THE "URBANE CHAIRMAN."

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 February 1902, Page 2

THE "URBANE CHAIRMAN."

Tub "Herald," as might have been expected, attempted to justify "the urbane Chairman" of the River Trust in blocking the report which Messrs Bassett, Cuningham, and Williams sought to present concerning their visit of inspection to the Tangarakau. It would, perhaps, have been better for its friends if the "Herald" had left it alone. The best it could do was to re-echo the lame excuse that the three members had not been "authorised" to report, and that in consequence their report was "not in order." Our contemporary Quite forgot to explain how it was that the Chairman sanctioned the payment of expenses to members who were not authorised to incur them. That excuse, as we previously pointed out, will not. hold water, and in that respect it somewhat resembles the troublesome little tributary. However, the most amusing part of our contemporary's attempted justification had no direct, and veiy little indirect, bearing upon the subject at i«sue. With that nice regard for decency and srood taste which so often characterises its method of arguments, the "Herald" saw fit to suggest that the joint report which Messrs Bassett, Williams, and Cuninirlnun desired to present was biassed because of the defeat which Mr Bassett sustained at the hands of Mr Ha.trtck at the last. Mayoral election. The burgesses of Wanqranui know Mr Bassett too well to entertain the suggestion for a moment, but they will nevertheless bo inclined to ask what Mr Hatrick has (rot to do with Mr Oummins' ruling as Chairman of the River Trust? Had we made the suggestion it might have been said that we did not understand the position ; bufc, coining as it does from our contemporary, we are prepared to admit that on this occasion it is probably "in the know." All we can say is that if there is anything in tho ''Hemld's" suggestion, then we do not envy Mr Cummins his position. Having on the one hand subordinated Mr Cummins to Mr Hatrick, it was nob surprising to find that on the other hand the "Herald" completely ignored Messrs Cuningham and Williams. They apparently count for nothing. It was Mr Bassett who fought Mr Bassett for the Mayoralty, and it was Mr Bassett who, so it is meanly suggested, drafted an adverse report on the Tangarakau in order to spits his successful opponent. The nonsense about Mr Williams having been "lured by his coadjutors into a. very uncongenial position" is altogether too funny in view of the fact that it. was Mr Williams who gave notice to move at tho next meeting that no •more money be expended on the Tanga.rakau. We feel sure that Mr Cummins will acree with us that one at least of the statements made by his journalistic friend would have been much better left unsaid. Here it is: —

"They (Messrs Bassett, Cuningham, and Williams) went entirely 'on their own,' refusing to travel in the same steamer with the Board's Chairman to Pipiriki, and only doing so beyond that point because they found it impossible to do so without patronising the Ohura."

What is the meaning of this? What is it intended to suggest? Why, that Mr Bassett was so narrow-minded and so full of paltry spite by raisou of his Mayoral defeat nearly twelve months ago that he would nob travel in one of Mr Hatrick's steamers. It does not seem to have occurred to our contemporary that, even on its face and withoub any other explanation, the statement puts Mr Cummins somewhat in the position of the intelligent juryman who dubbed his eleven companions a set of pigheaded idiots because they would not agree with him. If three members of a, deputation preferred to travel in one steamer and one member had a preference for another steamer, it was, we should think, the place of the one to give way to the three. Unfortunately for the "Herald" and Mr Cummins there is, however, another explanation of the why and wherefore of the divided party, and that is just why we think that the "urbane Chairman"' will feel inclined to kick someone for having drawn attention to the matter.. The facts are, we believe, that on the morning fixed for the commencement of the trip Mr and Mr Bassett met in tlie vicinity of the river wharves before the other members of the party put in an appearance. Some conversation ensued as to which boat they would travel by, Mr Cummins of course preferring Mr Hatrick's boat, and Mr Bassett expressing a wish to go by the Aotea. Now it was^that the straight-laced and narrow-minded Mr'Bassett did an awful thing. We blush to confess it. bub the truth must out though the heavens fall: He took a coin of the realm out of his pocket and suggested that they should "toss" to decide the question, the loser to travel by the boat preferred by the winner. It was an awful suggestion, and it fairly took the urbane Chairman's.breath away. Why, if they tossed and if Mr Bassetb won he would have to travel by the Aotea ! Perish the thought. He was not a hard-faced garrfijler, and he would be no party to a wicked game of chance. No ; he positively declined to "toss," and he made it clear, urbanely, of course, that he was iroinir by Mr Hatrick's boat or no other. Then the other members of the party turned up, and they were told of the suggestion to "toss" and of the Chairman's refusal ■to entertain the proposal. Subsequently the matter ended by two of the party travelling by one boat and the other two by another. Read these facts in conjunction with the "Herald's" statement that the three members refused to travel with the Chairman, and—where does Mr Oummins come in?