JOURNALISTS IN THE HOUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 98, 21 March 1884, Page 2

JOURNALISTS IN THE HOUSE.

The Southland Times ooricludes a leading article m a recent' issue as follows : — It ia the true function of the Press — rand a very-* 'dignified one"ife is — to criticise and censure honestly and fairly m the interests, of the public those who are occupying seats m Parliament, but it is not its function to occupy those seats itself. ' The Press gives up its true dignity of jndge and Qensor >: .when, it has taken the |)lace of the accu^e/l ; and stultifies itself, when..^, becomes both judge and the. person to be tried m one. Its usefulness will then be gone/ foHta impartiality has been, des-

U'oyod. :iii«.l no .vcighl. Will be uUuclicd to ;i tingle wotd it aiiyfi! Jf clergymen are considered hu'ligible to scat^ on public boards, beoaure to be tlicie would nob bi' m keej)ing with their calling, and because they are apt (o create clistiu-bauces when the almos-^ l-tiere should be kopt as cool md sweeb as possible, much more should the pre.^mou, who is the natur>l piues^of poljiicSjNjye considered ineligible to^. a seat m Parliament, If any pressiutnn thinks he can distinguish himself and be useful m Parliament, by all means 'Jet hifu-Yry l^s : fortune, -but hftjth^'sa/nie -time "let frim""quit~th(rPress should he become a legislator. JThe two..p^itiojpa.. *9Cf > B flbfrcoinpatible with the practical interests of th« public, any more than they arc compatible logically, nnil if the Press has notrespeet to"*ils dignity, the public should not allow it to forget its" duty with impunity. Now .tha4 tkegeneral elections a'i'e -. co'iuing 5 4 M( V^ again, it is tim© tt> consider' tbls^ question m all its aspects, and if, the public come to the.coilcTuwoii {hat me fitness of things is violated by the. Press usjai^p-. ing^lje/logislativo poAver,' o!v that a&aV gerous element o^ferOientr is idtrodiioec^ into Parliament "by sending up such a crowd of editois, it has the rejpngdS^in ; its own hands. , M ,<; '"[{ K \"