THE EXPLANATION FURNISHED.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9993, 21 January 1895, Page 2

THE EXPLANATION FURNISHED.

On Saturday, In commenting upon tbe Premier's attack npoa the Press Association, we stated that Mr Saddon accurately quoted the Association's Instructions to Its flapter agent relative to the telegraphic report of his Rpeech, though the agent, when questioned by the Premier, had refused that information, actiug on instructions from tho head office at Wellineton. We continued : How did Mr Seddon know it? Did ha causa those in chorgs of the Telegraph Department to violate their duty and their instructions, and to divulge the contents of a private message to him ? We oan see no other explanation, The colony has witnessed the Treasurer making use of secret information from the Property - Tax Department in a correspondence witi an opponent who carried too heavy metal for him in a fair fight. Has Mr Seddon condescended to equally miserable tactics? And If so, what are we to think of the boasted secrecy of the department, when a Minister oan ab his nod learn the contenta of any private telegram he chooses to demand ? It appears that Mr Seddon had a perfectly satisfactory explanation to offer. He did nob get the information in any Improper manner, but received it direct from the head office of the Association in reply to a telegram. He was therefore fully entitled to use it. We are very glad indeed that snoh an explanation is offered, not only for the oredit of the Premier, but because M will entirely remove an uneasy feeling as to the powers or influence of Ministers over the Telegraph Department. Naturally snoh an explanation did not occur to us, for wo never dreamed for a moment that the head office of the Association would furnish information it had instructed its agent to wlfchold, and as there were only three possible sources from whloh It could be obtained, and we knew that one was closed and presumed a second was equally closed, the third presented itself to us as the only alternative. In this Instance it affords us much more satisfaction to know that we were wrong than it would for ns to be proved in the right, and we frankly and nnteservedly withdraw any Implied stigma on the secretivonesa of the officers of the Telegraph Department or on the Premier for tbe method in whloh he gained his information.