AS OTHERS SEE US.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1901, Page 2

AS OTHERS SEE US.

New Zealand is often (says the Glasgow .Herald) commended to this backward old country as offering a shining example of democratic energy and 'advancement, t and certainly ifc does seem to have something to teach, us 'as to the methods of recompensing political serviced rendered by journalists to the G-ov-ernmenti In most countries it is the habit of the Government, to recognise such services in one way or another ; but the manner of reward is alway? more oV less decorous and indirect. A consulship, a sinecure, a knighthood, v baronetcy, sometimes even a peerage has been conferred upon a leading supporter ; but these methods are quite too vague and unbusinesslike for our antipodean kin. In New. Zealand the Government comes frankly to the Legislature and asks it to vote an item of £250 to the Australian Review of Reviews for a laudatory article on the. Administration bf Mr. Seddon, the. Prime Minister." This, as wa have said, is, business, and business with ' a vengeance — no sneaking round-about recognition, but a plain and straightforward disbursement "for value received." According to this method the people have at feast the advantage of knowing, 1 -without any • concealment or disguise, wheije their money goes.; but the , advantage does not appear to be highly, appreciated by the legislators of New Zealand. On the contrary, some members have vigorously' derfounced the Premier's policy of, "self-advertisement," while others have, pointed out with indignation that the public money of a loyal colony is being given to a journal connected with Mr.. Stead.- The whole transaction is one that does not quite approve itself to British notions ""of party management, and surely the New Zealand Government might have found some less frankly material fashion of rewarding a useful ally. The offer, for example, of an honorary commission in the ne^t regiment of volunteers for South. Africa would have been a happier devipe. At all events, it could not have' caused more disgust to Mr. Stead than the vote of £250 seems to have done to some loyal New Zealanders..