Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1910. THAT PAMPHLET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10130, 2 December 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1910. THAT PAMPHLET.

The circulation of a disgraceful pamphlet, dealing with the. life history of Sir Joseph Ward and his family, was strongly deprecated in these columns some weeks ago, and opportunity was taken of stating that the Opposition bad absolutely no connection with the. cruel and mendacious thing. The mention of the matter in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister gave the Leader of the Opposition an opportunity of officially disclaiming and responsibility , for "the circulation of the pamphlet, and of denouncing those who adopted such methods of damaging the character of a public man. It is to be regretted that individuals can be found in the community who will resort to contemptible tactics to besmirch and vilify the characters oi public men, Such individuals are deserving of the utmost censure. A man who serves his country in any public capacity is, of course, open to criticism. The more responsible his position, the more caustic _ and searching the criticism. And it is desirable, in the interests of the community, that this should be freely Remitted." But to subject the family and business relations of a public man to cruel, and mendacious scrutiny is-simply villainous. The Opposition has done a right - thing in scarifying the author and-publisher of 'the disgraceful publication, and it need only, be added that by doing so it has vastly improved its position. .in the country. Mr Massey and, his friends can find quite sufficient in the administrative' faults of the Government to destroy its claims'to pub-: lie confidence, without resorting to gross personal abuse. If it be true that the author of the pamphlet in fluestibu is acting within his -legal t'l-id.v\-:' Huii -i.lv. 1 "■.•-VA? thoJild sh/nr

its disapprobation of such scurrility by refusing to purchase such a disgraceful production. The Labour, or Socialist party, cannot hope to gain the sympathy of the people if it countenances such despicable conduct. The pity of it is that an attempt should have been made to father the delinquencies of one section of the community on to another which is entirely innocent.