TARIKI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144358, 24 March 1914, Page 4

TARIKI.

tao Mot r. own correspondent. March 23.—'The first painful sensation occasioned by tin sad fatality which occurred at the recent Horticultural Society Show lias to a certain extent passed, though tho memory of the bright young hie cot oil in our midst under such tragic circumstances is one that will linger lor many a long clay to come. In reading the full account of the inquest, whien appeared in your columns, one cannot help noting the charitable attitude of tho'e who snlfered most, viz., the parents of the deceased, towards the-show committee, and that the mother oven in her dire anguish could say-Unit ‘ she in no way held them responsible.' 1 There are some in this locality who would do well to emulate the example set by the greatest sufferer in this sad affair. Many hard and cruel things have been said about the committee who. to a man, had done their best in working for the horticultural show. It must bo remembered that none of the members of this committee are men of means and leisure who undertook the organising and preparing for the show for their own pleasure. Alost of them, before they turned out in the evenings to put in throe or four hours' work at the hall, had already had a full day of hard manual labour, and their only motive (one apparently incomprehensible to some) was to serve the public and further the interests of their township. The coroner, during the hearing of part of the evidence at ihe inquest, remarked sadly, “We are all very wise afterwards.’' Jt is not a difficult thing to become a member of the Horticultural Society’s committee; anyone willing to turn out, attend meetings, and workneed have little fear of not being elected. Some of the severest condemnations have emanated from those who, seldom or ever serving in any- public capacity, consequently stand no risks of criticism, and it might be asked of such who have proclaimed so vehemently what they thought ought to bo done to the T.H.S. committee, to reflect that had they only been members tho addition of their superior knowledge and wisdom might have averted tins sad disaster. Of the sincere and widespread sympathy for Air. and Airs. James in their great sorrow there is ample evidence, and in view of the evidence and vepdict at the coroner’s inquest, a small modicum might be extended to the show committee who have been, since the accident, subjected to much severe and. in some cases through ignorance of the real circumstances, unfair criticism.