POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 195, 26 January 1915, Page 8

POLITICAL.

INJUSTICE AND DISCOO'IiTESI Says yesterday's Wellington Times:— Mr Jennings, the member for Taumai;i)iiii, linds himself to-day in a position which most people consider would Jia.j 'been impossible except iu the dark ages when the law was used for ruining me.i under cover of justice, it. is well known that an election petition has been pre- ' sonted, with the object, of course, of | nullifying Uio election, depriving Air • Jennings of his seat, and possibly in'juring him considerably by imputation;) 'against his honour—as is the raise with election petitioners often. Of~Lhis peti'uion, thus aimed at his interests. Air Jennings heard through..the press, that it had been presented, but of its contents he had no information. He travelled to Wellington for enlightenment, and asked in the right official quarter to either see die document or to be supplied with a copy. He was not refused. He. was merely told that the document lutii been forwarded to the proper destination as by law directed, and that there was no copy of the same. So Mr Jennings had to return home without the information which was his by right, and neces'sary to enable him to- prepare for the attack upon his interests. >So far as we Know, he is still—it was the middle of last week when he was in Wellington on his fruitless errand—waiting for the information, or travelling about seeking for it, we canno:. pretend to say which. 'What is certain is that the other side are working with- all their might preparing the case on which they rely i.o oust him -from Ws seat, perchance damage his character, and without doubt imjure him considerably. While they thus work, their victim is completely in the I dark, unable to take a single' step in 'defence of his seat, of his lionouv, and of his interests. Moreover, the time fo;preparation is running fast out, towards the limit prescribed by law. Now, Mr Jennings was entitled in ordinary courtesy and common justice to have been supplied with a copy of the petition when it was forwarded for presentation. The neglect to do so was an act of sjross discourtesy and grievous injustice, but -liiijte typical of the methods of a partv which claims a monopoly of line manners and strict justice. A man j$ attacked in the dark and kept in the dark while a case is being worked up againft him. Tint he should be unable'after travelling hundreds of miles to obtain [ the information which ought to have j been sent to his address, may require j further explanation. But that," however, jis a minor question. Of courtesy it is useless, under the circumstances, to I'speak. But the law which has cerI tainly allowed a grievous injustice to be done, ought to be amended at the I firs!; opportunity, so that co'pies of elecj tion petitions shall invariably be sei.t i promptly to those whose interests thev | vitally affect.