THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 6

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The conditions under which the present Mayoral election is being fought were expected by everyone to lead to a spirited - contest. With- • two • such doughty campaigners this was a fore-.

gone conclusion. We did not anticipate, however, that the contest would develop on the lines which are being followed by one of the candidates. It is regrettable that Mr. Hislop should so readily assume that those who think that a change in the holder of the Mayoral is desirable are necessarily actuated by a personal antagonism to himself, and are ready to descend to dishonourable tactics in order to bring about that change. Mr. Hislop asserted at his meeting on Wednesday , evening " that almost every statement which, he had inade the other evening was. grossly misrepresented in The Dojitniox, first in the report and still more so in the leaders." This statement is so wild an exaggeration of the actual facts that, had it stood alone, we should have been content to let the matter end with the reference to it niade in yesterday's issue, when we published the full text of _ Mr. Hislop's remarks on the two points on which lie specifically questioned the accuracy of our report. But it appears that Mr. Hislop went further than to charge us with "grossly misrepresenting" him. 'He went' so far as to express the hope that the "misrepresentation" was not due to the fact that his opponent and some of those opposing him exercised a share in the control of this paper/ The bare suggestion of the possibility of an action so dishonourable as the intentional misreporting of a public man to serve the purpose of an opponent in an election; campaign must prove revolting to all right-thinking men. No more dastardly act on the part of a reputable newspaper could have been suggested, and it is well that Mr. Hislop. should know that such imputations are not lightly re-; garded by the Press of New Zealand. There is not the slightest ground for the implied imputation, and if Mr. Hislop, had not allowed his personal feelings to carry away his judgment he would not have been led into , the grave indiscretion of which he has. been guilty.. ... '.