THE 'POST' AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 9387, 8 May 1894, Page 2

THE 'POST' AND THE GOVERNMENT.

[SI'ECIAL TO Tilt! STAB'.]

WELLINGTON, May 8. The following letter explains itself: — ' Evening Post' Office, Wellington, May 7,1884.

O. O'Hura Smith, Esq., ■ Hbyal Commissioner. Sir,—l have this day been served with a summons issued by you, as a Commissioner under the Commissioners' Powers Act, requiring me to attend and give evidence regarding "the circumstances of the publication of the contents of Colonel Fox's letters to the Premier on the 6th March, 1894, in the ' Evening Post' of the4th April, 1894." Mr Ilobcn, a member of the 'Evening Post' reporting staff, has also been served with a similar summons.

I desire to protest in the strongest possible manner against an attempt to extract from me or from any memberof my staff secrets which relate t) the conduct of the business of this journal. Ministers apparently suspect some officer of the Public Service of having betrayed confidence, and they have set up an inquisitorial commission to force a similar breach of confidence and betrayal of trust on my part or on that of some member or members of the staff of this journal. I regret that they should descend to such an unscrupulous method of seeking to extort information. I absolutely refuse to attend myself, or to allow any member of my staff, who may he acquainted with the facts at issue, to attend. In taking this stand I intend no disrespect to the Commission under which you are acting, although I entertain a feeling the reverse of respect for those who are responsible for advising His Excellency the Governor to issue a Commission in Her Majesty's name, the purpose of which a pears to be to force me, or some member or members of my staff, to commit a dishonorable action.

I am well assured that the powers of the Acts of Parliament under which your Commission has been issued were never intended to be prostituted to such a purpose. As a journalist I never adopt myself, nor would I countenance on the part of aiiy member of my staff, any dishonorable means of obtaining information. But when any information is given me in good faith I regard the confidence as absolutely sacred. When I use information so given me I accept the full responsibility, and no amount of pressure or threats of pains or penalties will induce or compel me to violate the confidence I have accepted, or to disclose the source of my information. I hold this to be a point of journalistic honor from which no departure is possible. I may add that in this lam not taking up any new position. I have respectfully but tinny maintained the principle before the Supremo Court of tho colony, and risked all the penalties which that tribunal could award for the technical offence of contempt rather than betray confidence reposed in good faith in me as a journalist. I am not likely, therefore, to be frightened or coerced into the commission of what I should deem a dishouorable act by any threats of such a monetary penalty as it is in your power to inflict either upon myself or upon any other of my staff whose examination by you might lead to any violation of the confidence I have referred to. Neither Mr Hoben nor myself will appear or give evidence before you in regard to the subject matter of the inquiry you are conducting.--I am etc., E. T. Gillon, Editor.