DEAR, DEAR MR ARTHUR!
When Mr Arthur once, in allegorical language, threw out a hint that he might yet mature into a Milton, those who had worshipped him as their idol could hardly restrain their mirth, while some few there were who gave him a metaphorical pat on the back and looked upwards in admiration, as the small fry used to reverentially gaze upon the lofty Addison. The admiration of one journal was, indeed, more like that of a nice old grandmother who marvels at the prodigies performed by her clever offspring. But no matter, Mr Arthur was entrusted with the representation of the East Coast district, and those of us who were too stupid to discern the rising genius, thought he might at least be able to plod along, that he would not be above learning, and might eventually gain that sadly needed political experience, and with a clear field before him might be able to do some little good. And has he not managed to realise these expectations ? some one will perhaps ask. Well, in reply, we direct their attention to a letter written by Mr Arthur to the County Council, for a more undignified production by 'a public representative in correspondence with a public body has never been read by us. He begins by prating about the Whangara case, taking the whole credit to himself for the stage to which this affair has been advanced, and coolly ignoring those who have done the real work. As it happens well-informed electors know a great deal better than this, and can easily point out the jackdaw in the peacock’s feathers. Let him wear them ; those who have done the real work can well afford to be lenient to him, and have no wish to peck off the borrowed plumes with which he has adorned himself. Mr Arthur goes on to try and explain away his extraordinary negligence in not promptly replying to the communications made to him by the local bodies, communications which the rules of ordinary courtesy required to be answered within reasonable time, no matter how vague the answers might have been; “ But I knew you would undersiand I was giving the matter the fullest attention," says Mr Arthur. Is this overweening vanity, charming simplicity, or sniggering bluff? But the most striking thing in the whole letter is contained in the tai). “7/ the Opposition would only behave we could get a lot of good work done:' Who the WE may be our readers can fairly be left to conjecture for themselves, but the undignified language made use of is, to put it plainly, nothing short df disgraceful. The public Press may be privileged to severely criticise either the Opposition or the Ministry—both sides too often deserve the lash—but for a member of the House to thus write to a public body is a most extraordinary thing, deserving of the strongest censure in the House. Instead of trying to avoid bitterness of partisanship, and only taking a side when it is required by a subject that has been made the bone of party contention, Mr Arthur has gone just the way to alienate supporters, and where he ought to be conciliatory has shown utter disrespect. In regard to the most important subject which has been entrusted to Mr Arthur, the Harbor Bill, his aim should be to get members to study it, irrespective of party feeling, and if they could only be induced to pay careful attention to it we are sure there would be no trouble about getting the desired relief. It is time our member learnt to place himself on the good behaviour list, instead of whining what WE would do if others would only behave themselves.
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 488, 2 August 1890, Page 2
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622DEAR, DEAR MR ARTHUR! Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 488, 2 August 1890, Page 2
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