THE POINT OF VIEW

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 91, 20 April 1914, Page 5

THE POINT OF VIEW

TWO WAYS OF SEEING THE SAME THING. An interesting example of the methods adopted by the fanatically partisan press to make the facts look as bright as possible for their own particular side in politics is afforded by a perusal of the reports of the Hon. A. L. Herdman's meeting at Wellington on Friday evening in the Government and Opposition newspapers of Saturday morning. It does not matter which paper is right—but it is certain that one report has been pretty liberally "cooked" to suit the exigencies of the occasion. Let the Government organ be heard first:— j "CARRIED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY." j Captain King moved : "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Herdman for his address, and that this meeting express its entire •Confidence in the Administration of which he is a member." (Loud ap-; plause and a few hoo|ts). j This was seconded by Mr Jones, : assistant secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union. j Mr Campbell moved as an amend- ! ment: "That this meeting give a. hearty vote of -thanks to Mr Herdman for his address, but expresses its want of confidence in the Massey Government." "Ayes" were given fairly loudly tor jbhe amendment, but they were quite overshadowed by the "Noes." There was a loud and hearty call in favor of the original motion, while the "Noes'" were of such trifling volume as to _ fully justify the chairman in declaring the motion carried almost unanimously. There was another outburst of applause when the Minister rose to move a vote of thanks to the chairman. A man on the platform, one of thqse recently fined for disturbing Mr Fisher's meeting, called for cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. As many hoots as cheers were given in response. Now the Opposition .champion:— "VOTING WAS ABOUT EVEN." Captain J. T. King then moved:— "That this meeting thanks Mr Herdman for his address and expresses its entire confidence in the Administration of which he is a member." The reading of the resolution was greeted with mixed cries, and when it was seconded by Mr Jones renewed jeering and applause broke out. Mr G. Campbell then rose and said: "I wish to move an amendment, and I hope you will accept it. I move :— <(That 'this meeting heartily thanks Mr Herdman for his ad~dress. ■ but expresses its want of confidence in the Massey Government." The amendment was greeted with a storm of cheering, lasting for some time. The chairman asked the audience to give their votes on the amendment, and the voting was about evenly" divided. He declared it lost, however. -

Again, when the motion was put the voting was about even, but it was declared carried, amidst cheers from the front part of the hall. Mr Herdman fhen rose to thank the. audience, but he was unable ito be.heard owing to loud boohing from his opponents. . As the aWience left the hall cheers for Sir Joseph Ward were heartily given, in response to a call from a person on the stage. \