THE INSULTED MUNICIPALITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 3

THE INSULTED MUNICIPALITIES.

Will the Hon. 11. McKenzie have tbe grace to apologise lor the insult which he ottered to AVellington’s Aetill -Mayor ? (asks the Wellington “Post”). The Oily Council very forcibly, \ cry tersely, decided last night to remind the Government that a Minister of the/Crown had grossly offended against the canons of public and private de'cetjoy by the affront which he put upon Cr. Smith, and through him upon the City of Wellington and the municipalities of the whole country. We are glad that the Council so vigorously vindicated the Acting-Mayor. The terms of the protect are so strong that they cannot \yel! he ignored by the Government, however much it may be in awe of Mr MeKLnzie. In again commenting on that; very unpleasant incident for which itho Minister was responsible, we must again refer to the ignoble part phiyecl by two of the Christchurch delegates, Messrs Heaven and Booth. 1 Hero is an extraordinary statement telegraphed from Christchurch : “Mr Heaven said that the character bof the discussion with the Minister was a very regrettable one, hut there was no doubt that the situation hnd' been saved by Mr Booth’s taotfdi and conciliatory action. If if/had not been for that there would ] certainly have been a very awkward deadlock.” According to this peculiar report it was amiable Mr Booth’s part to placate not Cr Smith, but 1 ; Mi - McKenzie. Blessed was the peacemaker, surely! By the terms of My ißeaven’s Gilbeftian ut-, j teranee Now Zealand owes a vote of thanks to Mr-Booth for soothing the angry Motuekan after the browbeating and blustdring autocrat had threatened ito eject Wellington’s Act-ing-Mayor from the room. It was unfortunate for 'Christchurch that the city was represented by a man who had so little concern for the flagrant insult hurled ati the head of a municipality and! so much motherly anxiety to conciliate the overbearing Mr McKenzie. We .are confident that the Christchurch City Council will see good ground to rebuke Mr Booth for the injury which he has added to the insult suffered by Cr Smith at tiie unruly tongue’ of a Minister of the Crown.