GENERAL BOOTH'S RECEPTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6166, 21 April 1899, Page 4

GENERAL BOOTH'S RECEPTION.

THE MAYOR AND THE SALVATION ARMY. Tho following correspondence has passed between his Worship the Mayor and the officer in charge of. the local branch of the Salvation Army in regard to the arrangements for the reception of General Booth on bis recent visit Christohurch : — " City Council Offices, Chrisbchurch, April 11, 1899.— The Officer in Charge Salvation Army. — Sir, — His Worship the Mayor desires me to draw your attentior to a letter appearing in the 'Lytteltor Times ' of to-day over the signature of Mi Browne, Linwood, in which it is stated that Mr T. E. Taylor was requested by th« Army to receive General Booth on behal of the citizens of Christchurch, because the Mayor of Christchurchj-being a brewer was deemed unsuitable and out of place tc welcome- a man ot General Booth's opin ions. His Worship desires me to ask yov if this is a correct statement of facts, am if Mr Browne has your authority foi publishing the same. — I have, etc., F. T Haskins, Town Clerk." "The Salvation Army, 124 and 126 ; Lichfleld Street, Christchurch, April 11 1899.— The Town Clerk, Christchurch.Dear Sir,— ln reply to your letter of Apri 11, on the subject of a letter appearing ii the • Ly ttelton Times/ of yesterday's date over the signature of Mr Browne, Linwood; I have to Bay that Mr Browne hat no authority from us for publishing the letter in question, neither had we any knowledge of him doing so. — I have, etc.. Thomas Estill, Colonel." • "City Council Offices, Cbristchureh, April 12, 1839.— Colonel Thomas Estill, Snivation Army. — Sir, — I am directed by his Worship the Mayor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 11, and to thank you for the same, and to say that he is satisfied with the explanation as far as it relates to Mr Browne; but what be particularly wishes to ascertain is, is MiBrowne's statement in his letter to the paper correct, c That Mr T. E. Taylor was requested by the Army to welcome General Booth on behalf of the citizens of Chrisfcchproh because the Mayor 'of Christchurch, being a brewer, wa3 deemed unsuitable and out of place to welcome a man of General Booth's opinions ' ? — I have, etc., F. T. Haskins, Town Clerk." "The Salvation Army, 124 and 126, Lichfield Street, Christchurch, April 12, 1899.— The Town Clerk, Christchurch.— Dear Sir, — I received your further communication regarding Mr Browne's letter to the Press on the subject of General Booth's recent visit to this city. Ido not see the reason of our being asked to answer the question contained in .your letter. I have already stated we are notresponsible for Mr Browne's opinion, as expressed in his letter; and, further, I might state that Mr Browne is totally unknown to us, neither had we noticed hia letter until it was brought to our attention by yourself: Under the circumstances,, l do not see why we should be called upon I ;o express ourselves on tho point in question.— l am, etc, Thomas Estill, Colonol." "City. Council Office, Christchurch, April 12, 1899. Colonel T. Estill, Salvation, Army.— Sir,— l am directed to reply to you,r letter of April 12, and to say that his Worship does not ask you to express an opinion on Mr Browne or his letter > | but as tho statement in Mr Browne's j letter is a public matter, he only asks you j to say if 'Mr T. E. Taylor was requested j by the Army to welcome General Booth on behalE of the citizens of Christchurch, , because the Mayor o! Christchurch, being I a brewer, was deemed unsuitable and out of place to welcome a man of General Booth's opinions.' His Worship considers he is entitled to an answer of ' Yes ' or 'No' to so simple a question.— l have, etc., F. T. Haskins, Town Clerk." "The Salvation Army, 124 and 126, Lichfield Street, Christchurch, April 14, 1899. The Town Clerk, Christchurch.— Dea*r Sir,— l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 12, and to say that while Mr Browne's letter is a public matter in the sense that it appeared in the publrc Press, it is not, in my judgment, of public importance. If a similar statement had been made by one Of our people it would' have been very different. The question may be, as you say, a simple one, but If the principle involved -is allowed it may become a very I awkward one, as any irresponsible in- I dividual might force publio bodies,, or I private individuals for that matter, to , state what their reasons were for certain actions upon which they have made no public, statement. This is our position, and while we have every respect for his Worship the Mayor, yet we must decline to endorse or deny Mr Browne's statement, -r-I am, etc., Thomas Estill, Colonel." "City Council Office, Chriatchureb, April 15, 1899. Colonel V. Estill, Salvation Army. Sir, — I beg to acknowledge your letter of April 14. His Worship desires me to express his regrot that you should _ feel yourself obliged to evade answering a straightforward question. Your opinion that the matter is not of public importance may not be endorsed by the citizens of Christchurch when it is placed before them. With a public body like the Salvation Army, which adopts such a high moral standard,* and a part of whose mission it is to make the whole truth manifest, tbeie should be no difficulty or hesitation in acknowledging any line of action that it takes up, or of giving its reasons for j the same. His Worship desires me to ask yon again if the statements in Mr Browne's letter are correct, and if you still decline to * endorse or deny ' them, he -will assume that they are correct, and will place the matter before the public on that assumption. — I have, etc., F. 'J. Haskins, Town Clerk." "City Council Offices, Christchurch .April 19, 1899.— The Officer in Charge Salvation Army, Christchurch Branch. — Dear Sir, — r am requested by his Worship . to express regret that he is unable to obtain an answer to my last letter, and 1 your verbal excuse that Colonel Estill has ! gone to Australia, and will be away for a I month, he considers is a very poor one, as it is rather incredible that an important j branch of the Army likje Christchurch is to be left for a considerable time without an officer authorised to manage its affairs and answer Correspondence. He can therefore . only assume that the statement in Mr j Browne's letter is correct, and that the i Army • requested Mr T. E. Taylor to receive General Booth on behalf of the citizens of Christchnrch because the Mayor of Christchurch, being a brewer, was deemed unI suitable and out of place to welcome a ■ man of General Booth's opinions.' His | Worship desires me to point out to you that .• the citizens of Christchurch have a legal ! " privilege of electing, a chief magistrate, j Iv making their selection thty very properly do nqt take into consideration whether he is a brewer or a bootmaker, , but rather whether he is a fit and proper j person to represent them. His private avocation does not enter in the question, and when elected ho is entitled, by virtue of his high office, to the respect of all law , abiding citizens. Part of his duty is to ! receive distinguished visitors and welcome ! them to the city on behalf of the residents. , On the occasion of General Booth's visit the Army arrogated to it3elf the right to ignore the person elected by the citizQns,' and requested another person to assume the duties. In this his Worship thinks the Army has taken a most unwarrantable liberty with the citizens and their privileges, and one that ho thinks they will certainly resent. For himself personally he does not complain, as he places no value , on any opinion the Army may have as to himself or his avocations, but as chief magistrate of the city he feels that he cannot allow tho Army or any other recognised body tc- detract from the dignity, or encroach upon the privileges of the high position that he occupies without protest. As to tho difficulty he has experienced in extracting v straightforward answer from the\Army, he does not propose to express any opiuion, but prefers to leave the public form their own judgment. — I have, el;:}., F. T. llaskins, Town Clerk."