AN ABSURD TELEGRAM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9707, 1 February 1910, Page 4

AN ABSURD TELEGRAM.

On a good many occasions lately the Press Association has received "rubs" at the hands of prominent persons in regard to the character of some of the "news" that it disseminates, and the more the better is our opinion. The other day the Pre* mier of New South Wales (Mr Wade) sarcastically remarked that the only news he had obtained from the papers of hi* native land since leaving it for New Zealand was that some one had committed a murder and that another person bad committed suicide. Accounts of murders and suicides are, perhaps, relished by the morbid-minded, but the press would be ashamed to plead such an excuse for giving such items prominence. An illustration, however, of the large quantity of drivel that is flashed about the Dominion per medium of the telegraphic system is a telegram received last night from j Christchurch. It states that*a certain I virtually unknown Australian Social-1 ist, a gentleman of the name of Bennett, became unwell in the course of an address on Sunday night and collapsed "in a chair." The cause of the disaster was thought to be overwork. We [trust that Mr Bennett's indisposition is only of a temporary character, and, of course, we are very sorry to hear of it. It was, however, on kun'hy evening that it came on, and news of ic was not: telegraphed until Monday night! One j wonders why this item of "news'' j could not have been inflicted on the J evening paper- 1 , which would, perhaps, Dave appreciutid it. and moreover, the ation should not be guilty of anything that savours of favouritism. How- 1

ever, those of our readers who may be interested m the harrowing details of the affair will find them faithfully recorded i» this morning's issue under the heading "Christchurch items."