NORTON AND HAYNES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3720, 11 October 1906, Page 2

NORTON AND HAYNES.

Commenting on the above case a Christchurch contemporary says that twelve good men and true, holding their noses and in great need of a deodoriser, have sifted the Norton - Haynes libel case. Certain issues were put to them, and their opinions of the exmember for Surry Hills in the New South Wales Parliament and alderman ot the Sydney City Council is expressed in the following way : : “ The jury found that Hayne’s charges were substantiated as follows: —Wife-beating, unanimously; that he became possessed of “ Truth ” by fraudulent means, nine votes to three; blackmailing, ten votes to two ; incitement to crime, nine votes to three; Grohn’s death, ten votes to two.” Probably in no place on earth but New South Wales could a legislator and an alderman be found with all these qualifications. Coming on top of the land scandals it is a sweet commentary on the calibre of public men and the tone of public life in the Mother State. What is more remarkable still is that public opinion tolerates such a state of affairs. The electors appear to have become utterly demoralised; otherwise they would get up in their wrath and purge Parliament as it has never been purged before.