"FAIR-PLAY."

Patea Mail, 5 October 1880, Page 2

"FAIR-PLAY."

A “ Disgusted Tax-payer ” writes to us from Hawera supplying information as to the nature of a bargain supposed to have been made between two candidates for the Egmont constituency at the last election. Whatever tins journal can do towards redressing a public wrong or exposing it, we are ready to do without fear or favor. Where technical proof of an improper transaction is wanting, we deem it prudent to give the parties the benefit of the doubt. The present case is one that calls for investigation ; and it appears to us the most practicable way would be to form a committee of public-spirited men, actuated by the single desire to purify the administration of public affairs ; and let them take such action as shall relieve this district from a disquieting suspicion. No one ought to be readier to assist such a committee than the very parties who have the misfortune to lose the respect of neighbors or supporters by being accused openly but unfairly of doing that which they, as men of honor, should scorn to do. If there has been mischief, our opinion is that it might have been chocked by timely exposure, had the Press of that day done its duty. Party journalism has much to answer for in not dealing out the same justice to politicians of every shade. A Public Committee might draw up a statement of facts so far as known, and address those facts to bead-quarters in the form of a petition for inquiry.