THE H.B. TRIBUNE. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1912. MILLS THE FALLEN MOSAICIST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 204, 12 August 1912, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1912. MILLS THE FALLEN MOSAICIST

“All a man’s life should be Divine,” said Mr. Mills when addressing a political meeting at Hastings a fortnight ago. He extolled the Mosaic laws and urged that we should keep, net only the one for the observance of the Sabbath, but those also which apply to the other six days of the week. May we in return urge upon him the same need, that his disciples may have tiie privilege of following his example as well as obeying his precepts. A finger pest points the way it does not go itself, but a guide, friend. philosci>her, and leader keeps in the centre of the highway’ that others may follow his footsteps. Mr. Mills, in his attack on the land owners of New Zealand and cf Hawke’s Bay in particular, and in his criticisms of the articles appearing in the “Hawke’s Bay Tribune,” discloses the fact that when it serves his purpose he is only too ready to shirk obedience of the Divine instruction given to Moses, in that “he shall not bear false witness against his neighbour.” Possibly we may receive a letter in reply to this that ‘‘it wasn't him, “was the other editor,” but, to dispense with tins “Box and Cox” business, we make it clear that our remarks arc made on the understanding that when two editors conjointly control a journal, both arc responsible for the opinions expressed in it, and the statements it publishes. Let us come to the point. The “Times,” either under the hand of Esau or the voice of Jacob, in dealing with, scpiatters, and the •‘Tribune” and its editor, has frequently transgressed the Mosaic law above referred to. It has justified .he old saying that one falsehood

j necessitates many. The first swerve from the truth we drew attention to! i was the now almost classic black; ; type “trespass notice fable.” and; I Fmce then, ‘ being closely pressed, it ] ' has prevaricated as often as it could' 1 to defend the first prevarication.” j Here arc a few examples :—“N.Z. I Times.” August Ist: “The editor of; the ‘Tribune’ is quite exasperated i over a statement made by the I ■Times' to the effeet that 46 per cent. . of tiie land in Hawke s Bay was; quite unimproved.” He was noth-: mg cf tiie sort. He was, with every .■Tht thinking persen, t xtremely dis-, gusted vritli tiie “Times” for mak-i iii" an nbs< I’.'toh' false and wilfully I r.ii.-kadkffi statement to the effect, ;l nt 46 per cent, of the land in Hawke's Bay which was unimproved; v.as so atrociously dear that none but a i ich man may bid for it, and , that nothing had been spent upon this iand by the squatters-who possess - it c-seept in erecting fences and! neriets to the people of New Zealand

that trespassers will be prosecuted. In the first place the unimproved land referred to by the “Times” is not all owned by the “squatters.” it largely comprises native and waste lands, and it is not atrociously dear ; in fact, much of it is of little value for occupation. In the second place the ‘■squatters” have not expended any money in the erection of trespass notices, either on the waste lands or the lands they do own. It was in the utter falsity of the “Times' ” statements quoted above that the “Tribune” took issue with Mr. Mills. Again the "Times” in a leading article on 3rd August stated the “Tribune” “must really quarrel with the Department of Lands for from its latest return of area in cultivation and in occupation the public may learn, etc." Yes, but the return does not say it is land possessed by the squatters or that ■it is so dear, etc., or chat the trepass notices filled the landscape. Again on the same date, it says: “The Tribune’ is afraid to give Mr. Mills views to the public, making as an excuse that his talk on ‘Moses— Land Reformer’ is to be delivered on the Sabbath day.” This is. as someone would say. and to put it mildly, “coquetting with actualities.” The “Tribune.” before this charge was made against it. had refused to unnecessarily work its reporters on Sunday and had offered to reserve a column of spate of any report Mr. Mills desired to supply. The “Times” also remarks that it “is surprised that a rich, proprietary has to sweat its men,” inferring that capitalism had got its iron heel on the “struggling employee” and was grinding his poor soul out with long hours and little pay. It was false and miserable misrepresentation of i the conditions which actually exist in the office. The reporters are practically their own master; if they want help they get it, but they will not be asked by the management to report political speeches by Mr. Mills or anyone else on a Sunday. Then again the “Times” equivocates and in some strange way connects the landowners of Hawke's Ray with the crime of child slavery, but the application is so absurd that it would be unnecessary of mention here were it not useful as an additional proof of Mr. Mills repeated transgressions of the old Hebrew commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” How can a man’s life be Divine if he breaks this law ?