The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1912. A SPORTING OFFER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 67, 12 November 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1912. A SPORTING OFFER.

In answer to repeated charges of miscrupulousness, and much other reckless talk about the evil doings of the “capitalistic” Ptess, which emanate from Labour members in Australia, Sydney’s “Daily Telegraph” has invited the Federal Postmaster-General, the Hon. Mr Thomas, to spend an afternoon and evening in its office and personally see for himself the inner workings of the journal. Not long ago, Mr Thomas, in the course of a reply' to a deputation which waited upon him to make protest against the then proposed law compelling the signing of newspaper articles, declared that if he were possessed of the power of an autocrat he would refuse to allow newspapers containing unsigned articles to go through the post. He had been told, be said, “on good authority,” that on big metropolitan papers a large body of men were employed to write letters by the editors’ orders, which were published under various noms-de-plnme. Of course such a statement was very foolish, but. lie apparently merely voiced what,, bis Party believes,' or pretends to believe, and, as the “Telegraph” puts the matter, “because we are political opponents, it is assumed that we are guilty of pretty well all the wilful wickedness that it is possible to perpetrate in the circumstances under which our work is done.” The full offer of the freedom of the office, with permission to roam at in’s own sweet will through editorial and news rooms, will, in all probability, not lie accepted by Mr Thomas. The offer to lie allowed to watch the work of collecting and subediting news and even to he permitted to hear the editor discussing with his loader-writers and associates the matter for next day’s .articles, and to generally loolc into everybody’s business, is certainly a sporting one, and the big paper is to lie congratulated on its attitude. If the Minister would only accept and spend a few hours doing as the “Telegraph” suggests, his mind would lie considerably disabused we have no doubt.