The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30, 1907. MUZZLING THE PRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2224, 30 October 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30, 1907. MUZZLING THE PRESS.

There may have been good reasons why the public should be kept in ignorance of the business carried out by the Borough Council at its meeting last night, but' we' are inclined to think that > unless tho circumstances were of quite an extruordinary nature the Councillors did not act wisely in ■ deciding that its proceedings should not be open to the Press. Tho Council is a public body, and had met for the discussion •and consideration of one of the chief departments under its control. Whatever its decision may bo, there is certain to he a good deal of adverse criticism from one side or the other, valid in discussing such an important matter in camera tho Council- lias--simply invited all sorts of unworthy suggestions. It is true that, as the Mayor pointed out, no definite action will he taken until the members meet in open Council, but before the meeting takes place a decision will in all probability have been arrived at, and it is not at all likely that Councillors will again proceed to discuss the facts and reasons which prompted their action. These are just the tilings concerning which tho public desires information, and in withholding it the Council lends itself to tho gibes of those who are always so ready to impute hole-land-corne} - methods to members of public bodies. Whatever shortcomings tho Council may have, wo are satisfied that there is not the slightest justification for an insinuation of this soi*t, but it is just as well to point out that the wisest course is to court the fullest publicity. As a matter of fact, tho practice of transacting important business in camera appears to be growing amongst our local,.bodies, and it is a tendency that should he guarded against. For instance, ■at tho last meeting of the Hospital Trustees matters involving the whole management of that institution were discussed, but the Press was excluded and the public kept in ignorance of what- transpired. All that is known is that as a result of that meeting certain action is to be taken, but tlie- causes which necessitated that ■action are kept secret. Under the' circumstances the public is left to imagine the worst, and many unfounded suspicions are created. There are, of course, exceptional instances when tho exigencies of the situation demand secret discussion, but theso are of rare occurrence, and should never ho allowed to develop into a recognised practice.

SMALL GRAZING RUNS. We should certainly like to take the meaning from the statement made by the Minister of Lands in the House on Monday, regarding the position of holders of small grazing run leases taken up under the Aot of 1885, that is taken by a correspondent who writes on the subject in this issue. In reply to a query put by Mr. Jas. Allen, Mr. McNab sit a tcil that these runs would not be included in the endowment proposals, hut at the expiration of the present leases would bo re-let for 21 years under the old Act. 'Oitr correspondent assumes this to mean tbnt as each lease expires the present holder will have the right to renew for another term at a fresh valuation. This is a very natural ■assumption, but those versed in the diplomatic language of Ministers will not be so easily satisfied. It has been freely rumored that it is the intention of the Minister to cut lip somo of these grazing runs into smaller allotments, in which case the utmost that tlje former lessor could

hope for would be the right to retain a portion of his former holding. Assuming this to bo possible under the Aot, the Minister could , carry out his plan without actually violating the letter of the undertaking made to Mr. Allen. In other words, a still more explicit etatennent .is necessary before present lessors can bo freed from the uncertainty of their present position.