The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5485, 25 October 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1878.

AVe have not yet ylono, ifc appears, with Sir George Grey’s attempt to muzzle tho independent newspapers in the Colony, and to educate public opinioniu “Groyiam” by setting up a Press Agency in tbo interests and under tbo influence of the Government, and granting to tho promoters a monopoly of tbo use of the telegraph, which represented to them a money value of more than £3OOO a year. The telegraph wire is tho property of tho whole people, and the money to pay the operators and others employed belongs to tho whole people, “ to tho men and tho women, and the littlo children ” who pay tho taxes out of which it is taken. Tho money can, as Sir George Grey has been teaching tho people, bo only lawfully appropriated by their representatives in Parliament, and this ought to be done publicly and, ordinarily, ’ after the Governor of the Colony has, by 1 message to tho House of Representatives,

requested that provision may be made for 'the special purpose. Tills is the doctrine which the Premier preaches ; he sees and recognises that which is right, but ho does that which is wrong whenever any political advantage is to bo gained by it He has the faculty of being able to defend his public wrongdoing with eloquence equal to that with which he inculcates public virtue, and on the same ground always —that of the advantage of the people. Ho illustrated this faculty yesterday when ho took upon himself in the House the responsibility for the now Press Agency job. The report of the proceedings is very suggestive. When his Government came into office ho said they found that there was a monopoly of the supply of news, which they determined to break down. The early efforts, it would appear, were tentative ; hut the success of the intelligence supplied to order, regarding the first meeting with the King’s people at Waikato, and regarding the subsequent attempt of Major Atkinson and his relatives to pull down the “ triumphal arch” at Taranaki, was so entirely satisfactory that, 1 ‘ for the good of the Colony,” he felt himself impelled to encourage that kind of enterprise, and ho is reported to have said that in pursuit of his purpose “he was very glad “ when the first offer was made to “ him by certain persons.” Dr. Lemon, the General Manager, had thrown “improper impediments” in the way of the Premier’s benevolent project, and we presume Dr. Lemon will, under the new system, bo required to make room for an accommodating General Manager, who will have more perfect sympathy with “ free printing,” and the happiness and advancement of the human race, and less care for the interests of the department, of which he is the permanent head—interests which he absurdly supposes it to be his duty as a public servant carefully to guard. This is a common mistake, into which the Civil servants fall, and which can only bo prevented or cured by the free weeding which is now being practised, on the American system. The Civil Service, as Mr. Kelly properly observed, must not rule the Government. When, therefore, Mr. Eeed and his friends offered £1725 a-year foratelegraph wire worth more than £SOOO a-yoar, it was Dr. Lemon’s duty to say that the arrangement was a most desirable one, and to recommend the Hon. Commissioner of Telegraphs to accept it at once. He did, as ho have seen, something quite different. For want of discrimination in this matter, Dr. Lemon may be required to resign, or he may be dismissed. The effects of example in these matters is salutary, and discipline must bs preserved. The terror which hangs over the unfortunate Civil Service has certainly not as yet touched the House of Representatives, and no Ministers in New Zealand have ever sat meekly under such a storm of contemptuous abuse as fell upon the “ strong and united Government” in their places yesterday. Our necessarily brief report can convey but an imperfect idea of it. No definite action has yot been decided on, but before the session closes no doubt such steps will be taken as may be necessary to protect the Press against this audacious attempt upon its freedom, and, "through it, upon the liberty of tire people of the Colony.