FAIR PLAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1057, 2 June 1892, Page 35

FAIR PLAY.

Sir, —Your attention must have been recently directed to the character of the telegrams which have been lately published in your columns and those of your contemporaries headed “ United Pre33 Association.” It is perhaps difficult for an outsider to arrive at the true character of these communications. I must confess they appear to me to be neither more nor less than the work of political partisans -probably the editors of some of those papers which

are engaged in the distinguished service of bolstering up the present Opposition. Do you not think, sir, that a protost ought to be made against this method of purveying news ? I desire, as a member of the Liberal Party, to have political questions fairly fought out, but I do object most strenu ously to be served in such a manner by ‘‘The Press Association,” which caters for both parties. Ido not charge the Association with a desire to he unfair, but Ido charge it with a strange laxity in allowing telegrams, which on the very surface are emanations from .strong political partisan*, to receive its imprimatur. Now, sir, I think this mode of conducting the business of the Association ought to be at once changed ; if it is not, then I think the remedy is in the hands of the Liberal press, which can easily employ correspon dents in the various important centres of the Colony to send forward political items. It will not be difficult to beat the association in the interesting quality of the matter, and it may lead to more desirable changes in connection with what at present is a very hard and fast monopoly. The Legislature, as an alternative plan, might be a party to destroy this monopoly by repealing the Copyright Act, or by so limiting it as to permit the institution of a second association. I offer this suggestion solely on the ground that I think our friends are not receiving that fair play which they have the right to demand, and with the hope that an immediate change will take place so as to render unnecessary the adoption of restrictive measures. lam, &■?., Observer.