FOOD FOR REFLECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8358, 19 February 1913, Page 6

FOOD FOR REFLECTION

The action brought in Auckland a few days ago by W. P. Black against :ho “Maoriland Worker,” claiming damages for .alleged libel, recalls once more tho infamous Black pamphlet which was one of the auxiliaries of tho virulent campaign pursued against Sir Joseph Ward at the last election. Let us observe, in tho first place, that the jury found that Mr Black was not libelled. and gave costs against him. In the second place, this is the Black who was the publisher of the pamphlet wo have referred to. The cross-examination of Mr Black, ' which, significantly enough, was published only by tho Liberal newspaper in Auckland, throws some light on the personality and antecedents of the individual who was responsible for tho gross attack on Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Black is not a Britisher. We guessed as much. He is from Roumania. His name is not Black. It is Negraski, which in Roumania means negro, and is near enough. And Mr Black’s journalistic associate, one Walsh, was tho first individual to congratulate the leader of “Reform” in the name of Laboursave the mark—on tho triumph of that party at the last election. It is well that Labour should realise, even at this late hour, tho influences that were at work prior to the last election to poison tho minds of the workers against the leader of the Liberal party. Mr Negraski, or Negro, or Black, whichever he chooses, is the publisher or proprietor of a weekly paper in Auckland styled the “Voice of Labour.” We have been looking through a copy of this precious journal, and we see that it blows the trumpet loudly and thumps the drum noisily in advocacy of Mr Massey and self-styled “Reform:” Mr Massey cannot help that. He oannet even help the squatters’ organ which is much more blatantly indiscreet in his cause. Wd also observe that nearly every advertisement in the “Voice of Labour,” and there are many, is from a staunch supporter of tho “Reform” party. Labour can be trusted to see as far through a stone wall as anyone else. We recommend it to paste these few significant facts in its hat for future reference. There will bo other elections.