The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1521, 2 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1879.

Newspaper proprietors occasionally humbug their readers, possibly believing that a little hoaxing forms an agreeable change to the diurnal relation of dry facts and compilation of stern statistics that are served as the usual mental menu by the stock chroniclers of colonial events. Whatever the motive, the fact is apparent, and in many cases the attempt to impose is so palpable that the deception is as transient and brilliant as the Hash of a Chinese cracker. Such an attempt was made a short time since in the Empire City by one of the evening journals announcing its permanent enlargement, an announcement that was accepted as correct until a curious individual measured the sheet before and after the alleged increase in size and comparison proved the dimensions identical, and the permanent enlargement game was played out. Making quality insteau of quantity the lure, the Government journals are to-day trying to instil into the minds of their subscribers the idea that they have effected some improvement in their telegraphic nows, and foremost amid the throng our morning contemporary treats us to a fanfare on its own trumpet about the advantages that are likely to accrue to the now association that has been formed for the transmission of telegraphic intelligence and liberally subsidised by the Government from the public revenue of the country. The subleader devoted to the subject is undoubtedly a brilliant piece of fanfaronade, but if any person takes the trouble to compare the telegraphic news of the Times and Press as published this morning the emptiness of the boast will bo apparent at a glance. The submission of Yakoob Khan, a most important incident in the Afghan war, is not mentioned in the former. Nothing is given of the Victorian racing mooting beyond the one race. The Auckland races are conspicuous by their absence, and particulars of the wreck of the steamer Mecca are hold over —wo assume —until the annoying freshness that pervades them is sufficiently worn off to suit the taste of the readers of the Times. , We have jig wish to follow the style of ,our contemporary by boasting of Iho arrangements made by the Opposition and independent portion of the New Zealand press to counteract the bold attempt made by the Grey Government to influence public opinion by tampering with the telegraphic department; wo are quite content to let the public judge of their completeness or otherwise by the results. This however it is imperative upon us to state, and that is iimt every move made by iho Ministry to crush tlw Pres® Agency and iujuio the journals that dare to J;. 3 outspoken in their opinions, has been mot by &ougtor moves on the part of the managers of the opposition papers, and the cousequeues are that litter ara this

day—to put it very mildly indeed — in an equally good position to that occupied by their rivals in the matter of “ wire arrangements,” and this lias boon accomplished without causing any injury to the revenue of the country. Newspaper crushing is a dangerous and difficult game. It lias been tried by nearly every tyrant in Europe, but the result has not boon au’ovorpoweriug success. Neither wo venture to predict will it bo so in New Zealand, at least it may bo so inferred from the comparative failure that has followed the first attempt. The machinations of Ministers to monopolise Iho telegraph wires for their supporters was well planned and carried out regardless of (public) cost. Yet wo can safely leave the success of the scheme to the unbiassed judgment of the public based upon the experience of the forthcoming six months, and at the end of that period wo shall be well content to accept a verdict.