The Hastings Standard Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1900. THE GOSSIP'S DIARY.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1298, 16 August 1900, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1900. THE GOSSIP'S DIARY.

There are a few (happily only a few) newspapers whose principles are chiefly for their consistent diametrical opposition to a certain political party, and in this connection Conservatives and Liberals are equally blameworthy. The editor is armtd with unlimited authority to pursue his one-sided policy, and to dip deeply his official pen into gall on every possible occasion. The majority of these literary disseminators of the Gospel of Politics according to their particular lights are mere journalistic satellites, but there is one amongst them with reasonable claim to be considered a star of superior magnitude, though its brilliancy is somewhat marred by a nebulous veil ever manifest to the naked eye. We allude to our Napier morning con temporary, who, aided by a capable Wellington correspondent of remarkable perspicacity and omniscience, arranges the affairs of State in a manner eminently satisfactory to itself, if not to those who have a disagreeable faculty for viewing questions from all points before forming a fixed conclusion.

From a standpoint of consistency the Hawke's Bay Herald is probably the most reputable paper in this (or any other) colony. There is none of that mistaken idea of progress about it, which otherwise prevails with the persistency of an epidemic. Just as the world revolves on its axis daily, so our contemporary daily presents its thirty-six columns to its readers, and only becomes temporarily conventional in order to grasp the modest penny, and lapses from its characteristic air of respectability merely in the employment of startling head-lines. They must be an abandoned party who have not at least ona redeeming feature, and, taking the Herald's estimate, we must assume that if their sins do not find them out it will not be because they lack sufficient numbers to make the search. Every Government has its failings, and tho present one is far from immaculate. Their crimes are many and heinous, but may there not be found a gleam of treasure amongst the dross if one sook in a perfectly impartial manner ?

The Herald has created a pretty considerable storm in a teacup over tho action of tho Government in bringing into operation tho Immigration Restriction Act with respect to four Hindoos by the Mokoia who attempted to laud iu Wellington a day or two a{,'o. Our contemporary has made a touching appeal to the patriotic fadings of the New Zealand people by narrating how the Hindoos are working for pa in tho Transvaal as stretcher bearers, and as an effective anticlimax giving a word picture of a sketch in one of the London newspapers showing the bravery with which a Hikh is carrying out his voluntary Julius. This is •U very well. Wo should give the

Indian bearera credit for their good work, but we must also carry out the principles involved in the Immigration Restriction Act. The editor of the Herald opines that the Hindoos should be allowed in the colony because they are part and parcel of our great Empire, but in all probability he would be the first to hold tight bis coat-tails as he passes them for faar of contagion. The question is not one of whether the Hindoos are a brave people, that we alroady kuow, but whether they are desirable immigrants, and the Hawbe's Bay Herald must allow that, although it is the view also of the Reddon party, they are not calculated to benefit th 9 colony by their presence.

It is very unkind for the Herald to state that if those responsible for passing the Immigration Kestriction Bill do not fuel heartily ashamed of themselves they (the Herald) do not desire their acquaintance. These are extreme measures, but we suppose that n seif-deferce, and to avoid such a calamity as even the tacit enmity of the Herald, the advocates of the measure will at once proceed to feel as much shame as they conveniently can under the circumstances. However, it is not a question of " four Hindoos" only, for behind the enterprising four is a matter of another three hundred millions (roughly speaking), who have just as much right to enter the colony as those who have just been refused admittance, and many of whom would avail themselves of the opportunity were they allowed unrestricted mtrfa. Those who consider that New Zealand only requires population wvi'M th ~ u.; satisfied, but wo apprehend that the unemployed difficulty would not he so much a fiction as it now is, and the Herald would be very much in tho position of the frogs in the fable who desired a king—and later on desired a Republic.