The Press. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1906. A "LAME AND IMPOTENT CONCLUSION."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12647, 10 November 1906, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1906. A "LAME AND IMPOTENT CONCLUSION."

Wo confess to feeling fairly astounded at the decision which has been como to by the Government in regard to the control of the International Exhibition. For some time the suspicion has been gaining ground that we have now a weak Government in power with a weak head, and their action in regard to the Exhibition will convert the suspicion into positive certainty on the part of at least 99 per cent, of those who have any knowledge of the facts of the case. The conduct of the Premier throughout this crisis has been characterised by extraordinary weakness and vacillation. It is about twelve days sinc.o a maioritv of the Commissioners decided that Mr Munro was an impossible person, and they could not work with him any longer. This majority comprised the two Christchureh gentlemen who were especially asked to take office in order to smooth over a previous crisis, and the South Australian Commissioner who viewed the position as a stranger without any local prejudices. The public naturally thought that in view of the previous difficulty, the Government would no longer hesitate in removing from the post of executive head of the Exhibition an official to whom already great consideration had been shown, and who had proved himself unfitted for the position into which he had been pitchforked without due consideration in the first instance. It. is due to Mr Munro himself to say that ho was not in the least degree daunted. It is indeed ojie of the most surprising features of this gentleman's behaviour that he has throughout been as defiant to his superiors as he has been offensive and overbearing to those whom ho has been pleased to consider his inferiors. Ho has deliberately taken up the stand that his is "a "strong and autocratic position," which enables him to override his fellow Commissioners and any other persons with whom ho is brought into official relations. When Mr Booth, one of the Christchureh Commissioners, received a te] gram from the Premier stating that ho (Mr Booth) had eqn<al power wkh Mr Munro, tHo latter Rp-ntleman bluntly ilecl-iirod that the Prime Minister could not properly understand the petition or ho would not liave sent such a tolngram. On tho day when his brother Commissioners passed their vote of want of confidence", Mr Munro told a reporter of tho "New Zealand Times," for publication, that tho opposition to him arose solely because "ho played a strong part and did not "pander to local people who looked " for plunder." To one of our own reporters, who asked him if it was true ho was going to resign, he mid with <a breezy cheorfninths which we cannot but admire— '"If I go down. " I shall go down with flvinc colours. " kicking like a pantomime nmlc." It Ls only right to cay that this airy confidence «o nently and elegantly expressed, It:ts been amply justified by the. event. Whether it is tliat the Mini-try «co in Mr Munro some hidden virtues whiieh tho Christ church people have not been able to discover, or whether they fenr tho mulish acrobatfes of which lie gave them timely warning, we. cannot. Certain it is th.it tho Ministry have decried to stand by Mr Munro, regardless of the feelings and the wishes of the volunteer workers who have laboured fo cheerfully and assiduously to render tho Exhibition a success. Tho deta'ls of tho decision come to by Cabinet will be found in another column. The solo clyinpro effected is that Mr Munro, inof Chairman of Executive Commif.sioncTTß, is in future to f>e styWl •' General Manaircr." A rose by any otl'-.-r name> would smell as sweet, an! Mr Munro as Gen'Tal Manager will ermtinuo to emlcnr himself no more am! no lees with the public with whom lto is brought in contact than Mr Munro. Chnirmon of Executive Comrni-: ioners. But it is said tlia-t in f:itun> the Exhibition is to be put uii'lvr the direct control of a Minister of the Crown. We woto under the imp:«-ss'on—a little shaken, we couby tho Munro obu'litions of defiance—that tho Exhib'tion has filwnys bet'-n under direct Ministerial control— indeed, since the new Ministry was formed under the control of Sir Joaenh Ward himself. In future, however it appears Min'sterrs are to take this unpleasant job in turns, and the mem--1»t of the Cabinet who lias it in hand i=» to reside for tho timo being in Christohurch. For the first fortnight the. Hon. A. Pitt is to be the Minister in chnree. To suppose that this amiabJe member of the Cabinet. especially at a time when he unfortunately happens to l>o in had lwvilth, can check tho exubern.Tjrea of Mr Munro, when £ir Joseph Ward hue failed in the task, seome to us supremely -ridiculous. Wo do runt know whether ca/oh Min'inter is to take fortnightly epe-lln at the work; if co, it only a4-ls to the of the whole arrangement to suppose tiiat in

tiiis way each will bo able to master the details of the Exhibition, to keep "au fait." with its rursnang, niwl to restrain Mr Mu'iiro from horwlee*»ly offending all and sundry with whom he is brought in contact. Apparently the Government do not recoeniso the chief defect which renders a change m tho control of tho Exhibition advisable. As M. JourdaJn talked proee all his life without knowing it., so Mr Miuiro soems to exude rudonesfi without being aware of tho fact. That tic Exhibition has been brought so faith rough its trouble* is mainly duo to the army of enthusiastic local workers, who. with the most patriotic eaorifioe. not only of time and energy and personal feeling. oonsentied to work for the good of the undertaking. To a large extent theLr efforts had to bo directed to counteracting aaid smoothing over the effects of Mr Munro'e tactlcN-JKt*; and want of judgment. Their reward w now apparent. They are to be quietly put on one side, a.nd Mr Munro is to be given, a free kind. The E'lrtertain'mcinte Committee ajre politely told that they need not disband, but there will be no nvoro work for them to do. Tlio Honorary Conimifi ioripw will bo allowed to remain on tho I'Kt. I>ut co far as wo ca.n see *hey, too, are to be deprived of all effective power and iiiifluonro. The. nun who vndllatoe ji.rwl fears to ma]& up his mind on a difficult question, is euro to take the worst pocfiible course in the end. . c o it has proved in this instance. Sir Joseph Ward, in our jmlgnient, in raieing Mr Mvuiro to a position of more unfettered power, and .practically depoeixijg tho Commission* , m, has affro«vt«l thorn, affronte<l the committees, and affronted the people ot Christchureh. It may not wreck the Exhibition- but we ehould not be eairprised if this amazimz disniav nf weakness should no some w.tv towards wrecking the Ministry.