A Great Contrast.

Southland Times, Issue 13494, 30 June 1896, Page 3

A Great Contrast.

TO THE EDITOR. SIB, — Your contemporary, the Southland News, in its leading article of the L'lat May, 1883, spoke boldly and properly of the directors' report of the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association, and accused Mr William Bateman, the secretary, of having given it " a rosy colour." The News pointed eat that the transactions of a corporated company should be open to the criticisms of the Press, and if they could not stand the fierce light of public criticism so much the worse^for the company. Now the charges laid to the management ot the old Farmers' Association by the News were comparatively trifling to the doings of the directors of the J. G. Ward Association, of which the Hon. J. (;. Ward is the well paid chairman— " cooked balance sheet " and " deception " as against a " rosy-coloured report " ! Then look at the great contrast of the News' leading article of the 22nd June inst. on Mr J. G. Ward and the association which bears his name, and let any unbiased mind read and ponder those two articles, and then let him ask himself — Why this great falling from high principles — from a high tone of commercial morality to a miserable apology for deceit and fraud ? Mr Bateman waa denounced and written down by the News for writing "rosy reports," and he had no sympathisers, although his improprieties were small compared to Mr J. G. Ward's. Can the reason be that because Mr H. Feldwick haß been hoisted into the Legislative Council, and is the recipient of Ll5O a year, the Newa haa to deal gingerly with Mr Feldwick's benefactor ?— I am, &0., Watcher. 27th Jane,