THE BALLANCEMEMORIAM THE CANVASS OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AN EXPLANATION.

Evening Post, Volume XLV, Issue 132, 7 June 1893, Page 4

THE BALLANCEMEMORIAM THE CANVASS OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AN EXPLANATION.

A meeting of the Ballaneo Memorial Committee was held in the Trades Hall ltis evening, Mr. D. P. Fisher (Chairman) presiding. The Chairman said the Committee would remember that at the meeting on the Kit! May a resolution was adopted, on the motioi of the Mayor, that printed circulars should be sent to the members of the Civi Service. On the 22nd the circulars wen issued, and about 1000 Civil Servants wen approached in this way. On the 31st Maj imember of the Civil Service waited npo> the Secretary and himself and banded ovei 15s, and in doing so mado the remark that the prevailing opinion in the Servico was that one of the coinmittoc, not a paid can vasser, should go over and canvass the building. He was told of tho Mayor's motion. wbioh,it was explained, had been passed because it was felt that the Service objected to being canvassed. The Civil Servant replied that that was all nonsenso, and expressed the opinion that tbo Servico was waiting tt \>3 canvassed. He (the Chairman) thereupon dismissed the matter with the Secretary, and tao latter was instructed to make a canvas ■ next day. The next morning he received a letter from the Mayor protesting against the Secretary's action, and htating that he (rhe Mayor) had written to the Colonial Sec retary asking him to provont Mr. Jonei giing through the building. He answered tho iiayor's letter, stating that a. Civil Servant was the cause of the Secretary's action To this the Mayor replied that he wasunablo 131 3 agree that be (Mr. Fisher) could authorise the coarse he had indicated, in view of the f .vet that he had previously suggested the samo conrse to the committee, that he (the Mayoi) had opposed it, and had moved iui ameiidment, which -was adopted by the committee. The Chairman went on to say that he and the Secretary had agreed— (l) that the Mayor's motion had had a fair trial, aii'l" had proved unsuccessful ; (2) that the main object was to raise funds, and not to stand on ceremony ; (3) that the Ist of the month was the best time to approach Civil Servants and it was therefore inadvisable to wait for authority from another meeting ; (4) that upon enquiry it was learned that canvassinir for subscriptions for the Ballanoe Memorial would not bo viewed as infringing the Ch il Service regulations ; and (S) that the Secretary was a member of the Government Service. The Chairman maintained that he had certain discretionary power, and complained that a private member of the committee had taken away his power and exercised it himself. The Mayor said he wished to assure the Chairman that he had not intended to do him any injustice, and be was glad to find that there was no real difference between them, except on one point, it was qnito impossible for him (the Mayor) to occupy a position on the committee it a motion passed by the committee was to be over-ridden by the Chairman or the Secretary. He admitted that the Chairman should have a wide discretion, and he (the Mayor) would be the first to support that gantloman to a. certain extent, but when the Chairman assumed the power to act contrary to a resolution of the committee, he felt that ho must object. Such a oourse was not right. What was the nse of him (the Mayor) being there if his resolntion was to be overridden by an; single member of the Committee ? Ho was chairman of tho pnblio meeting, and was appointed to act on the Committee. In that capacity he bad moved the motion, and hemaintained that he had been quite justified in taking his subsequent action. With nl! dne respect, he maintained that the Chairroan had no right to challenge his authority "When tho Chairman notified that he proposed to have a canvass made of the Government Buildings, i: was his (tho Mayor's) duty to move in tho matter. Hi Had Dot the slightest desire to create nn.\ personal difference with the Chairman, but he must point out that the ratification o that gentleman's action meaut his (the Mayor's) expulsion from the Committee. Mr. A. Collins thought that the matter should be allowed to drop. Mr. J. ODea said he was sni prised when he read in the papers that it was proposed to canvass the Government offices, becanse he had thought, in fact, that the Mayor had even gone too far in getting the committee tt agree that a circular should be issued. lie agreed with the lost speaker that the matter should be allowed to drop. The Hon. J. Rigg t' ought the Chairman had done right in directing that the Govern ment Buildings should be canvassed. If the Mayor had had time to approach the Chairman, his Worship had dono wrong in writing f o the Colonial Secretary. If there had been time the Mayor had acted contrary to the nsual practice, as he ought not to have over-ridden the action of tbe Chairman. The lion, gentleman explained that ho had no personal foeling in the matter. Mr. Vaney supported the view taken by the Mayor, but agreed that the Chairman had acted in what he had considered 10 be the best interests of the committee. The subject then dropped. A letter was read from Messrs. M. J. M'Conghtry and W. A. Houusell tendering their resignations as canvassers. The resignations were accepted. The Premier, wrote regretting hib inability to attend the meeting. A letter was read from the Ballance Memorial Committee, Pahiatna, asking 1, when it was proposed to call in tho subscription lists ; 2, what form the memorial was to take; 3, what expenses were likely to bo inenrred in working the movement in Wellington. The writors believed a considerable amount would be collected in their district Mr. A. Collins moved that the information be supplied by the Secretary. Seconded by Mr. D. Darke and agreed to. Accounts amounting to £4 12s were presented. The amounts due to the canvassers (£1 15s) were passed, and an account for advertising was referred to the Finance Committee. The Secretary explained that the canvasser for the Karori district had reported that he had lost his list, which contained several names. Mr. A. Collins moved that the list shonld be advertised for. Tho motion was seconded by Mr. D. Darke, and A letter was read from Mr. C. D. Kivard. Dunedin, suggesting that an account in connection with the memorial movement should be opened in each large centre. He asked to whom subscriptions were payable in Danedin. On the motion of Mr. D. Darke, seconded by Mr. J. O'Den, it was resolved to inform- tho writer that subscriptions could be paid either to the Dunedin City Council or the Dunedin Trades Council. Mr. Mowbray, Headmaster of tho Thorndon School, wrote that ho had submitted the circnlar from the Ballance Memorial Committee to his committee, as he conld not proceed without tho latter' s sanotion. "A letter was read from the Carpenters' Sooiety, stating that it would do all it could to further tbe movement, but would retain its money until it had been decided what form the memorial was to take. The Hon J. Bigg said it appeared that the Society was under a misapprehension. If the Society wag going to withhold its subscription for a time the money would be of no use. He moved that a letter be written to the Society (riving it all the information in its possession. Mr. A. Collins seconded the motion, which was agreed to. This was all the business.