THE ALTON "INCIDENT."

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 26 October 1908, Page 4

THE ALTON "INCIDENT."

In Saturday's issue of a Wellington paper, the Dominion, the following paragraph appeared : —

"It is now stated that Mr Major, the Government candidate for HaAs - era, did not make the remarks relating to want of confidence attributed to him by the Hawera Stab, and commented upon by us during the week. It is claimed that Mr Major was misrepresented in the matter, and that he received a vote of confidence at his Alton meeting by 23 votes to 19. If this is true, Mr Major has been badly treated in the matter. There can be no excuse for misrepresentation of this nature, and it is to be regretted that unpleasaantness of this kind should be introduced into the contest." If a correction, had. bam necessary it could have boon, made and should hav<=/ bean juade locally some days ago, and as it was not we wonder oii, whab authority the Dominion published the I offensive paragraph quoted,. The im- j plication, only too obvious, in, tihei last two ot three lines compels us to rofar furt-ior to tlie matter. As to the facts' the Dominion has bean altogether misinformed. Its comment ia tiharefore quite unjustifiable. We f orbear applying another term, until wa see whether it has tihe grace to apologise. The newspaper has yet tot be discovered in which errors do- not occur, but in common with tho bulk exf the press of New Zealand the Star endeavors to be fair and 'accurate in its reports, and in respect of meetings that cannot be attended by a member of the staff it is served by duly appointed ctflTQspondonts in various parts of the district who very loyally co-operate in chis purposes. As to that part of the report" which stated that a vote of thanks and confidence wn.<% first proposed, but that an amendment- of tiiaaks otily was carried by 23 tc .19, we ha,v€) Mr Major's own assurance of ita cottTcotoeisa Concerning the candidate's reiuaarksi upon Alton's refusal to express , ita ■ ooroiidemea our own ooirrespondent at Alton waa duly careful with his necessarily condensed report, and we have no doubt of its accuracy. Of seA purpose it was published in a late edition of Tuesday's issue, a. feiw hourg before til© commencement of Mr Major* Hawea'a meieting. So tihat if there was to be any criticism, of it report and criticism would go into the country simultaneously nerctr day. It was not contradicted at the 'meeting. Fivei publishing days have sdnce elapsed and ita accuracy has not been questioned. And lot us add thia : that beforei publishing the report at the instance -A our Alton correspondent we had been furnished with confirmatory evidence of its accuracy fn< the form of «. declaration by a well-known Alton, settler who was present at the jnaeitinjr This letter was not sent for publicar tion, but we do not think we' are breaking 1 confidence by referring to it. Neither aae avo vi doubt that permissdoai to publish it will be forthcoming Sif necessary. We montion these matters, to show that ordinary care is taken to secure: that reports shall be substantially accurata anJ that special precaution was takem in this) particular case.