Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1066, 12 July 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1871.

The two leading papers in Wellington, the Post and the Independent, have of late been indulging in a rather fierce dispute on the subject of Government patronage in the matter of its advertising, each of these papers claiming •{;he largest circulation, and of consequence the largest claim in the public interest for the work. The Independent, however, giving the Government its imdiscriminating support, is rewarded; as the Post alleges, by the bestowal of undue favors on the part of the Government, and this to the detriment of the public service, while itself, though having at least equal claim as an advertising medium, is passed over on account of its independence.. It is perhaps not surprising if such should be the case, and ic is no more than an independent journalist might expect if he finds himself suffer in a pecuniary way for his fearless exposure of abuses, and antagonism to "what he "believes to be a pernicious policy. Neither need he be surprised jf he'sees, at the same time, his less scrupulous rival rewarded for his sycophancy. Our morning contemporary to-day, referring to the Wellington quarrel,

! asserts, " Whether there is any truth in I the charge (against the Government), .as regards any portions- of the Colony certainly in Hawke's Bay nothing of the kind is the case." Circumstances, however, tell a somewhat different tale. Of course he has nothing to complain of on that score, but the fact is here as in Wellington, the journals that give the "powers that be" their unqualified support, get the lion's share of the good things at their disposal. It is not necessary that we enter no*- fully into this question. Ft is well enough known that in the view we take of any question we never for one moment stop to consider how it is regarded by the Government, but treat it on its own merits, and in this course we have as a matter of fact shewn marked antagonism to the principal points of the policy of the present Ministry. As soon, however, as another journal appears in this province which shows itself ready to give its support, such as it may be, to the Government, our circulation and standing is. practically ignored and Government patronage bestowed upon it. Our contemporary adds, "It is a charge which in all cases it must be very difficult to substantiate." In general it may be so, but in some cases, as in this, things may be plain enough to require no very elaborate proof.