DECENT JOURNALISM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1574, 5 December 1885, Page 2

DECENT JOURNALISM.

(to the editor of thb standard.) Sib, — The editor of the other paper saya : " Decent journalists report the bitterest opponent fairly." Now, Sir, may I venture to ask where was the fairness m the way Smith of the Times used to report Cr Hawkuis, and I think Snrth should he the last person m the world to lay down the law with regard to decent journalism. That letter that now is framed m the Stanoard office, is sufficient proof of his ideas of what decent journalism should he. I read tho reports m both papers of the last Borough Council meeting and fail to sco much difference. I read m the Times, what I did not see m the Standard, that Cr West accused Cr Grace of " lowering: himself to perpetrate such a «*ross job." And Smith of the Times, I suppose, approves of this kind of thing. Birds of a feather, eh. If Cr West was ho misreported, why did the Mayor and j bo many of the Crs go for him m the way they did. I fancy Smith has rather put his foot m it this time. Ho is ever on the lookout to attack you, hut sometimes helmets hoist on his own petard, the silly fellow. But why did he not let us have Cr West's version of what took place ? — I am,'&c M Observer. JOur correspondent is some what m error. The expression made use of by Cr West, referring to Cr Grace's " having perpetrated a gross job," was reproduced m both papers m exactly the same words though the Standard is accused of having published " a shamefully distorted and garbled report." Surely further comment is unnecessary, and our friend may be left to his own reflections. — Ed! M.S.J