Manamatu Herald. SATUEDAY, JUNE 17, 1893. A Reply.

Manawatu Herald, 17 June 1893, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. SATUEDAY, JUNE 17, 1893. A Reply.

But as some muskets so contrive it, As oft to miss the mark they drive at, And though well aimed at duck or plover, Boar wide and kick their owners over. In last Thursday's Manawatu Standard the following commencement to an article appears " Surely the genial editor of the Foxton Hebald is not going to venture his talented self upon the stormy sea of an election contest, but if not it would be interesting to know the reason for an attack upon the kindly member for Palmerston . " We differ in opinion with the editor of the Standard, as we do not consider that we made any attack upon Mr J. G. Wilson. We accepted his address as representing his political views and pointed out how differentthey were to the views he expressed prior to the last election, and exhibiting, rather too plainly, his evident want of belief in the party he was supposed to be a member of. If this is to be construed into an attack then it will be impossible to review any public-man's utterances. As a supporter of the Government it may please the Standard to watch the Opposition party falling to sleep, ' but as we desire to see some check placed on the party now in power we hold it our duty to wake the slumbering ones up.

Now as to ourselves. We plainly stated, on securing possession of the Manawatu Herald that whilst we were fortunate enough to succeed in controliug the paper to the satisfaction of our subscribers we would have nothing to do with seeking a position in Parliament, an honour, which we admit, we should liked to have gained some years previously, but do not desire now for many reasons. We also mentioned that should our opinions change about seeking a seat in the House of Representatives we would divest ourselves of all interest in a newspaper. We have always been anxious, like other energetic citizens, to assist in pushing on the progress of the colony in which we have made our home, and at times believed that in Parliament we might have b?en of some use, it is needless to say, as we

are not in Parliament, that the majority ot the electors of the district we asked, did nofcfrgrett wit'li its, however majorities **% l nol always right, WbAt bfcher steps we might have proposed taking it is impossible fco say, but we hold that to o»ie who only wants to serVe ills district and not his tf*yft ends, an editor of a jaopnhiv and well established paper can do more good for the people than any representative can. Our member addresses his constituents once a year, and speaks OGGassionally in the House, whilst we are able to get a word in thrice a week if we think it is necessary. A member again has to put his trust in the newspapers for a report, showing that ha admits the power and circulation of a paper is more powerful than a speech to a not vei-y large audience. As ye have been fortunate in obtaining a medium by which our views upon public questions can be placed before the public, we are content, and shall leave to others the honour, while we claim the work.

Without being in any way personal, though we know that the editor of the Standard is an aspiring politician, we hold very strong opinions as to editors of newspapers being members of Parliament. The great safeguard to the public are the newspapers, whose duty it is to watch their public men and fearlessly to criticise their actions, and how can this be properly done if the editor is the representative? It is exceeding unlikely that he will speak. ill of himself, whatever power he possesses of doing so of others, and it should not be that his paper is continually filled of the wonderful doings of the same exalted person. There is a place for everything and everything should be in its place, and that is not for critics to become the persons to be criticised. We do not suppose, for one moment, that our friendly editor will view this matter in the same light as we do, bufe as that is not the only one by many, that we differ upon, it may be counted as nought, but as he was desirous of the information we have thus tried to oblige him. As he appears now to look upon Mr J. G. Wilson in a different manner to that which he used to express, perhaps the kind words that the " kindly member" addressed to him from the public platform at Palmerston may yet bear fruit and that he will before long eschew politics and live like an editor should do.