DIRECTOR AND BOARD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 139, 8 March 1929, Page 13

DIRECTOR AND BOARD

Sir, —Your correspondent, ‘W.A.T., is showing in his last effusion a chastened spirit, which may be in due course translated into the expression of abject sorrow, when he becomes the better acquainted with his duties as a citizen. He has himself to blame for being mistaken in his identity, as a minor official or teacher, seeking by his adulation the favour of his master. Certainly the carping and parading of his sense of schoolboy chivalry seems to have justified the conclusion that he was wanting in the robustness of steady independence which in the class he represents is becoming a rare quality. But, Sir, what after all is the grievance of “W.A.T.”? Why is it he seeks to put his protecting mantle over an official who is prevented from defending himself, but who yet expresses opinions which are carried far beyond the confines of a private gathering. Must these officials be permitted to go their way doing as they may please with the slack endorsement of their Ministerial head, and must there be no protest because it is unchivairous? “W.A.T.” seems hard put to justify himself in his. absurd querulousness. This kind of thing, too, is the beginning of a bureaucracy, and the sure commencement of disorder in government, and evidently the condition of things to satisfy the W.T.S.’s and what nots. This critic may find great satisfaction in crossing his t’s and dotting his i’s, but a wider experience of life than he enjoys, in his sheltered position, would have led to his understanding that the true temper of the people is to take no nonsense or impudence from anyone, even though amongst, them are quite distinguished officials. In a fairly wide experience of the duties of public life, discharged, let me admit with all the limitations W.A.T.’ finds the poor satisfaction of discovering, I may say that I have considered it my duty to point out some serious irregularities that might have been hushed up were “W.A.T.” the guardian of the public morals. —I am, etc., G. LONDON. Wellington, March 6.