The Manawatu Times WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23,1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 107, 23 October 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23,1878.

THB.Sesaipn of T^rliamenfc maynew be; said to be m the last throes of dissolution, and m a few days our tiffd an 1 wearied soldiers will have retired from the political battle-field to seek rest and repose under their own fig trees. Per-, haps no Ministry ever took possession of the Treasury Benches under brighter auspices than 'when^^ 8ra''0BOBO« Gbbj and his colleagues faced the Opposition on the SlSth of July. and jhis Fidus Achates, the Hon . Johx had', returned like Romam conquerors from their triumphal tour, m the course of which the Maori and the Pakeha vied with each other m the exuberance of their jabilations and laudations They mounted the State poach, and took they reins Of Government iii hand, with a goodly retinue m their train, while the populace cheered to the echo, the menin possession, Righ sounds ing promises were scattered broad-cast orer almost every electorate, and the recipients of the good things m pro, spective vainly- imagined that the mill emunvwas near at hand. Three months have elapsed r-no, not quite three months ~and how.havetbos*' promises been redeemed P At thepatseti of their stamping tour the Ministerial crew- had naJJcd their colors to the mast; and boa^tingly swore that they would siaV or swirrj by their policy P When the. first shot was fired m St. Stephen's, and the Govt-r. mental hanner\we.s unfurled, sqoh an imposing array flooked,- around it, as almost disarmed Opposition. The hostile forces were hoi only few m number. Weak m strength^ but they were with* ont a leader to take the comniand, and the country looked forward to the carry-

•ing of every Government measure with a; large majority. Such being the case, it might be supposed that there should be. no need, for" resorting to disreputable means to claim support. But what do \ve* find. An organ was started, the proprietors of which were members of the Ministry • Mr Seitmoub Geohge, the nephew of the Premier, being ostensibly the holder of 150 shares; 200 shares were allotted to Messrs. Shebhan, Stout, Macandbew, and Bailakce; and 20 to Mr Fisher. To this step, did it stop there, of course no exception could betaken; norcouMit be objected that the newly started paper was constituted the official mouthpiece of the Ministry ; but certainly when the public money was shamelessly bestowed m subsiding it m the shape of advertisements, not only the portion of the Press to which the injustice was done had a right to resent the action, but the public at large should have at once i taken the perpetrators to task. It is true | the Opposition throughout the Session has not been of the most vigorous nature. Still other actions of the Ministry — such as the Tapanui Railway — have not been allowed to pass without grave censure ; and how the vicious principle adopted m the dispensing of advertising favors has been tolerated for one moment, is a mystery beyond our comprehension. In Victoria similar aotion on .the part of Mr Beset, re. suited, m the Doffy Administration being ignominiously turned out of office, and their crime was not that they withdrew all advertisements from the Opposition journals, but that an undue proportion was granted to the " Times and Mines " for its Ministerial support. The principle is dangerous and vicious m the extreme, and no matter what maybe said to the contrary is oaloulated to stifle healthy criticism of the actions of a Government, The evil is of a two. fold nature, for there is not only a danger of the Ministerial organs, whose proprietors fatten upon the favors bestowed, blindly lauding every action of their patrons ; but it is more than likely the disappointed journals will be inclined to see matters with a jaundiced eye, and withhold credit when fairly due. The Press is the greatest safeguard of the rights and liberties of the people, but m order that it should fiulfil its functions with beneficial results, it should be free and untrammelled either by fear or obligation, and this it can never be while it is actuated with a lively sense of favors to come. It is all very ■well for a certain section of purists to speak or write as if newspapers were above such paltry considerations. .We do not say that any journal would openly barter its independence for gain, but proprietors of that class of property-— be thoy companies or private individuals— can be almost unconsciously swayed when a matter of gain is m question. Human nature is human nature m no matter what garb it may come to the surface ; men are never at a loss tp justify their actions so as to salve their consciences; and it is far wiser to avoid, rather than put them to the test of toraptation. The Gasr Ministry have becbrae responsible for having inititated a most dangerous precedent m this Colony, a policy whioh has almost prostrated America m tho dust, and has made her name synonymous with corruption, and a bye- word of scorn with other nations. Sib Geoboe Gbet and his colleagues will hot always occupy the Treasury Benches, and can it be expected that their successors will be more magnanimous, than they have been P S tiould that con tirigency arise, the public funds will be devoted to eulogising and belauding what they have hitherto been expended in' vituperating and condemning. In Victoria there is a certain amount set aside for advertising — a portion of which is distributed befvreen the Melbourne Press, and the remainder given to the provincial journals, without the slightest regard being paid to their political opinions.. By this action praise Or censure of the Govern*, ment can be given without fear of the result, and consequently the bona fides of the support or condemnation of a Government cannot be attributed to self interest. The past Session does not certainly stand out m bold relief for any .measures of importance ; but even if it did, the evil done by sowing the seeds of corruption, and sapping the independence and purity of the Press, "far outbalances the good accomplished.