OUR REARERS' OPINIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3945, 30 May 1913, Page 6

OUR REARERS' OPINIONS.

LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME.”

CTO THE EDITOR-1

Sir, —Mr. Ar J. Paterson, the late engineer to the borough, may well claim to have been sourvilv treated, and to exclaim, “Save me from my friends!” He has been juggled about at the whim of any passing would-be municipal politician here. Under this heading it is noticeable that a good many of that ilk have passed out evenduring his short term. Mr. Lysnar, as flavor, was primarily responsible for Mr Paterson’s appointment as engineer, and almost immediately became dissatisfied, and thereupon vainly endeavored to have his appointment revoked, the principal opponents to his motion being those who have now decorated Mr. Paterson with the order of the “shoot.”

Under tho eeeond regime (Mr. Pettie) lie received every consideration, and apparently, according to his detractors, committed the borough to heavy expenditure without adequate result. There may, of course, have been plenty of reasons why Mr. Paterson should not- have been able, like Tattersall’s Sweep, to pay out a largo cash prize immediately. Now he has struck the third Mayoralty, and. singularly enough, although the Mayor votskl in liis favor on the motion for his dismissal the other evening, he has been beaten. Who by ? Let us pause for a moment and consider matters. It will be easily remembered that Mr. Sheridan, a candidate for the last Mayoralty, was violently opposed to Mr. Lysnar’s policy of Borough works, and as his (Mr. * Sheridan’s) particular party seem red a, i majority in' the Municipal Council, they egged tho Engineer on to take every risk and secure the defeat of the definite. policy then embarked upon, and this, of course, during Mr. Lysnar’s temporary absenco in London to secure the necessary funds for these undertakings. The more mention .of the Gentle-Annie tramline makes “Everyone unhappy. That was, only an item, and there aro only.dwo.representatives. of the people who I can remembi|£,desisted this propoSaJj and that's Frank Harris’and'Mr. Hepburn. Mr. Harris unfortunately is not at present ia member of tho Council, but I notice that Mr Hepburn is' still uncompromising in his attitude towards that work. Noticeably Or. Collins and Mr Sheridan (who was at the period I speak of a member of the Council) hacked up tho engineer tooth and.nail. It is more than noticeable now that each of these gentlemen have different views of the engineer’s ability. It is all very well for Mr. Sheridan to blow tho trumpet for the defunct engineer now* that he and others Have lured him on to his political destruction. It is all very well, to remark casually, “Alas I Poor Yorick, I knew him well!”

Mr.. Paterson will not thank them. They have beaten him badly. Or. Collins is, I suppose, more to blame than “anybody, as he solemnly prom-' ised- to support the Mayor’s (Mr. Lvs- ' liar’s) policy, then voted against him on a motion to dispense with the Engineer's services, and finally came forward under various gyrmatic conditions to secure that gentleman’s dismissal. - * ' V. . •; Verily, Mr. Paterson must in the future remember + h-> remark of King David that all men are liars. - He , must he. wary of ids municipal sport-; sors. —I etc:,

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