THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1896. LOOK UPON THIS PICTURE AND ON THIS."

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3010, 23 December 1896, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1896 . LOOK UPON THIS PICTURE AND ON THIS."

With •which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 1845, and the New Zealander,

Thebe has never been an attempt on the part of this journal to give to tha Hon J. Ct. Ward any of that credit which of right belongs to others. The Post— and with it all the other Opposition journals of the Colony, either by means of tho services of the ordinary members of their literary staffs or those of hired bravos has persistently attacked in the most unjustifiable manner the late Colonial Treasurer, and we now eay with emphasis that these attacks were made upon Mr Ward, not because he had failed in his speculations j not because he had been unfortunate ; but because ho was the Colonial Treasurer in a Liberal administration, and there was an election looming in the distance. There was no half-truth in what was stated in this place concerning the persecution of Mr Ward, and the attitudoof those whocousented to do tho particularly unclean work of tho National Conservative Association. We repeat that there was no other plea made for opposing th’o sale of the assets of the Word Farmers’ Association but that of discovery of supposed Wrong-doing, It was stated by the persons Who appealed for funds to assist in the Work of persecution and prosecution if it coaid be managed—that aS tho Colonial Bank shareholders had lost so much they might just as well sacrifice a little more in what was called tho ” cause of justice.” The cause of justice in this case partook of that character which distinguished thC merciless Merchant when he « steed fofc justice” and cried—it he 'did not hare the due and forfeit of lira bond— H S'io upon your law > there is he to'rSe in the decrees Of Venice !” Biit, Us in tho case of the Unlucky Antonio, so in that of Mr Ward : there were, those who offered to appease the hate of his arch-enemy by means of money. The money was refused. It was the political life of the Colonial Treasurer that was sought, and there were those who were reedy enough with tho knife of malice and Shales that 'iteVo not of S Ustice, but of ohVy, hatted, and all uncharitablonesa, to hack out and weigh tho pound of llesll. If ad ho been plain Joseph Wnid, the merchant, he would have escaped, as others whose names wo Could mention wore permitted to do. Had he even been a Treasurer in a GoiisOrVa'tive Ministry his misfortune. Would have been hidden away, mid his friends Would havobeon enabled to help him, indeed, they would have been praised fdr to doing. Tho intensity of feeling on the part of tho enemies cf Mr Watd is again shown by the giving last night Of a. ijaptfetfCn from that pronoimcoM'eut of Mr Justice Williams When His Honor took up a position from which ho has long since resiled. The friends Of Mr Ward have no need to shrink from the position they have occupied any timo since tho ono.sided presentment of the case caino before tho Supremo Court at Dunedin, but they have a tight to say to the people of the Colony, “ took upon this picture and on this!” In the one presentment are to be recognised the features of the late Colonial Treasurer and round him a pack of political wolves, thirsting for his political life. In' the background, a section of the press of the Colony, by whom there is being sent out messages which boat to all New Zealand the W 6 parte ■ statements, thr sided affidavits- -,f Mr

me ono-a« affidavits s oi .r Ward’s persecutors. Far parenthcse : Ha fcis not even permitted to be heatci in his own defence. In the ether presentment we see—what? Ttm same Court : and aplication being made with the idea of appointing a liquidator in the estate of— Whom ? Companies, in whioh Mr Walter Guthrie, Sir Robert Stout, Meesifo Stondy and Sim were—to all intents—partners. They, like many another trading concern, have been unfortunate, let us say. They make their pleas ; they are answered by the Judge, and he denies them the right to appoint Mr Bront as 00-liqaidetat with Mr Cook. The reason Will appear directly. But from this picture there is absent one thing. No newspaper men of Dunedin clutch greedily at the *' copy ” made by lawyers’ speeches or Judge’s remarks; no newspapers of the Colony aro enlightened as to what takes place. Now, why should this bo so ? Is it because of the connection of Sir Robert Stout with the case, or that all the interested parties are counted on the Opposition side of politics ? It would bo interesting to know, especially at this juncture; because, while our evening contemporary is on the subject of the " value and importance of commercial morality,” we should like that the point should be considered in all its bearings. The hired bravos of the National Conservative Association havo become “dumb dogs,” and the agents of the Press Association in Dunedin are silent. Why this silence ? Shall wo say that it is because there are strong resemblances in what are called the Guthrie Companies’ windingsup with those of the companies connected with the Ward Farmers’ Association ? The same kind of appeal for the appointment of a liquidator whioh was denounced . by Mr Braund and his " assistants ” has boon made by the Guthrie Companies—and refused. In refusing to appoint the gentleman, His Honor Mr Justice Williams said:—“l do not think there is any personal objection to Mr Brent being appointed a provisional liquidator. Mr Hosking did not impute any suggestion of misconduct to Mr Brent. All that ho suggested was that it wan probable the affairs of the Company might require investigation, and thafc if Mr Brent was appointed, as he had been an officer of the Company, his appointment might impede such investigation.” Lot it be remarked that no breath of this has come to us from the Dunedin branch of the Press Association. But the facts wo are here enabled to place before our readers “may help to a finer appreciation of the value and importance of commercial morality.”