The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1890. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2044, 10 May 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1890. THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

It has been announced that Mr E. E, N. Twopenny, Editor of the Otago Daily Times, has severed his connection with that paper on account of disagreeing with the directors on matters of public policy. We very much regret this. We have always looked with pleasure to the leading" article in the Otago Daily Times while Mr Twopenny has , occupied the editorial chair. They have always been characterised by great ability, research and industry, and though the Times has not taken the popular side in politics at any time, still most liberal ideas have frequently been promulgated in it. On the Labor Question the Times has been more than liberal; it has been humane even unto benevolence, and it is ta it we chiefly owe the exposure of the Sweating system- An abstract questions of politics, too, very liberal views have been expressed, such as that the Banks and Land Com panies shouid sell their land, and that village settlements should be fostered. The articles on the labor agitation in Europe were excellent, and student of T® the wor ‘" fa 3|3:=srss-; Sir Eobert Stout s Government haye 1,

appeared. These were characterised by shameless disregard of truth, and no sooner were the lies exposed than they were repeated in a more objectionable form. Rightly or wrongly Mr Twopenny has been relieved of the odium which attaches to such indecent journalism, by those who profess to know, and the blame has been shifted on to the shoulders of Mr Scobie McKenzie M.HR. Mr McKenzie, it is alleged, is the power behind the throne in that office, and it is just probable that Mr Twopenny has had to resign to make room for him. Be this as it may we have no hesitation in saying that in the change the Times loses a scholarly and capable journalist in Mr Twopenny, who has, during big tenure of office shown much industry and capacity for the work. But he is only meeting with the fate of his predecessor. Exactly in a similar manner after having occupied the position for some years his predecessor had to leave because the directors thought his opinions too liberal. The Otago Daily Times is owned by aring of monopolists, money-lenders, etc, and of course they will insist on having it conducted so as to suit their interests, Of course all this would not have been of sufficient interest to our readers to warrant us in commenting on it only for the lesson it teaches. Here we have a gentleman possessed of very high qualifications as an editor who is superseded simply because his sympathy for his fellow-beings prompts him to tell the truth, and to point out certain things which ought to be done for the amelioration of the condition of the helpless. He prefers to give up the emoluments of office sooner than degrade his reason and talents by writing to order. On the other hand we have a ring of monopolists to whom the virtues we enumerated are nothing compared with their own selfish interests, and who will insist on their own peculiar views being represented though the heavens should fall. Where is the liberty of the Press about which we so frequently and glibly prate f And yet this is how most of the newspapers of New Zealand are conducted. The Christchurch Press, in the same way, is the property of another ring, and though the people know it very well they never fail to give it liberal support. In the same way the people of Dunedin support the Otago Daily Times, while they allow the Liberal paper to starveThis is at the bottom of all the misfortunes of New Zealand. Everyone is playing into the hands of' the monopolists, and those who decline to do so suffer for it. It may be said of New Zealand as Moore said of Ireland that “ Unprized are her sons till the learn to betray, Undistinguished they live if they shame not their sires.”

All Mr Twopenny’s talents are unprized because he has not “ learned to betray.” He connot conscientiously misrepresent facta to suit the ring who own the Otago Daily Times. Mr Twopenny may very well accuse the directors of ingratitude also. There can be no doubt that the success of the Dunedin exhibition was largely due to him. He was, we believe, the first to suggest it, and he travelled the Australian colonies lecturing on it and working it up. The exhibition brought thousands of pounds into the coffers of the Otago Dally Times, bqt Mr Twopenny’s reward is enforced resignation of his position. In this connection we might very well draw the attention of our readeis to the advisability of supporting papers conducted on independent principles, An independent press is a great blessing, but papers published in the interest of cliques can only be regarded ap itppijenqents of mischief. AVe know nothing of Mp Twopenny further than in Ms capacity as editor of the paper in question, and in writing this we are prompted by no othpr jnotjye than that we recognise in nipa a martyr tq own conscientiousness, and in that rpspect we spmpathise with him.