The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1908 “A PUBLIC SERVICE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2304, 24 September 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1908 “A PUBLIC SERVICE.”

The result of tire ‘‘Times” libel case has panned out just as everyone who knew anything of. the circumstances thought it would, and this paper has been fully vindicated in the position it took up from the commencement. The jury’s verdict is naturally most gratifying, and it is pleasing to hear from His Honor the Judge that wo have performed “a public service.” We claim no special credit in the matter. It is for the performance of public services that the press bases its light to exist. This, at any rate, is our conception of the correct attitude in journalism, and the attitude which will be invariably maintained in these columns. In drawing attention to the recent “lambing-down” case, wo merely carried out what., -appeared to be our duty to the public. In. doing so, wo werte quite prepared to face the hostility of Bui’ke in the matter, but, frankly, we were amazed to find ourselves assailed by the whole of the publican® of Gisborne, whom we naturally expected would have assisted’, rather than hindered, the full exposure of the delinquent. Their- threatening letters could only be taken as efforts to intimidate us in regard to what matters we should publish wher’o the liquor trade is concerned. It is just as well to state plainly that tho columns of this paper are entirely beyond the reach of influence of this sort, and that tho interests of the public will be safeguarded no matter how bitter the opposition of any special interests that may, be affected. It .is simply monstroifs to suggest that a reputable journal should refuse to publish .tho facts of such an incident as that related to'us by Mr. G. J. Black. To have sent our informant away with the statement that we would take no steps to assist- in redressing the victim, in punishing tho offender, and in preventing the recurrcuco of similar incidents in the future, would have been to acknowledge ourselves as unworthy to represent the public interests in this- town and district. Some comment lias been, made because we did not at the time publish the name of tho offending publican. We furnished quite (enough particulars to enable the publicans who considered they wore injured to take the necessary steps to clear themselves from any undeserved imputations, and tho logic of events has justified our actions in every particular. Coming to tlie case itself, there is no difficulty in accounting for the verdict of the jury. It was the old familiar story of the bushman with his cheque coming into town, leaving his money with a publican, engaging in a drunken spree,' and at the expiration of a certain period being told that all h.i6 money was gone and being packed off home. As His Honor informed the Court the term “lambing-down” is well understood. Tho case we exposed possessed all tho familiar features which, however, came out in somewhat bolder relief than usual. No one who saw the poor, hard-work-ing, ignorant laborer in tho box on Tuesday and listened to his tale could fail to he impressed by his absolute honesty, and also by tho ease with which ho would fall a prey to a designing and crafty publican. Of Burke’s part in the case we need say little. After the enstigation -administered by the Judge, tho rejection of his evidence by his own counsel, and the scathing declamation of Mr. Hutchison at the close of Ms address yesterday, the plaintiff in the recent case may safely bo left to his own miserable reflections. Whilst- on this matter it is gratifying to be able to make mention of the public-spirited attitude taken up by Air G. J. Black, of Kaiti, whoso willingness to supply information, and afterwards to stand by it is in marked contrast to the manifest reluctance of the average individual to put himself to any personal inconvenience, notyto say ex-

penso, when ho does not stund to icap eomo personal ml vantage thereby. Tho wholo case has been a particularly unsavory ono, but wo think the results will fully justify tho expense and trouble gono to in tho matter, for it is very certain that in tho future the unsuspecting bushman or fencer who comes from the country with his cliequo will have a much hotter chance of getting some legitimate and profitable return from it than 1m would have had before tho publication of our paragraph oil August 27th.