The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY HORNING. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1908. OUR NEW MAYOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2203, 29 May 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY HORNING. FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1908. OUR NEW MAYOR.

In. a letter in this issue, His Worship the Mayor endeavors to justify his action in flouting the Borough Council by engaging Mr. Joky 11, tho Palmerston engineer, whilst a notice of motion on the matter was still pending, by asserting that ho entered office with a pledge to tlxo people that ho would endeavor to get tho Council to obtain a report from Mr. Jekyll. It is true that such a pledge was given, and we are quite in sympathy with the Mayor in endeavoring to givo effect to this mandate so long as his methods were fair and honorable. We are fully satisfied, however, that-the largo proportion of those ratepayers -who voted for Mr. Lysnar at the recent election would gladly welcome an opportunity to show their disapproval of his method of giving effect to their wishes. There was not the slightest reason for haste in the matter of engaging Mr. Jokyll, aiid tho only assumption that is open is that His Worship acted so promptly because he feared the result of Cr. Sheridan’s motion being put before tho next Council meeting. In this respect we maintain that his action was quite indefensible. It is evident that our new Mayor does not relish frank criticism, but if ho thinks that by threatening to. withhold information from our representatives lie is likely to stifle such criticism he is woefuly mistaken. This journal lias a reputation for a fearless, outspoken attitude on public matters that it is not at all likely to sacrifice because of the angry threats bf the Mayor, or of anyone else.