A WATCHFUL GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5487, 28 October 1878, Page 2

A WATCHFUL GOVERNMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin, —Aa illustration of the improper use of Government power to aid a newspaper devoted to their interest occurred a few months since in Dunedin. The Morning Herald was sold on the Southern line by a special newsboy, who went with the morning train, and made a living by selling a few dozen copies to passengers. This did not suit the other morning paper, the Halit/ Times, so well known now for its peculiar influence with the Ministry, which, from the difference of price and its unpopularity, was unable to adopt the same plan. The Government, however, alive to the interests of the country, saw a loss of revenue, and came to the rescue by issuing an order that an annual ticket must bo taken out. As this would have] done away with the boy’s profits the enterprise had to be abandoned. The plan is universal in America, where no fare is charged to newsboys. - t Issuing the order at the particular time, on account of one boy, could only be construed as a desire on the part of some Minister to favor their special protege by using their power to diminish the sale of a rival paper. Our Government, like the Scotch tradesman who said he had “ tried baith,” may yet find honesty to be the best policy, even in their dealings with newspapers. Their trial of the nefarious policy in this direction must have lasted long enough to make some of them wish for a change to the path of rectitude.—l am, &c., A Newsboy. Dunedin, October 15.