THE CHRISTCHURCH AGENT PRESS AGENCY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1023, 5 October 1877, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH AGENT PRESS AGENCY.

Christchurch, Oct. sth, 1877. To the Editor of the Globe. Sir, —I think that the thanks of the community are clue to you for the independent manner in which you spoke in last night’s issue against the unwarrantable mode adopted by the local agent of the Telegraphic Press Association in transmitting messages throughout the colony affecting the interests of the Alliance Insurance Company. The gentleman entrusted by the Press Agency with the all important office of distributing news appears to have fallen once more into the error of telegraphing his own individual opinions and views instead of dealing with facts. And considering that he is the servant of a director of the Union Insurance Company, less surprise will perhaps be exhibited at the extraordinary telegrams which he has thought proper to send over the colony. The following is an instance of what some ungenerous people might designate as bias, and it was forwarded by him from Christchurch to every journal subscribing to the Agency:— “ September 25th. “The allotment notices of shares in the Union Insurance Company were issued this morning. The allotment appears to have been made with very careful regard to the business position of applicants, many clerks and others who hold no property, but who applied for large numbers evidently for speculative purposes, having received no shares at all.” Of course, public opinion here will easily settle the point as to the untruthfulness or otherwise of the above. I understand that a number of commercial men have found it necessary, in order to protect public interests against such prostitution of his powers being further permitted to the telegraph agent in question, to send a memorial to Messrs McCarthy and Holt, the proprietors of the Telegraphic Association, protesting against the dual position held by that gentleman. The following extract from the “ Oamaru Mail ” of last Tuesday speaks for itself: — “ The Press Agency has put us to the expense of denying a statement made by itself that Mr J. L. Coster, Manager of the Bank of Hew Zealand at Christchurch, has taken an active part in the formation of another Insurance Company. We decidedly object to this kind of thing. If the Press Agency were more careful to ascertain the correctness of its telegraphic messages, there would be no necessity for these denials. Then, again, why should we be put to the expense of denying reports because they may be distasteful to Mr Coster, or anybody else ? We have every respect for Mr Coster, but we are as little interested as to whether he has or has not taken any active part in the formation of another Insurance Company, as we would be were he to propound some scheme for a railway to the moon. These matters are Mr Coster’s business, and not ours.” Yours, etc., A SHAREHOLDER IN THE UHIOH.