THE EXHIBITION DIFFICULTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13675, 18 August 1906, Page 9

THE EXHIBITION DIFFICULTY.

It is to bo hoped that the Premier's decision in tho important matter discussed on Wednesday between himself and the Executive Committee of tho International Exhibition will lower the curtain on a disquieting incident and therewith on all proceedings of an inharmonious nature connected with the management of an undertaking in which the colony is deeply interested. Sir Joseph Ward has probably made the best of a rather unpromising situation. He was not disposed apparently to accept as gospel all that has been said of friction ■ among those upon whose concerted efforts tho success of tho (Inhibition very largely depends, but he was not on that account necessarily underrating the awkwardness of the situation. The Government, however, having appointed an officer as its representative, could hardly with propriety make an investigation or remove him front that- position merely because of the expression of somewhat • frequent but vague complaints. None tho less it is not necessary to take very seriously Sir Joseph Ward's remark that the officer iu question was to a very large extent a buffer between the Government and the Exhibition, and that the Government never for a moment imagined the pnssibilily of ii:?y nliicer being in that position who would not. meet with a certain amount of rriticisr.i no matter how well lie might have discharged his duties. On that line of reasoning it would not require a very wide stretch of imagination to place Mr Munro on the footine;

of a martyr to dtitj, vehemently criticised, a target for uncharitable remarks, I but sturdily enduring such things for the sake, of the Government in his capaeily us buffer. That cannot he ; accepted as Mr Mimro's attitude, for as a matter of fact everything indicates that thn present difficulty would not have been heard of had he shown, among his qualifications for the important position he holds, the ability to exercise a little tact. His attitude, whatever it ha< been exactly, has evidently made him unpopular, and has, in view of the fact that the two Commissioners admittedly did hot get on well together, probably been mainly responsible for the loss to the Inhibition of Mr Robert Allan's valuable services. It had been suggested that Mr .Uunro should be relieved of his commission. The Premier has disposed of any idea of that kind, and has, we think, acted wisely in his decision, blameable though Mr Mnnro has apparently been for much of the friction that has existed. It is satisfactory to find, however, that Sir Joseph Ward has realised the necessity for putting matters on a better basis, and has arranged for die appointment of additional' executive Commissioners—Mr W. lteece and M> G. T. Month, who are probably as admirable a selection as he could liavo made had he searched all Canterbury for two new Commissioners who should exercise executive powers, while Sir John Hull will continue to act as an executive Commissioner, We (rust with the Premier that this, with the active, co-operation of the members of the various committees with the Commissioners, will ensure- the safe continuity of the whole undertaking. In the nipantime.it is to be hoped that the gentleman around whom the dissension has mainly centred will take the lesson of recent happenings to heart. The members of tho Executive Commission should find a good deal of satisfaction in the Premier's assurance that "the majority of the Commissioners must rule," for in that the crux of the position is probably involved. That the Premier's hope that with tho ; clearing of the air all will work together in the interests of tho Exhibition will be realised we have little doubt. This: will certainty be the caw if the com-1 niittees have no longer, as it was stated they had previously, "to put up with a great deal for the good of the objeot they had in view." It is gratifying to learn that the Premier, who has had opportunities for making a valuable companion, is of opinion that the New Zealand International Exhibition is likely to do the colony so much credit.