The Same Old Story.

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 780, 16 December 1893, Page 2

T he Sam e Old Story.

What base and unworthy minds some people have. It invariably happens that when an election occurs in our midst, and a newspaper takes one side or the other, that there are many people of the opposite view who at once resolve in their own minds that the newspaper must have been bought. They cannot conceive that its policy is prompted by honesty of purpose or a conscientious sense of duty. They are people whose hands are, figuratively speaking, constantly behind their own backs in the hope of getting ' tips,' and they are quick to think and believe that newspapers and other agencies which have an influence in controlling or directing public opinion are ever ready to convert that influence into cash— at the sacrifice of their honour.

These insinuations have been characteristic of the elections that have just concluded. We have repeatedly heard how much the Herald and Star have been paid for their support, though it is doubtful whether one-half of the candidates for Auckland city could unitedly claim to possess as much wealth in the world as either paper makes in a year. Id has even been accused against ourselves that we sold our influence, though no paper in Auckland was bo loyal to the straight Liberal ticket as we were, even in the face of strong personal liking for some of the candidates that we opposed. But, though we have not ihe wealth of either daily paper, we claim to be actuated by quite as strong motives of conscience.

Our experience of candidates for Parliament is that so far from buying the support or influence of any paper, the majority of them are unable to pay even the modest accounts they incur for printing and advertising. Evidently, the experience of the daily papers is much the same as ours, for one, at least, of them would give no credit to the candidates at the recent election for their advertisements. A striking commentary this on the hundred and one stories in existence about candidates 'buying the support of the newspapers. Buy ? Why, the candidates find a great difficulty to pay their nay.