The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1878

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 109, 26 October 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1878

"When S ib George Geby assumed the reins of power, and unfurled his standard whereon the word "Liberalism " was written m letters of gold, the ufTited voices of the people were with him, and three-fourths of the Press of the Colony wished him " God speed " m his work. The present Government obtained the sympathy of the people when m Opposition by their outspoken denunciation of jobbery, and it was owing to the very liberal professions which they made that the Ship of Stato was ever placed m their hands. How have their promises been redeemed, and m what manner have they carried out the programme, which was then put before the country ? One by one journals which were prepared to give them liberal support, nave been compelled to withdraw it, and m order to retain organs whioh would blindly endorse actions be they ever so shady, the public coffers have been rifled, and Si* George Grist has dipped his hands into the treasury chest to reward his satellites In our last issue we showed the shameless manner m which the Government, organs were subsidised out of the funds of the State, all healthy criticism sought to be muzzled by means of bribery, and a system introduced worthy of the Tammany Ring or tho French Republic. Within the past few days a little matter has cropped up m the House, which caps even that, and proves to what length the present Government are prepared to go to buy support, and preserve their fast waning popularity. It is well-known that the Auckland Tlervld, Lyttelton Times, and Dunedin Times, are the three special organs of the Government m Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago respectively, and some little time ago an application was made for a spacial wire, of which they were to have the absolute control, and no other journals to have. the right to use it except with their consent. The matter was referred, of course to Dr. Lemon, the General Manager of Telegraphs, to report upon, giving good reasons why the concessions should be granted, and estimating that it would entail an expense of £'At) 08 per year. In the face of this protest the Government not only decided to ignore the advice, but proposed to give the privilege to their three supporters at £2A>3O per

year, *which meant a dead loss to the revenue of £2008.. If they had determined .to hand over to the papers named the same amount out of the State treasury, it would not be one whit more reprehensible or a more flagrant act of bribery. But what makes the matter look the darker is that an application from Messrs. Holt and McCarthy to participate m the concession, m which those gentlemen stated that they were " prepared to make such reasonable weekly payment (m advance if required) as you may name for the use of a special wire for Press messages," was not only treated with silent contempt, but when brought to bay m the House, an effortwas made to shirk all reference to its receipt, by the letter being held back. It is well-known that the Press Agency and the New Zealander — tho official mouthpiece— have been as it war for some time, and the step is nothing more nor less than an attempt on the part of the Government to start a new Agency, which will be m the hands of its supporters, and to subsidise it with £2000 a year out of the public funds. It was slated by the Hon. Mr Fiseeb that other journals would be allowed to participate, with the consent of the three monopolists, but that certainly would be an aggravation of the evil. Being forewarned, the public would be forearmed, and knowing the positions of the three journals with regard to the Government, their telegraphic columns would be viewed at their real worth as ex parte Ministerial items ; wherein if they were to be copied by other journals they would be unable to guage their unreliability. Fortunately for the country the Hon. George McLean not only exposed and denounced the little game, but carried the adjournment of the House m order to compel the Government to bring into the light of day the whole correspondence with regard to this very shady transaction. The House made a grave mistake m dealing so leniently with the gross favoritism m the distribution of advertisements, and we are pleased to see that there is a chance of the peculiar career which the Ministry had mapped out for itself being brought to a speedy and fitting termination. It is the prevailing opinion that Sir Geobge Grey is the Jonah who has hitherto brought the Ship of State into troubled waters, and now prevents it reaching a peaceful haven. If so, the remainder of the Cabinet should refuse to sail with so equivocal a comrade, and acting upon the precedent presented by Biblical history, fling the incubus overboard, and consign him to the waters of oblivion.