CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1467, 29 September 1885, Page 2

CORRESP ONDENCE.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD). Sib, — Mark Twain m his humorous style relates his experience as editor of an agricultural journal, and having shown total ignorance of the matters connected therewith, brought the editor proper down on him, who abused him m no measured terms for assuming a post which he had not the slightest qualification to fill. In reply Murk told him it was the first time he ever knew you required to know anything to be able to edit a paper. Most people put the reply down to Mark't sarcastic humour. But judging by an article which appeared m the Manawatu Times- ot Saturday last on the subject of insurance, I should say that the party filling the editorial chair of that luminary (?) must have read Mark's reply, thought it was true, and planted himself m the chair accordingly. His knowledge of the rates of premium m the different companies and their relative cost oE working, is about as great as Mark's pretended knowledge of turnips. Mark says turnips should not be pulled ; you should send a boy up the tree to shake it when the ripe ones will fall off, which procedure would prevent the waste arising from pulling the fruit before it is ripe. I would furnish you with a comparison of rates, but that that would partake too: much the form of a cheap ad — a species of property that a comp won't take m payment ot wages if there is any other property available. However it will not be stating anything new to" any one excepting the editor of the Times to give the information that at present the Government rates are cheaper than those of any other Insurance Society m the world, and even with the increased rates coming into force on Ist October they will still be cheaper than those of any other office doins' business m New Zealand. Taking these facts into consideration one can only arrive at the conclusion that the editor of the Times looks upon His readers as a very gullible and easily stuffed lot when he has the audacity to issue his paper with a leader bristling with statements which are the reverse of facts. — I am, I &c. Mr J. Brennan.