A TENDER CLASS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7412, 30 September 1902, Page 2

A TENDER CLASS.

In the early hou.s of Saturday morning the House of Uoprtwentatives lnsoHed a clause in the jF.lectoral Bill imposing a penalty of £50 or three months' imprisonment u;>on any person using words defamatory of a candidate standing for election for Parliament. It is wonderful how careful some peoplo are to guard against attacks upon their character — during election times — especially when they aro likely to influence, votes. ]Ju f, seriously speaking, it i* .a ure-.it farce for men who cnooso lo place themselves in the position of poluxal ..-undidales to object to a little scandal more or less concerning themselves. Jt is also a shame that so many people who take a delight in de fauiing men whose slices they are not fit to tie should be deprived of this opportunity of firing off their hatred, malice, and a',l uncharitablcness, unless they are prepSre.l to stand the ordeal of ii trial in Cjurt for their little amusement. We- know of people m tiiil--district who c chief lunu-tuDK'tit n<election tiiiifs it to cir.julato slander* against political Candida..■«, and now they will have to confine their attention to ping pong, tennis, or some other less magic form of amusement. OF course * loophole has been left in the shapo of a possibility of defeating an .vciion for defamation if the stalerjents can be proved io be true. So :t would be well for those who revel in this particular form of amH.-ifuieiit to gird up their loins and obtain proof positive of their statements before taking the trouble to circulate tkciu i" the interests of tbe particular person or purty tliey are wo king.