CORRESPONDENCE. NEWSPAPER FUDDLE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 362, 11 February 1876, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

NEWSPAPER FUDDLE.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida Chkonicxe.) Tis hard! but patience must endure, And Bootlie the woes it cannot cure. Sib, —It is half amusing and half disgusting to watch newspapers at the present time —to read their grave and wouldbe sage utterances. These unfortunates to a great extent imagine that they should know something further than others about political affairs, while really they cannot know more than has already been brought before the public by speakers in the late political contest. Every new issue of certain papers contains exhortations to the people to secure for themselves local self-government, &c, ad infinitum. What is the use of trying to stir up an excitement when there can be no beneficial result, seeing that the time to have done this —at the elections—is now past, and we shall have to abide by the result? For my part I am heartily sick of Local Government, Counties, Road Boards, &c, —in fact an article on these subjects has quite as salutary an effect on me as a dose of ipecacuanha wine. Even a spirit of uncertainty is infused in the lists of M.H.R.'s published in every paper. Each disdains copying from the other, and consequently the beliefs of our members are differently classed in every paper you take up. For in»tance —the 'Witness' puts Sir Julius Vogel as a supporter of the "Opposition ; the ' Mercury ' gives Mr. Pyke the credit of being an Abolitionist ; Mr. Eitzhcrbert, Mr. Bunny, and Mr. Itolleston have in some papers been credited with being Abolitionists ; Mr. Manders is bandied about, but is finally settled by the ' Western Star ' by having a "D" ("Doubtful") preferred to his name ; and in Hko manner others are disposedof. Somehonorablegentlemandonbt less will findthemsclvestobeenunciatorsof ideas they are quite innocent of, and the thought suggests itself of an honorable legislator rushing about for "latest editions" to discover what principles he advocates. It seems to be little more than useless to discuss the matter further, as nothing can lr done, The members are returned with whatever principles they hold, and until they meet in Wellington and reconcile their ideas of counties, two-provinces-in-each-island, separation, &c, the country and the press might as well rest from political bustle. Moreover the leading spirit is absent—or rather the one who will be the leading spirit. It is quite probable that he will not commit himself to any public expressions of importance till the meeting of Parliament, but will take the short time from his arrival till the assembly to reconnoitre his position. And what is more probable than that he will disclaim connection with the Abolition Bill puro and simple as he evidently may —and make the two extremes meet in a half-and-half way, perhaps with a slight change of Ministry? This, it is quite apparent, ho may plausibly do, and it will have the probable effect of preventing the fall of the heads of his Ministry, taking the wind out of the sails of the Opposition, and winning to his Bide those tc whose names the ' Western Star prefixes a " D." The cards evidently lie with the ex-Premier, and, having great ability, coupled with long experience, we may be sure he will play his hand cunningly. Until the delivery of >3ir Julius' sentiments, and the convocation of members and the coalescence of their ideas, nothing can be done. Let us rest to gain strength lor what is to follow, and thereby relieve journalism of the task of getting up something politically " fresh," and also relieve the 'Mercury ' of the classification of Murray-Anysleys for a new Ministry before the present loaders litre given up the reius.—l am, &c., ANYTt'S.