PUBLIC OPINION IN DUNEDIN MISREPRESENTED.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 505, 26 February 1879, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION IN DUNEDIN MISREPRESENTED.

(From t/ie " Evening Age")

r. We reiterate with confidence what we vsaid at the commencement of this article, that out* contemporaries do not represent

public opinion. If wealth is influence, we are bound to acknowledge that the '"Daily Times " in its fearfully moderate — not to say Conservative —policy, represents an influential minority. But this is *i siniply a minority, and, we believe, compared i with the voting strength of the community, a small one. Tt is not to bG

despised, because it has the sinews of war

at its command, and recent elections in „ this, neighbourhood show that the sinews t ,of ,war can do a great deal. The hesitating, shuffling policy of the "Herald" * 'betrays its weakness. It avoids political , .questions as much as possible, because it is well aware that its views are merely , .the- views of a clique, and not of the

■ people. As for the "Star," its flag has •'.long been one of defiance, and it has grown "• ragged in a rotton cause. Our manly,

outspoken friend the "Saturday Advert iser" stands with ourselves alone in the

representation of public opinion. This is .- self-laudation. If the ballot-box were

called to decide upon the question to.morrow, Dunedin would be found behind no other centre in the Colony, in according a loyal support to the liberal programme of .the Ministry.. A great deal has been made for the recent demonstration to the late Governor. Well, so far as spectacular

effect is concerned it could not fail to be

a success. Electric lights and gas jets, . guns, brass trumpets, Volunteer uniform, holiday making school children, and fireworks combined to make a great display, and the mothers and fathers went to see the ■ exhibition. But anything more

beggarly than the undress levee it would be hard to imagine. We ask those of our -readers who have scanned the list of names — not by any means a long one — whether it adequately represented the influence, and dignity, and manhood of -the city. But our three daily contemporaries are jubilant over the success of %their% their cheap show. We venture to say ; that the hanging in public of the poor 'Wr.etch who was executed on the very day of ihis demonstration would have drawn together a much larger assemblage than that • which went to see his Excellency away from Dunedin. We ask our con--temporaries to contrast this puny street theatrical display, with the thoughtful intelligent assemblage that not so long since ; met the Premier in the Princess Theatre, and made its walls ring with their hearty approbation, as he unfolded his own views and the Ministerial policy ; or the crowd of industrious citizens, who still more recently packed the Queen's Theatre, and unanimously endorsed the policy proclaimed by the AttorneyGeneral. Is the unmeaning clamour of a mob to be accepted before the verdict of an assemblage of thoughtful electors? We contend that in endeavouring to make a handle of this demonstration, for the purpose of abusing and coercing the Ministry, the Press of this city has grossly abused its trust, and that it is simply holding up a false flag to the rest of the Colony.