"TOO LATE ! TOO LATE !” & c.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 218, 6 November 1888, Page 2

"TOO LATE ! TOO LATE !” & c.

Some people are never happy unless they are finding fault with others, and unfortunately that fault finding sometimes leads those people into imputing motives which they know do not exist. Mr Joyce is a most energetic person and if his energy were not often misdirected he would be a very useful citizen and an equally popular public man. Still there is that little "if ” to bar the road ot progress and advancement, and we are afraid just now Mr Joyce finds himself in the position of one whom everyone can admire for his philanthropic intentions, but cannot support because the road that is paved with those good intentions is not exactly the one which most men care to travel. In a letter to a contemporary Mr Joyce alludes to the town meetings on Friday night as of “no credit to the conveners, an insult to the ratepayers, and damaging to the district.” He further states that the resolutions were put “ before the time, for the supposed general meeting had elapsed ;’’ the resolutions, he asserts, were cut and dried, and this new mode of holding public meetings caused the ratepayers to be indignant, and " the effect of such sharp practice will naturally cause many to vote against the poll.” Well, it would perhaps be very foolish of us to waste words in exulaining to Mr Joyce that he has made a few statements which though they may no* affect his conscience are not quite in accord with the ninth Commandment, but for the sake of those who were not at the meeting it would not be right to allow these discrepancies 10 pass without a word of notice. The business of the meeting in Gisborne did not commence until about ten minutes after the advertised time, and instead of “ cut and dried ” resolutions being passed a strict adherence was made to the letter of the 4ot, which states that such an announcement must be made, whether it was put in the form of a resolution or otherwise. The meeting was looked upon as a merely formal one, every opportunity for discussion having been given at the previous meeting, but the same privilege was also allowed at the meeting of ratepayers on Friday night. Had it been otherwise, those who have taken an active part in the movement in support of the continuation of the work might consider the small attendance at the meeting as a high compliment to themselves, being a practical proof of the confidence in which the Committee are held by the general public. If this is not properly understood, by Mr Joyce’s letter some people may be given the impresSion that the mere fact of it being known that that gentleman intended being present and making a speech was sufficient to ensure a poor attendance. We are inclined to the belief that the effect would be just the reverse, because something good would have been anticipated, and Gisborne people always appreciate good things. Leaving that gentleman out of the question, however, we think that the meeting on Friday night is one of those few instances in which we can unreservedly compliment the convener and those present for transacting public business with that promptness which should characterise all business matters. One of ths worst habits to which oqr local bodies, almost without exception, are wedded is a shilly-shallying style of coming to a decision Upon matters of even the smallest importance, and one of ths faults of the Mayor (who by feis dual office was also convener of the meetings alluded to) is that he allows'a great deal too much of this sort of thing in the bodies over which, he presides. If a ratepayer were to attend one of the meetings ot our County Council and then attend meetings of either the Harbor Board or Borough Council, he would need no further convincing to assure him that, though life is so short, much of it is wasted. If blame there be at all in Connection with the meeting referred to, it is for haying delayed the proceedings at all and for not going straight through with the business at the advertised time; and blame is very inadequate punishment for men who have been elected to represent the public so far neglecting their duty as not to be present .at the appointed time, and then aggravating that offence by rushing off to a newspaper office and accusing other public men of being guilty of actions which, if not legally, would ba morally criminal. We have not the slightest doubt that Mr Joyce would never have made such statements did he not fully believe them to be true, and we are only sorry that he did not take further pains to enquire into the matter before he rushed into print. One gentleman who did not happen to be present in time for the Gisborne meeting took a course which Mr Joyce might well have followed if he had anything to say Which might .enlighten his fellow citizens. The former had his views published m the shape of a letter, and we do not think any newspaper would refuse to extend the same privilege to Mr Joyce, subject of course to the usual conditions which govern respectable prints.