THE "TAMMANY" CHARGES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 198, 30 November 1910, Page 2

THE "TAMMANY" CHARGES

PRESS VIEWS,

Dominion (Oppostion):—Those who have followed the evidence adduced during the investigations will at once recognise that the findings were watered down to the finest possible point. Instead of a downright condemnation of the improprieties proved, the report ol the Committee was almost apologetic in stating its verdict when antagonistic to any of the persons found guilty of the offences charged. It went out of its way on every possible occasion toj insert some qualifying reference as, for instance, "Although Mr. Symes may have considered he was entitled to charge a commission for his services," etc. No one wishes to be unduly severe on any offender against law or propriety, but we cannot condemn too strongly the inaudling sentimentality which prompts' some people to minimise the faults ot an offender against the interests of public morality on the grounds that he has been unlucky enough to be caught, where others doing the same thing have escaped detection. We cannot say that this has been the reason that prompted the Committee to bring in its wishywashy findings in the face of the glaring exposures made during- the investiga tions under discussion; but whatever the cause we cannot believe that Parliament will be willing to treat a matter so deeply affecting the honor of its members and the standard of Our public life ro lightly. New Zealand Times (Government):— On the whole, there was something peculiarly appropriate in Mr. Seddon's reputation being assailed by Mr. Hine, and we are content to leave the matter without further reference. When Mr. Hine gave us to understand that in the purchase of estates by the Crown, "Tammanyism" was the decisive factor he raised as much curiosity about who paid the "graft" as who received it. If the great landowners were Liberals the charge had only to be mentioned in order to gain credence in certain minds," but as they most decidedly are not, obstacles to acceptance immediately presented themselves. We were first to suppose that the most affluent of Oppositionists were helping to "eat the heart out of the country" by dividing the looted taxpayers' money with their enemies. If the original speeches made by Mr. Hine did not mean this they were merely atmospheric disturbances! It is in order that more information may be available on this point that Mr. Hine's subsequent statements will be awaited with interest, though, of course, the main point requiring elucidation is whether he was not from the commencement in pursuit of private vengeance and merely framed his declaration in extravagant'language for the purposes of attracting the gallery.