Some Kingfield residents have questioned the motives behind Poland Spring Bottling Company’s surprise donation of $10,000 to town government, even as it tries to win state and local approval for a bottling plant.

As one resident said, “A bribe is a bribe is a bribe.”

Well, not really.

The money was given and taken openly. It fits the company’s general pattern of donating to local causes large and small. And, most telling of all, the company needs no approval from the selectmen to build its plant.

Was the gift meant to generate goodwill? We don’t doubt that at all.

We can only wish more private firms felt so obliged.