AN EDITORIAL REMINISCENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 21

AN EDITORIAL REMINISCENCE.

Bit I{, E, N. Twopkny. (Editor of tho Olago Daily Times, 1883-1890.) When I joined tho Otago Daily Times as Editor, In August, 188.J, Now Zealand was in tho depths oi a depression which lasted throughout my «ven years' tenure oi office. It was a long time ueforo pcoplo could rcaliso the serious and permanent cliaiactcr of this depression, and tlio great politic.il strugglo of tho eighties' was between the sober and steady elcnieut led by Major Atkinson, Which enforced economy, and tho moro speculative spirits who were inclined to embark on n fresh career of Government borrowing on tho rccipo prewribed by Sir Julius .Vogel of "a hair of the'dog that bit you." This strugglo was complicated by a third parly, led by Sir Hobert Stout, which 'did not trouble its' head about finance, but was primarily concerned in carry (jiff- 'out tho theoretical radical views which. Sir Georgo Grey first ladnched in New Zealand. Tho Daily Times, of courso, stood for steady-, going, and fought tho StOut-Vogel combination, but it had n certain sympathy with democratic ideals provided they were reduced to a practicable ohapo with duo regard to existing interests. Thus it supported Mr Holltston in introducing the perpetual lease system, and Mr Ballaiice in the dovelopmcnt of tho small settlement •land policy, whilst hammering uway almost daily against tho,borrowing policy which threatened to seduce tho colony from thu straight and narrow path of plain living and hard'work.

Although the time was one of dull business, substantial progress was really being mtulo in the eighties by n continuoua Increase of production generally, and in particular by the laying of thu foundations of the frozen meat trade and dairy industry, which subsequently developed irilo such importance. But bad times mako evervono very critical, and thero wero not wanting tlioso who despaired of the return of proiperity. Traces of tho old provincial feeling wero still strong in Otago in those days, but the Daily Times, whilst alwava supporting the legitimate claims of the proviifco, and in particular tho Otago Central railway, was for tho eolqny first, and I always set in front of mo the example set by Sir Julius Vogel during his editorship of making tho Daily Times, as far as practicable, an All-New Zealand journal, and not merely an Otago organ. Wo wore Imperialists, too, in tho days when the feeling of pride in tho Empire waa by no means as strong as it is now, mid wo advocated a proper organisation of defenco when it was not popular.' When tho present Socialistic policy of New Zealand was in its infancy, the Daily Times, thanks largely to tho personal feelings of .Mr Oeorgo Fenwick, showed great interest in its humanitarian side, and if eomo personal allusions may bo allowed, I should liko to call to mind the high-class contributions continually made to tho paper by the late Mr Scobio Mackenzie as a loaderwriter on Now Zealand politics; Mr F. R. (now Mr Justice) Chapman, on foreign politics; and Mr Wilson, of Uie Girls' High School, on literature. Such articles raised the tone of the paper to a high level. Perhaps, too, it is worth recalling to a younger generation how much the interest in public affairs in Dunedin was wcitcd and sustained by tho extraordinary energy and (strong personality of Sir Robert Stout. He was a perfect godsend to editors and leader-writers.

I do riot liko to closo these notes without a reference to somo of the editorial staff. Mr S. H. Jenkinson, sub-editor when 1 first joined (now ono'of tho Argus sub-editors), and his successor, Mr Charles Fraser, now editor of tho Witness, bore tho burden and heat of tho work of bringing out the Daily Times during my day. Mr Spragg gave a charactcr to cur reporting work; Mr Frickcr, now editor ot the Australasian, showed striking talent as a dramatic critic, and Mr Hutchison, tho present editor, already gave promise of his capacity. Though not actually engaged on tho Dailv Timw, the late Mr William Fenwick, editor of tho Witness, will always remain in my memory as a dearly-loved colleague; anil other familiar faces riso before mo as I writo, amongst them tho Into Mr Mat-thews, Mr Sinclair, Mr Hunter, and I need hardly mention tho managing director, Mr Georgo Fonwick, in whoso uprightness and kindness wo all felt reliance. i