THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1881. THE ANANIAS OF JOURNALISM.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2209, 25 March 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1881. THE ANANIAS OF JOURNALISM.

If there is one self-righteous and pharasaical journal in the colony, it is “ The Lyttelton Times.” It is the very Pecksniff of New Zealand journalism, but now’ on the most convincing proof, it has merited the title which heads this articleIt is true that “ The Lyttelton Times,” on this occasion at least, has not told an honest unblushing lie. It has done worse, by deliberately suppressing the truth ; and why, it will be asked ? Because it exposed, in all their naked deformity, the falsehoods, inventions, and—well, pure Saxon is host —downright lies with which for months past its columns have teemed with regard to the present Government. Mr. Bryce—in that honest, out-spoken manner which is characteristic of him—showed how the self-called pure and ultra - respectable “ Lyttelton Times ” has descended into the mire of falsehood because it suited their purpose to attempt to blacken the political character of an opponent. His words were telegraphed by the same agency to every paper in New Zealand. But what did this petty calumniator of honest men — this retailer of malicious lies—do ? Did it give forth in those same columns where the base slanders had day after day appeared the manly statement of the injured party as to the falsity of them, and tho reasons for their invention ? Such would have boon the course pursued by a journal having a ray of self-respect, one spark of principle or honour. Not so the dastardly, sneaking journal which, forsooth, claims to be a leading organ of public opinion. It carefully eliminated from tho telegram —sent, be it remembered, through an impartial source with no political bias —every word of the expose of the lies and shameful insinuations which they

have for months past boon making against the Government. Such conduct is contemptible, mean, and cowardly in tho extreme. Henceforth the name of the “ Lyttelton Times ” will be synonemous with everything that is mean to a degree, and we blush to be forced to own such a confrere in tho ranks of journalism. We need say no more but ask our readers to compare the two following extracts; one is as the telegram was sent, the other as mutilated and excised by the “ Lyttelton Times to conceal in some measure its own baseness:—

AS SENT. AS MANIPULATED BY He complained bit- the “times.” terly of misropreson- He complained bittation by a section of terly of misrepresenthe press. The cor- tation by a section of respondent of the tho press. “ Lyttelton Times ” was always trying to get money out of the Government ? and wrote ashing Mr Bryce for an appointment as private secretary, and finally when the officers at Werekino would have no more of him he turned round, vowing he would make it hot for the Government, which he had done by publishing all sorts of inventions. But the unblushing falsehoods of the “ Lyttelton Times ” were open and honorable as compared with the undermining process which had been going on in Wanganui.

It will be seen that the whole of the sentences in italics, detailing the abortive attempts on the part of the “Times’ ” correspondent to blackmail the Government, has been excised by the truthful “ Lyttelton Times.” Further comment is needless. We leave that journal to the well-deserved contempt of all honest men. HERR BANDMMN’S LITTLE GAME. As our readers are doubtless aware, the great tragedian now in our midst made application some little time back to the Board of Education to give an elocutionary entertainment to the children of the schools under their control. The Board—and very wisely too—declined the kind offer. Anyone who has heard the misquotations, false readings, and faulty elocution which are so palpable in the Shakesperian parts undertaken by the would-be mentor, can fully understand, apart from other reasons, why the Board of Education declined the offer. In Dunedin, it is true, the move was a great success as a gigantic advertisement, one before which even the tearing down of bills paled its ineffectual fire. How it was done remains yet to be ascertained, but the fact remains that it was, and much profit came to the coffers of the Herr indirectly thereby. But now, finding the Board are not so easily led, Herr Bandmann has taken the opportunity, in somewhat questionable taste, to appeal to the teachers. That is, having been refused by the Board, he now seeks—for purely philanthropic and patriotic reasons —to get the teachers, i.e., the“employoos of the Board, to say that the latter were wrong in not complying with Herr Bandmann’s request. It is true they are not asked in so many words, but it comes to the same thing really, because the Board, who are the persons having the whole and sole control of the children at the State schools, after consideration, decided it was not advisable to permit their children to attend. How then can the head masters of the various schools go contrary to this decision ? Are they prepared— to justify the vanity of a bird of passage, such as Herr Bandmann —to directly and positively contravene and oppose the decision of the authority over them ? If so, there was no need at all for Herr Bandmann to have applied to the Board for leave to afford the rising generation of Canterbury such a rich elocutionary treat. We feel sure, however, that the good sense of the masters of the various schools under the Board will show them, that, by accepting an invitation under the circumstances, they would practically be flying in the face of the Board, and acting in direct opposition to them. The best way is to decline the offer with thanks. It is scarcely flattering to the masters of the schools under the Board that they should be made as it were a dernier ressort as advertising mediums, and it is to be hoped, for the dignity of their position, and looking at the relations which exist between the Board and themselves, that they will decline to allow their children to be present as school children under the Board. If the parents like to send them, well and good. They then assume the responsibility of the matter, and the Board and the masters are relieved of it.