The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1909. THE MAYORALTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2427, 16 February 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1909. THE MAYORALTY.

Some of our readers are evidently disappointed because, in an article published on Saturday, wc failed to discover in Air. W. D. Lysnar the qualities of an ideal Mayor. From the letters which we publish in another column it is apparent that two individuals, at any rate, can gaze upon the present Mayor with admiration, and, while others arc frankly bored by his long-winded utterances, they receive perpetual inspiration from liis spoken word. Alter all, there is a good deal in the point of view, and without going too far into the dreadful past, before Air. Lysnar honored public bodies by his attentions, wc may refer to tlio Alayoral year that will shortly close. One of our correspondents, whose view-point enables him to see Air. Lysnar always in the right and everyone else always in the wrong, seriously urges that if the past year has been a barren one, municipally speaking—which in one breath he admits and in another denies—it is because a set of wicked Councillors deliberately opposed all measures that were brought forth by Air. Lysnar, simply because they were brought forward by mm. If this be the case, what must be thought of the prediction of Mr. Lysnar, who when addressing the ratepayers as a candidate for the Mayoralty in April last, urged as an argument for liis election that he would have no difficulty in working with the Councillors as they were his friends? Truth compels us to state that the allegation made against the Council is entirely unjust, for the members have displayed singular forbearance under most trying circumstances throughout the year, and they could easily have been forgiven had they resigned in a body long ago. As a matter, of fact, his Worship the Mayor never gave them a chance to work amicably with him, for he blundered most glaringly from the commencement of his Alayoral career. Concerning his desire to obtain a report by Air. Jickell on drainage, wo have nothing to say in opposition. He had informed the ratepayers that Gisborne could bo drained for £30,000, and it was his duty to endeavor to verify the statement. He had no right, however, to seek to carry his views into effect by unfair or unconstitutional means; and a more tactful Chairman would Rave, hesitated before utilising a temporary advantage to gain a point just when it was necessary to earn the , goodwill of the Council. At the first meeting Air. Lysnar brought up his proposal that Air. Jickell should be asked to report on a drainage scheme for Gis-

borne. Several Councillors, who had in tlvo meantime discovered that Mr. Jickcll was not the engineer responsible for the drainage of Palmerston North, objected; and his AVorship indicated that, having had the matter discussed, he would net press the motion to a division that night. At this stage it appeared that the motion if put would have been lost. Just then, however, a Councillor, who had seemed in favor of adjourning the matter, indicated by a remark that he was in favor of having Mr. Jickcll engaged. His Worship immediately changed his tune, and, refusing to accept an amendment adjourning the matter, insisted on a-division. Then by the use of his casting vote he carried the motion engaging the Palmerston engineer. AVe pointed out at the time that Air. Lysnar had used his easting vote in an unconstitutional manner, for its effect was to bring about an entire change of policy, the Council having already adopted the Mestayer scheme. Not only that, but the fact that two members of the Council were absent would have made a more scrupulous individual very diffident about using his position in the way that he did. Mr. Lysnar thus gained a temporary advantage, but it was one which anyone possessed of an ■atom of knowledge concerning the tactics of leadership would have despised ; and lie has since had ample opportunity to realise how completely valueless it was. As if this were not sufficient, his AVorship took an opportunity at the next meeting to publicly affront one of the oldest,' and certainly one of the ablest, members of the Council. Between the two meetings his AVorship definitely engaged Air. Jickcll, although there was at the time a notice of motion tabled by Cr. Sheridan to rescind the engagement, and it was common know-

ledge that with a full Council Cr. Sheridan’s motion would be carried. At the second meeting, when the outward correspondence was being read, Cr. Bright asked who had been responsible for communicating with Air. Jickcll, and being given the answer, proceeded to make some remarks upon the matter. Instantly he was peremptorily informed by the Mayor that he could not make any remarks at that stage. The Councillor was obviously thunderstruck at the manner in which the new Alayor

had, figuratively speaking, “jumped upon him,” and after hearing the ruling repealed, and so soon as he could recover from his astonishment-, wrote out a motion for submission to the Council, which indicated pretty forcibly his feelings on the position. .IT. , ... *. v « c lUII lUr LliC Alayor and the people of the town, which was in maiked contrast with his A'vorship’s attitude, Cr. Bright subsequently withdrew his intended motion, and the public humiliation of Ids AVorship was saved, but the incident throws considerable fight upon

the Alayoral methods. The ordinary meetings of the Council have been chiefly conspicuous for the endless and wearisome harangues of the Alayor, who usually insists upon making a fresh speech in criticism of the remarks of eacli Councillor. Thus if eight Councillors eacli speak once on a particular subject, it may be taken for granted that his Worship will speak nine times, and this estimate makes ne allowance for the excuses given by odd interjections of Councillors. Thus meetings have been protracted sometimes bey oll g midnight, yet little in the way of practical work lias been accomplished. And now in the face of all this we arc asked to view Air. W. D.. Lysnar as an ideal Alayor. AVo recognise his energy, his pertinacity, his unbounded assurance, and still greater ambition, but without saying a word against him in his private capacity, we look upon him as a woeful failure as a public man by reason of his extreme tactlessness and the wildness ol : his various schemes. For this reason we shall oppose his reelection as Alayor, even at the risk of offending such ardent admirers as those who eulogise him in this- morning’s issue.