The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1888 VIRTUOUS INDIGNATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2833, 27 February 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1888 VIRTUOUS INDIGNATION.

Mb Edward Wakefield, a well-known pressman, has been engaged by the Government to edit a New Zealand handbook, and certain journals in the purity of their hearts, are hdignant that this should happen in a community which their own virtue irradiates. They are indignant, and it goes without saying that their indignation is virtuous, The. Government are placed perhaps in a slightly curious position. A man of some literary ability is required for the handbook, and it so happens that most writers who possess the necessary qualification are either directly or indirectly connected with the press. It would perhaps have been better that an outsider should have been selected, but it would be extremely difficult to find one who is equally qualified with Mr Wakefield to undertake the task, not only by his literary ability, but also by his general knowledge of thehistory and institutions of the Colony. The right individual has been chosen for the work but then a newspaper man has been selected, and it is very desirable that there should bo no dealings with the Ministerial offices and the gentlemen of the press can quite understand thatcertain journals aro shocked at the possibility of a favor being shown to a pressman and that they should call tho Government severely to task for what is not exactly a job, but something which a virtuous opponent might construe into one, We give our contemporaries, who are crying shamo against the Ministry, every credit for endeavoring to secure purity of administration, and wo are glad to see them taking so high a tone. They have, apparently, being somewhat suddenly concerted from a condition of political demoralisation to a state 01 angelic grace. But a short time ago, a bold Minister, the immaculate Ballance, was doing all sort* of curious things iu the way of political jobbery, and they never murmured never said a word. They actually permitted Ministerial favors to fall on their own heads without remonstrance. As for a pressman being engaged to do literary work for the Government, that was nothing in thoso days. Did not Mr Ballance take a pressman, and put him into a department which was over-manned ostensibly to do clerk's work, but possibly to write election squibs. Did not our contemporaries know all about this, did not they know the work he was doing, and did they ever say a word against it or any other little job which came under their uotice. It seems to lis that to engage a skilful pressman for a literary task is a legitimate act on the part of Ministry, as contrasting with engaging a pressman to do clerical work iu a Government office. At any rate, our contemporaries aro challenging the former act and totally ignoring the other. It would appear that one man may steal a horse, whereas another may not look oyer a hedge, We are, however, verv willing that the acts of men in authority should be ploselv watched, and that there should be no irregular or questionable expenditure of the public money, That the purse strings of the Colony are now draws

very tightly, and that they were kept loosely in the Stout-Vogel days is a matter of notoriety. The Government are unlikely to be arraigned during the coming session for jobbery or extravagance. The attack made upon Mr E. Wakefield has perhaps little, political significance. That gentleman is generally recognised as the most facile and versatile writer in the Wellington provincial district, and there tiro not wanting men in the same profession who are jealous of his superiority, and are only too pleased to find an occasion to attack him. Amongst liberal-minded pressmen we might have expected to find a feeling of pride and satisfaction that • one of their number should have been selected to edit a work of Colonial interest, but instead of this a miserable manifestation of professional spleen is exuded which will make every honest journalist in New Zealand ashamed. These literary gentlemen who swallowed whole droves of camels when Mr Ballance was in power, and who I strain at a gnat from Sir Harry Atkinson are to be pitied.

We learn through the Press Association this afternoon that some misconception exists in reference to the method of distributing the vote for educational buildings, Only £29,000 is available; for distribution this year out of the annual vote of £40,000, owing to £II,OOO of that sura being anticipated by laat year's expenditure. The £29,000 is being distributed strictly on the basis of population, and no partiality is shown towards certain districts, It is expected that the Government will bave completed the work of re-organisation by the end of the week. The Defence and Justice chnngea are completed, and the Lands and Mines departments retrenchments are also well advancod. It is not anticipated that any retrenchment will be made in the Stock department at the present time, as the Government consider it would be false economy to touch this important department. The department in which the work of reorganisation is behind is the Public Works department, It is understood that the Euilway department will not be touched, in view of its being handed over to o Railway Commission as soon as tho appointment of Chief Commissioner has been settled. Two local commissioners will be selected.