The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1926. THE MAN WHO TURNED TAIL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12617, 30 November 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1926. THE MAN WHO TURNED TAIL

There is an old couplet which goes to the effect that He who fights and runs »way May live to fight another day. Mr Howard Elliott subscribes to that casual philosophy. He attacked the Government and the prison officials over the treatment and release of Sidney Baume. He stalked at large and at will through the columns of our local contemporaries, challenging and threatening. When his challenge is met, this doughty warrior incontinently turns tail. Frankly, it is the sort of exhibition we expected of this gentleman. As a Don Quixote tilting at this and that windmill, he invariably comes to grief. Nevertheless, he climbs laboriously on his sorry charger once more, and hurtles forward anew. We wish someone would provide him with a real mount and a real lance. On this occasion, Mr Elliott has not been allowed to escape scatheless. The magistrate who conducted the inquiry into the allegations of preferential prison treatment to Baume found that some were untrue and others stupidly trivial. Affidavits in support of the charges were definitely promised. They were not produced. In the circumstances, Mr Riddell, S.M., is justified to the full when he says that the accuser’s attitude raises a strong presumption that he did not know whether the allegations were true or false, and that he took no reasonable precaution to verify them, and was not in the least concerned whether or not they reflected upon the honesty and integrity of the prison officials. The castigation is thoroughly deserved. This sensationalist lias been brought up with a round turn. It was sufficient for him, being naturally of a suspicious mind, to base on those suspicions reckless charges reflecting on the good name of a number of officials of the State. Up to that point, and up to the offer to produce reinforcing affidavits, he was regarded by those who did not know him as a courageous reformer. Well, they know better now. However, good will have come out of ill if the incident teaches the tolerant section of the community not to join too readily in a Howard Elliott crusade. In the one under review, he has suffered inglorious discomfiture; which may (or may not) exercise a chastening influence on him.