ALLEGED "CAPTURE" OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 2

ALLEGED "CAPTURE" OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, November S3

The November number of the "Liberty Review," in an article attacking New Zealand's compulsory; arbitration system, says: "The industrious New Zealand Agent-General, "Willie" Reeves, has captured, among" others of the British press, the "Morning Po.st," "Daily Express," "Sunday Times," and seven other papers specified. All of these journals have given great prominence to mistaken notions on the matter of compulsory arbitration, with special leading articles on the subject of the New Zealand ex-, perjment. These articles being chiefly mere hack repetitions of "Willie" Beeves' gulling periods, need not be dealt with seriatim."

The statement that the Agent-Gene-ral has '■captured the "Morning1 Post," or any other journal, is as false as it is ridiculous. Mr Reeves has not "captured" or communicated with any oi the papers named, or with any others on the subject of Compulsory Arbitration, wtih the exception of the "Daily Express," to which, at the special request of that .journal, he contributed a signed article. The AgentrGeneral has ncyer engaged in any active agitation, as the "Liberty Review" suggests, either directly or indirectly, to have the New Zealand policy adopted in Great Britain. He has, of course, been ready to give any information on the subject to enquiriers, and has not unnaturally had many requests for enlightenment on the subject from those who wish to see their way to adopt, some less barbarous method of deciding labour disputes than strikes or lock-outs. The paragraph quoted is a fair sample of the method in which the "Liberty Review." inspired no doubt by Mr F. G. Ewington, carries on its campaign against Compulsory Arbitration,