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Evening Star, Issue 12684, 10 June 1907, Page 4

It is not surprising to hear that the people of Christehurch are disposed to rcs:mt tho attitude adopted by tho Government towards the request for tho handing over of tho Exhibition organ to the city authorities. "The delayed decision of the " Cabinet is causing intense dissatisfaction "in tho city," siys Mr C. M. Gray, M.H.R., and though we do not for a moment belksvo that tho Government will eventually disown tho lato Mr Scddon's pledge, unequivocally given at tho time of tho opening of the Exhibition, wo cannot conceive what object they expect to servo by the churlish reluctance they are displaying. Surely Sir Joseph Ward's presence is not necessary for tho settlement of this comparatively trivial matter. If it bo suggested, on tho other hand, that thcro is no need for hurry, the answer is to bo found in tho remonstrance jirst addressed by Mr Gray to tho Minister of Education. Tho Exhibition. Buildings are being rapidly demolished, and in a short time the Concert Hall will have to bo taken down, leaving the question of tho organ an unsolved problem. Tho organ itseH is liable to deteriorate in its present posit'on owing to rlie temporary nature of the building in which it is housed, added to which sufficient time will have to be provided for the removal of tho organ to Us now local habitation. Mr Gray rightly opines that tho Cabinet can hardly bo still in doubt regarding the validity of Mr Scddon's engagement, that point liaving been conclusively established by the deputation who waited upon Mr Fowlds some weeks ago. "Consequently " tho Chrietehurch citizens aro unable to "understand why tho Government should "so long delay in gracefully giving effect "to tho lato Premier's promise." Gracefulness is out of the question now, but this deficiency will be overlooked if tho Government do their duty in tho matter without further belatedness. Of courso, the people of Dunedin are not immediately concerned, but they would bo very much annoyed, if tliey were treated in similar fashion, and wo think it only right to fortify the representations of tho Christchurch complainants.

The Exhibition Organ.