Election Touting.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 204, 1 September 1887, Page 2

Election Touting.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Your able article of the 30th insfc. condemning the practice of touting for votes will, I feel sure, find an echo in the mind and heart of every liberal-minded, honest man. But, Mr Editor,'it strikes me that you purpose to do a bit of touting in your own way, judging by your closing remarks in the said article. What right have you to pass under review the various candidates prior to the polling day ? Why should you, by your able pen, influence your readers either for or against one, or any, of the said claimants ? How will you. gage you criticism for or against? Will.it depend greatly, or wholly, oh the amount of advertising done by the various candidates? If 60, then you will be guilty of touting—only in another form to that agairtst which you 60 justly write. Be consistent, sir. and wait till alter tb -noils have

been declared, then review as much as you think fib, but not- till then.—l am, etc., Consistent.

[The gratuitous insolence of the foregoing epistle Invites consignment to the waste paper basket. We publish it. however, lest the inquiry it contains has been prompted by mental stupidity, and not by the chagrin of an electioneering harpy who sees in the abolition of paid touting the loss of a perquisite. The bushel with which "Consistent" measures the merits of candidates is tlie universal standard of the tribe. So far as newspapers are concerned, however, the candidates in this election will not be ruined by their advertising bills. They have had a very marked advantage over the newspaper proprietors, by doing their advertising gratuitously. in speeches, and keeping a large number of reporters continuously in attendance on them at the expense of the newspapers, and notof thecandidates. In no other part of New Zealand' has so much liberality been shown by newspapers in this matter as here. Let that pass, however. If our correspondent is so stupid as not to distinguish the difference between discussing the titness of candidates for office, and going to a man and asking him how he intends to vote, we fear we shall not be able bo enlighten him much. We may say generally, however, that while it is the duby of every elector and every public journal to do the one, the man who has the impertinence to do the other deserves summarily kicking down-stairs. —Ed. E. S. j