THE ONERAHI INCIDENT.

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1921, Page 4

THE ONERAHI INCIDENT.

The "storm in a teacup," to use Mr Ormipton's phrase, which recently disturbed the harmony of the Onerahi .Town Board's proceedings appears to have blown itself out completely. This is very gratifying, for no one dikes to think of the peace of the salubrious suburb being disturbed, or of its civic dignitaries being at loggerheads. For our own part we are very glad to know that the incident which gave rise to trouble is now practically o closed chapter, and Ibecause we have no desire to reopen it we have nnade the report of the last meeting of the Town Board as brief as possible. The only point that we desire to emphasise is that Mr Pagan's original report of the Board's action in relation to its by-laws has been fully justified. The Board itself has made it abundantly plain that what Mr Pagan reported was exactly what occurred, thus completely refuting the suggestion that the "Northern Advocate'' and its representative were not

to be relied on. One member of the Board at the meeting held this week had the temerity to make an attack upon "Northern Advocate" and its representative, on the ground that he is not a "shorthand man." of this kind is, of course, most readily inspired by- ignorance. Very many of the .men who have helped to make the reputation of the New Zealand Press what it is have not been shortJuand reporters, but everyone who is qualified to •express an opinion on this point knows that some of the best reporters who have ever held a pen have been longhand men, and they have not had to "pad" their reports, though they may have trusted to memory. If that was the case in connection with the compilation of the report which the Onerahi Town Board has now vindicated it is fortur.aie that the reporter's memory proved so much more trustworthy than did that of the member who has *o foolishly criticised him.