Wednesday's Patriotic Demonstration.

Feilding Star, Volume XXI, Issue 204, 2 March 1900, Page 2

Wednesday's Patriotic Demonstration.

DISCUSSION IN THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. THE " FEILDING STAR " CENSURED. Before commencing the ordinary business at the mooting o: ! tho FeildBorough Couueil last nvening the Mayor, Mr E Goodbt»hf<re, said he wished to bring before the Councillors' notice a matter in connnoi.ion with the patriotic demonstration the previous evening, A very strong article appearod in the paper which seemed to call for some explanation as it made out that the Council was to blame. He then read from the Fkildixg Star an article, which appeared in last night's issue, u?ider the heading of "An omission, " aa follows : — " There was a very considerable amount of adverse comnnmt made in the crowd last night, who assisted at the Patriotic Demonstration, at the utter absence of any of oui public men. There were no patriotic speeches whatever. Who is to bl: me it is not for us to say, or even to imply, lut the omission whether it was intended or merely accidental, was not very creditable, and we hope fjr the benefit of all whom it may concern that some explanation, satisfactory 1:0 the public, will be given this ev< ning at the meeting of the Borough Council." Mr Carr : "Is that a local ?" The Mayor : "No ; it is a leading article ; in the most prominent position." The Mayor said ;hat on hearing on the previous morning of the success of the Bntioh forces in South Africa he felt very gratified. They were all rejoicing at the news of the capture of tho Boers Home of the citizens interviewed him and suggested that the volunteers ami hind be asked to parade the town in :he evening. He saw Captain Barlttoj) who undertook to have a parade ul the volunteers and he then saw Cr. W. G. Haybittle, who agreed t:> see Cr. R. F. Haybittle, as ban master, and ask the latter to get the band to assist. This wa3 arranged and hu went borne, and being unwell he di 1 not return until three oclock. A volunteer then went to him to got an advertisement put in the paper and asijed that his I the Mayor'sj name be j laced at tho bottom, As the war was not over ho did not quite like the idea of a formal demonstration at present as it might be considered premature, and ho pointed this out to the volunteer, Mr Kishor, who then oaid thiit unless this advertisement was put 111 tho volunteers would not turn out. He then consented to sign the advertiament, it being distinctly understood that owing to hie heakh he could not attend. Tho advertisement said that it waa to bo a parado to celebrate thy surrender of General Cronjo and did not cay that there was to be any speech making The parade was kindly undertaken by the Volunteers, Bands and Fire Brigade and thauks were due to them for turning out It was within the power of those patriotic enough to turn out and make a speech if they desired to He considered the article referred to a slur on tho Council and that it was uncalled for. (' Hear, hear,' from two or three councillors.) It said " the public men " and that meant the Borough Council. If each, councillor had got in the rotunda and made a speech it would aot have had any effect on those people who were patriotic. That, at least, was his opinion. In Wanganui there had been a great demonstration, but there was no speech making, yot there were no mure patriotic parsons than the Mayor and Councillors of that town. Cr .tuuell was present at the function Mul lizard a lot about the public raeu bring absent, but those present did nut know why tho Mayor was not there Had the Mayor been able to attend he was surf that a 1 would have been well. They were witaout a leader and that was the cause of the dissatisfaction. Under the circumstances they could almost excuse the newspaper as it was naturally assumed that there would be some speeches. He did- not think anyone would now oast a reflection on the Mayr. Mr Carr : " The .tar was not justified iv publishing it whether the Mayoi 1 was ill or well." Cr J. C Thompson said there should be no room for grumbling after hearing what the Mayor had said to Mr Fisher. Cr Dickson did not think it right to dictate to the Star as to what it should or should not put in. (Cr Carr : " Question. ") He deprecated censuring a pubfi» journal for Toicing the opinion of the public. (Cr Carr : " Doubtful, very doubtful. ") It is not for us to attack them. (Cr. Carr : " They attacked us.") Tho position of the Mayor, after having heard his explanation, was right. . He (Cr Dickson) had been accused by individuals of being a pro- Boer, an accusation which he strongly resented, but they must not interfere with the Stak regarding what it publishes. The Mayor : "Of course they Lava attacked you as well as the rest of us," When a public meeting was called to show their sympathy with I;he cause of the Empire, and asking tbe people to assist, " What did we get," asked tho Mayor. There were only half -a -dozen who attended. The very persons who complained at the councillors tor not making speeches the previDus evening kept their hands in their pockets and would not subscribe. Referring to tho paragraph iv question, he S£.id it was c, most disgraceful thing altogether. Cr IJ. F. lluyhittlo said it was noil generally known that there- was to btf lo speeches and that no arrangements whatever had been made for t;hem. And 0 ne asked, why should tho Borough Councillors make speeches ? There were other persons iv the towu who could speak if they chose- He thought the demonstration was quite suitable to the occasion. Cr W. G. Haybittle objected to their being attacked by the Feilding Stak, or any other paper, for not currying out what was said to be his duties as a 3cuncillor. He gave a great deal of time for the public benefit, and only had 1 few evenings at home. He did not jeo tbe advertisement inviting the public to join in the demonstration, and did aot leave home that evening. It would je better if nowspapors woulu give tberu ir tides for the benefit of tliij town, instead of trying to belittle their actions, mii he strongly protested against what lad been done. Those who represented be Borough spent a great deal of time or the public good. He did not think t part of his duty to hava made a ipeech on the occasion referred to. It vould be better in future if uowsn/ipers —including the Stak — were a ittle more ordial towards tbe Council. They hould, he said, work with councillors Qstead of attacking them in ;his mean launer. Cr W. G. Haybittle then pro*

posed, " That tho article apf- ariuy in this evening's Star censuring tiie raombers of tbo Council for not takiug part in the demonstration, lt\«t evemug, wan unmerited and uncalled IV.r." Cr G. W. Fowles, iv seconding tho potion, said lie did not care what tho Star said about him. Cr Hagtjitt supported the motion. Ho was present at the demonstration, but did not attend as a councillor, and bo did not see the demand for speeches. Cr P. Thomson said that any public man bad a ri^ht to be criticised. When a man took up a public position be wan there to be kicked. However, he would admit that it was bad taste of the " Star " to have published the paragraph. „..., Cr Carr : "We will see which is the strongest." The Mayor said he did not object to criticism, but it must be fair He did not think this was. Cr Dickson : " The p*per maKes no charge; it does not accuse us of auythiug" . „ Ihe Mayor : "It does ; it frays there were no councillors present. " The motion was carried on the voices without dissent.