CONFIRMATORY OPINIONS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 215, 10 September 1908, Page 4

CONFIRMATORY OPINIONS.

The New Zealand press as a whole has been by no means favorably disposed to the measure dealt with in the preceding article. The opinions of Opposition journals may be largely discounted, as :t is their special mission to be against the' Government, and naturally they can see no good in any proposals emanating from the party in power. - But journals that are usually faithful supporters of the Government are either against this measure in toto, or are strongly opposed to certain features of it. The latest to fall intol line in this respect is the N.Z. "Times, a journal that cannot be accused of opposing any Governmont measure except under a strong conviction that its passage into law would, to put it mildly, be extremely undesirable: Our contemporary calls the Second Ballot Bill "The Gag Bill," and its comments are in the following strain:—"The House of Representatives has swallowed the Second Ballot Bill holus bolus, and without any attempt to modify or erase the pernicious gag clause which closes the mouths of the critics of all denominations between the period supervening between the declaration of the first poll and the holding of the second election. We'have already expressed our detestation of Clause 18a, arid we are extremely sorry tliat the politicians of the "Dominion are so lacking in courage, so bent upon conserving their own privileges, that they have not hesitated to take away the British rights of public speech and of public comment during a period when free criticism and unfettered discussion can be most advantageously exercised. Year by year Parliament surrounds itself with greater and greater privileges, and the community is fettered by galling restrictions in order that the Legislature may become a close preserve. And ,the politicians do not hesitate to place their hands, in the taxpayers' pocTcet if they think they can do so, under cover of an ulterior motive. Thus* we1 see a new sub-clause introduced into -the Second Ballot Bill by which. candidates are allowed to incur expenses' up to £50 in connection with the second ballot. With no meetings to'be held, arid.no advertising to be dpne, it is hard to see how candidates' will fee faced with any expenses in coxrhection with the second poll, but as the authorising sub-clause makes no stipulation as to the character #of the experi'diture, it may well bo imagined that, needy aspirants will avail themselves v to the full of the piracy of the exchequer which is thereby authorised. .'/' The only condition under which a .'money vote for electioneering expanses could fairly be made would be^if the right of free speech were detained. If the gag is to be applied;" and candidates are to remain mute, there can be no excuse for raiding the Treasury for a fighting fund. 'W,e velv upon the Legislative Council to- defend the public rights and protect the public purse."