PARLIAMENT AND THE PRESS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2193, 29 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENT AND THE PRESS.

The following bit of trenchant criticism is taken from an article in the Oaimiru Mail on the subject of the Christchurch Press alleged breach of privilege case :—: — Members of all parties sympathised with each other, and seemed to forgot that but a few hours previously they had stretched parliamentary rules to their utmost limit iv an endeavour to blacken each other's characters. Major Atkinson referred to the universal degradation that was pro duced by the publication of attacks on public men. He made no mention of the degradation produced by the corrupt actions that necessitated such comments, although he might have spoken with greater authority than any other colonist on such a feature of the case. We are therefoie left to con elude that, according to his code of morality, the sin consists, not in the performance of a wicked act, but in the saying that it was performed— that no degradation can ensue from immorality, however gross, provided that it be not exposed. The go?pel according to Major Atkinson teaches us that no attempt should be made by the Press to abolish political dishonesty lest it should blacken the characters of the perpetrators. "Give peace in our time," &c, is a very appropriate supplication from the mouth of a veritable Wai pole, but would the people respond with "Amen ?" The burthen of the complaints all round the House was, "We too have been assailed." The political villain with not a shred of political chastity spoke with choked utterance, so greatwashisindiguation. We are amazed. Cm these men, members of an association for the mutual protection of character, bo the same men who are seeking to enter into conspiracy to compel the construction of railways for which the colony cannot pay, and the only necessity for which is that honouiablw members must get as much public money as possible spent in tln>ir districts to sweeten their constituents? We say that members who do such shabby things are not possessed of common honesty, and that it is tlie duty of the colonial Press to say po. It ill becomes men who are hourly cozened and corrupted by "whins" to put on such professions of political piety. They persistently and systematically break every command contained in the decalogue. They wrangle and scramble over money, and neglect their more salutary and necessary duties towards the colony, and the close of every session thus finds a mass of good ] work uncompleted and indefinitely postponed. These pharasaieal humbugs belong j to a Parliament that should live in his- ; toryas the "Let-us-prey Parliament." It wa* most extraordinary how hon. members improved the occasion, and sought to whitewash the reputations of themselves and parties by endeavouring to show that other attacks of the colonial Pross regarding past transactions had been as unjustifiable as that of the Christchurch paper. We shall next witness an attempt to establish a cenpoiVnip over the Press which would protect politicians from such attacks and leave them free to carry out their wicked designs without reproof. ,