THE ALLEN PRESENTATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 4

THE ALLEN PRESENTATION.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir,— Unquestionably the "Star" has rendered a. public service by calling attention to th 0 malignant attempt to prejudce the Mayor in the eye s of the citizens over the Allen presentation proposal. What is the nature of his alleged offence? He has been attacked limply because he refused to be bullied b'v anonymous scribblers into a course of action which was repugnant to his bettsr judgment. go far as I am capable of grasping the position it is something akin to this: A duly constituted meeting appointed a committee to carry out a. specific work and so far the members have not framed a report, and because the Mayor refuses to play the Hun on the committee with whom he is associated writers of a certain iype commence to indulge in disparaging innuendoes. I am not interested in the presentation idea, but having had a fair amount of experience of committee work I think that the merest novice understands that it is no part of the- duty of an individual member of a committee to prematurely disclose the deliberations of the body with which he. is associated. Personally I am quite prepared to possess my soul in patience until the committee has arrived at definite conclusions, which no doubt will be given the fullest publicity. It is; often asked why influential citizens decline to undertake public positions of a responsible character, and the answer is to be found in their unwillingness to submit to the- coarse suggestions of narrow-minded men published under the guise of anonymity. Mr Holland's, occupancy of the Mayoral chair has redounded to the credit of those who placed him in that position, but I suppose there will always be a remnant of those who delight in, a pinpricking process. The Mayor may rest assured that he has the confidence of the body of the people of am, etc., _ A. jr. HASSALL. Christchureh, August 15.