The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1921. THE FUNCTION OF THE HERALD

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2789, 28 May 1921, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1921. THE FUNCTION OF THE HERALD

It another column will be- fourd « k?ftcr from a correspondent signing himself “ Ratepayer’* and dealing with what ho himself designates

“County Affairs.’* As indicated in a footnote that, communication has been somewhat “bowdlerised.” Tliat is to say, certain personal references havcbeen omitted. That i#> the province arid prerogative of an Editor and as long as tfio Herald is conducted, by the. present proprietary and staff that policy will be pursued. Our correspondent is on perfectly correct linos in speaking as he does about the functions of the. Press in regard to public affairs. He has. evidently n:ado a fairly close study of the articles which have recently appeared in "the Herald, and he has apparently been impressed by the sense of civic responsibility which it was the object of the writer to suggest to all who took the trouble .to read. What our correspondent fails to realise is this: That the casual differences of «.pinion between individual Councillors do not affect in the slightest the general policy of the Council, and are merrily reported, for the purpose of showing the newspaper's r<*aders that a difference of opinion oxjstis It is quite possible that a* certain, member may, to the minds of hts fellow Councillors, bo so prolix in his criticism and iso prone to fault-finding that he may justly be regarded as a nuisance. It is not the proving or the duty of a newspaper to criticise him in that respect. The ratepayers put him there, and they and hi<> colleague's have to put up with him. If, on the. other hand, such a one exercises hris powers as a Councillor against the interests of the County or the "Borough, it is the privilege :ir»d duty of the Press (in case it is the Pah in tun. Herald) to make vuch comment will immediately turn ail eyes o n to the action of the Councillor who it may be considered has offended. It may be just- as well to say once and for .til what is the policy ot the Herald an regard to the administration of public affairs. It should have boom realised fully long ere this, but it is becoming daily more and more evident that it takes a long time to bring some people to full iealisation of their rospon.siblities. The Herald is going to criticise its public men in their conduce of public affairs fully, frankly arid freely, without fear, favour or a ffr'ct on, but it will not descend to paltry personalities nor will it concorn itself with the things that do not matter. The Herald lias every regard and consideration. for “all who brave the dangers of public life.”

Those dangers, by the bye, are nothing compared to those* braved by a newspaper, which is responsible for • very line that it writes or publishes. That may appeal to some speakers and writers who find that theer remarks ha.ve been somewhat censored. We. suggest also that this its no tunc for finding fault with individuals. If “Ratepayer” or any other correspondent- can. forward any suggestion wlvch may be useful to the County Council in the carriage on itjs public activities we shall be only too glad to find space for it, and, if the. proposal is feasible or reasonable, to help it along. But mo good purpose will be or tan ever be served by attacking individuals or endeavouring to promote a personal tend. “(Jet to work” and not “Ootto blows” should be the motto of all concerned in* the administration of public affairs at the present time.