PLAIN TALK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2344, 10 November 1908, Page 7

PLAIN TALK.

A POLITICAL BOYCOTT.

NEWSPAPER’S CANDID COMMENT.

[Special to “Times.”]

OPOTIKI, Nov. 9. The “East Coast Guardian” publishes the following "article : “We have in past years differed on many points from the Party now in power, and have fearlessly denounced those measures and methods which we held to be inimical to the best interests of the country, but although we have thus criticised 1 the present Government, wo have always, given them credit for a certain amount of fairness and justice. Hence, the methods they are now adopting fertile purpose of gaining their own ends come to us as ia complete surprise. At past elections, when the late Mr. Seddon was at the helm of the Government, the electoral advertisments were sent to all newspapers, irrespective of their political color, hut the members of the previous Cabinet have departed from this broad and fairminded precedent and have commenced to penalise Opposition papers. On Thursday 'last the local Ministerial organ received the electoral advertisements in full, while we received no such advertisements, nor any authority to insert them. In short, because of its Opposition policy, the “East Coast Guardian” has been penalised by the Government. It might be said that a departmental blunder is at the bottom of the matter, but if such is the case, is it not a significant fact that the Opposition journal is the victim of the blunder? Moreover, Ave Avired to< the Registrar of Electors, at Rotorua, on the matter on Thursday, and no reply has been received. Wo are therefore inserting the adA-erfcisement at our oavu cost and on our oavu responsibility. We ha\ r e consistently held that the present administration policy is a mistaken one,,.but V© never imagined)that -the members of the Cabinet Avould descend from their lofty position as Ministers of the CroA\ r n to indulge in petty party spite. Foiled .in their attempt to “gag” the press, they seek other means of venting their spleen. Members of the Cabinet that stoop to such corrupt practices are nothing better than political intriguers avlk> are protected by their high, position from excommunication from public life. Can this be justly called a Liberal Government? The administration is full of political tricks, and should, as far as our electorate is concerned, he Avatolled by a member Avhose independence, honesty, integrity, and political ability are undoubted.