A REGRETTABLE INCIDENT.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

A REGRETTABLE INCIDENT.

(From "The.Colonist," March 17.) The lack of space at our disposal in this morning's issue, and the late hour at which the meeting addressed by the Prime Minister at the Theatre Royal last night concluded make it impossible for us to refer at any length at present to the topics Mr. Massey discussed. His speech differed in few particulars from the addresses he delivered during the earlier portion of the platform campaign upon which he is now engaged. We are pleased to see Mr. Massey in Nelson in the office to which he has been called since he was last among us, and to hear from him an exposition of the policy of the party of whicli he is the head. We shall take an early opportunity of discussing the subjects dealt with by Mr. Massey last night. We cannot, however, refrain from comment upon the regrettable incident which marked the close of the meeting, and to disclaim on behalf of the people of Nelson any sympathy with what may bo considered a "gross discourtesy to a distinguished visiter to the city. We share the regret no doubt felt by the vast majority of those present at tho meeting, for the developments which the igood taste and tact of ail concerned should have prevented, but which as it was, caused the meeting to end in confusion and uproar. Mr. Atmore was probably within what ho would consider his "rights" in moving an amendment to a motion of thanks to the Prime Minister and expressing confidence in his Government, and we do not dispute the ruling of the chairman that he was entitled to speak to his amendment. But we are not concerned .with the technicalities which apparently obsessed the chairman, and which would be all very well at an ordinary political meeting. It was a meeting called to hear an address by the Prime Minister, and apart from whatever may be due to the office Mr. Massey holds, Mr. Atmore was not present as an ordinary elector. He was present in his capacity of member for the district, and he occupied a seat on tho platform by the invitation—a courtosy to his own official position—of those responsible for the holding of ihe meeting. It seems to i.s, therefore, that in endeavouring to take charge of the meeting and deliver a political address on his own account, Mr. Atmore forgot what was due from him on such an occasion, and lamentably overstepped the bounds of good taste. Mr. Atmore was amply entitled to explain away the idea created by an inaccurate report of one of his speeches in Hawke's Bay, to which the Prime Minister had alluded, but- that was a matter which a very brief private colloquy with Mr. Massey would hare set right. If Mr. Atmore wished to reply to the address of the Prime Minister, his obvious course was to convene a meeting for the purpose. His own sense of the fitness of things and the standard of conduct his supporters are entitled to expect from him, should have restrained him from a» proceeding which we are sure will be very widely dei plored. j