A MILD PROTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8739, 22 May 1914, Page 4

A MILD PROTEST

Now that such a large percentage of the newspapers of New Zealand have been captured with Tory gold, it is only a natural result that Press Association reports of political meetings should often contain a certain aicount of “colour” favourable to tho Masseyites, and that the successes of Liberal speakers should be —well, moderately described. Perhaps it is hardly in the power of the Press Association, though it is certainly in its province, to prevent this. However that may be, Mr J. A. Gallagher, of Hastings, makes out a convincing case in a protest appearing in another column. From information received through other reliable resources we are bound to believe that the Association accounts have failed to give n fair impression of the enthusiasm which characterised the recent visit of tho Liberal leader to tho Hawke’s Bay district, or of the comparative indifference that was shown by the people when the Prime Minister was there. At every ■ station on route to Napier Sir Joseph Ward was met by gatherings of the public and enthusiastically cheered on his way, and this notwithstanding very heavy rain. We are credibly informed that this sort of thing was conspicuous by its absence on the occasion of Mr Massey’s visit there, and that the attempt of an isolated admirer at Hastings to start a salvo of cheering on behalf of the hero of Toryism ended in a solitary and rather chilling cheer from the throat of the single admirer. Press agents employed by “Reform” newspapers can hardly he expected, perhaps, to chronicle such dismal happenings as these, but some limit ought certainly to bo placed upon the misrepresentation of ordinary facts. ' All that Liberals ask is a square deal.