men’s wiongs he was called £to < rder by tl:c Chairman, and asked to confine himself to the question before the meeting, whereupon A Mrs 1 hour,.a (who occupied a front seat) screeched out: —“ Don’t keep anythin’ iu the background—let it all come out. It is perfectly right. The Chairman’s no a working man.” Mr Thomas moved as an amendment, “That, considering the expense attending the publication of a daily prayer, in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to commence with a wi, kly paper.” Dr Bakewell and Mr (Sharwin agreed with the amendment, and pointed out that the expense of a d: dy would be too large. Th- an nanbuent was unanimously carried. It was moved, and cairied— “ That a committee o« nine he appointed to carry out the forecoing resolutions.” Only six iu the hall could be found willing to act on the committee, and the meeting closed.