The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1913.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3944, 29 May 1913, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1913.

It will have been noted that our evening contemporary has entered upon a futile campaign of misrepresentation so far as the present Government is concerned. It is only a few days ago, for instance, since wo drew attention to a suggestion in its columns that the Government did not apparently intend to proceed with the erection iof the long-promised new departmental buildings for this important centre. All that tho “Herald” had to go upon with refforence to this matter was, however, —as we pointed out at the time—a little socalled “evidence” which would have at once been rebutted if our contemporary had caused inquiries to be made in the proper quarter. Some gas fittings had been altered, a telltale clock had been installed, and some wires which might have been for use in connection with an electric lighting scheme but seemingly weren’t—had been seen about tho premises. That was enough. In its impetuosity to try and blacken Mr Massey and his party our contemporary could not wait to make any inquiries. How far the “Herald” was out in its calculations, however, we explained when referring to the matter on a previous occasion. And now what do we find? It is apparently of no consequence that our contemporary should avail itself of an opportunity to place matters in their true light. In this connection we further note that another equally erroneous impression is "“being created through the columns of the “Herald,” and it is about time that it, too, was dispelled. Some days ago our contemporary declared that it had been informed from Napier that it was an open secret “that there was a proposal to close down the Gisborne Land and Survey Office, and carry out all the local work from the Napier office.” On the face of it the suggestion was altogether too preposterous; but the “Herald” cast no doubt whatsoever on the report. Next day, indeed, it dealt with the matter in its editorial columns, declaring, inter alia, “that a definite proposal to effect the change was under consideration.” Our contemporary had, of course, no difficulty in making out a good case in favor of the retention of the present state of affairs, and also a>dyai\'cedargume3ttswhich,showedthat it would not be unreasonable even to request the Government to go as far as to create a separate lands and survey district for this part of the Dominion v But the “Herald” was not satisfied even then. Various opinions were secured and these, of course, could only be in the one direction — that if the Government did contemplate closing the local office it would be a retrograde step. Now, gooduess only knows why the “Herald” was content not to make inquiries in the proper quarter before it raised this, another political bogey. Had it done so, it would have spared itself much needless excitement and, no doubt, it would have saved the Chamber of Commerce the cost of sending a lengthy wire to the Public Service Commissioners, condemning the alleged project. As our contemporary may prefer to also leave this matter enshrouded in mystery we think it would be only right, under the circumstances, to publish tho fact that word has been received in town from no less an authority on the subject than the Prime Minister himself, that ho is unable to ascertain how such a rumor could get about, for as a matter of fact there was no foundation for any suggestion that it was proposed to close down the Gisborne office of the Lands Department. Perhaps the “Herald” has now some other imaginary political grievances to ventilate.

Another “Cock and Bull’’ Story Exploded.