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Evening Star, Issue 6259, 7 April 1883, Page 2

We do not as a rule care to enter into direct controversy with our contemporaries; but the ‘Otago Daily Times’ has alluded to ourselves in so conspicuous a manner in its leading columns of to-day that we are almost constrained to say a word or two in reply. The ‘ Otago Daily Times,’ with the zeal, not always well directed, which distinguishes recent converts, broadly asserts that we have “caved in” on the dummy question. The consistent advocacy since the first day of publication by the Star of liberal land laws and their liberal administration is sufficient answer to the absurd insinuations of a journal which has given strenuous support to the squatting interest until within the last few weeks, when it wakened up to the necessity of liberalising its policy, if it hoped to retain any influence on public opinion. In regard to the dummy question, we hold and have expressed the very strongest opinion against the assumed action of the runholders; but we do not necessarily maintain that either the Government or the Land Board would bo justified in arbitrary proceedings outside of and opposed to the land laws at present in force. There is a case of suspicion, but nothing more; and in the absence of proof positive of the declarations being false, the licenses cannot legally be refused to the purchasers who have fulfilled the necessary preliminary conditions. If on the inquiry now being proceeded with by the Board, in accordance with the resolution of Mr Stout, there should appear to be a prima Jade case against any of the purchasers, the Government will no doubt issue a Commission to investigate all the circumstances ; and the licenses, on conviction of fraud, can and should be forfeited. In reference to what we said about the cheques, and “shepherds, rabbitters, and laborers” probably “keeping their accounts at a “country bank,” our contemporary must be as obtuse as the conventional Scotchman, into whose head it is said a joke cannot bo conveyed except by the aid of a gimlet!