TOO SUBTLE!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 55, 9 March 1945, Page 5

TOO SUBTLE!

USE OF AN ADJECTIVE

MEMBER'S STRONG EXCEPTION

Strong exception was taken by Mr J. Mullins at j r esterday's Hospital Board meeting to the use of the word 'callously' which appeared in a small local in this paper following the February meeting. The substance of the item was admitted to be correct by Mr Mullins who complained that he had been misrepresented by the use of the additional adjective. "1 feel I have been treatekl most unfairly by the Press," said Mr Mullins. "The article makes me ajipear to cast a s-lur upon Mr Burt's pioneering propensities. I respect these claims of his and feel that he has every right to be proud of them. I feel most strongly on the use of that word." The. Chairman (Mr L. Buddie) said that he too had noticed the word but had taken it as a joke. "Perhaps I err on the side of sober remarks," continued Mr Mullins. "I may be in error but I have • the strongest feelings about the paragraph." (Whether our innocent attempt at a little sardonic humour was fully warranted or whether it was so brutally realistic as to be mistaken for a studied insult, we leave it for our readers to judge. However now that, we have recovered from our amazement we hasten to soothe down ruffled feathers, with the most profuse apologies. We cannot help wondering if the pioneer himself feels so deeply wounded and for the benefit of those of our readers who may not recall the local w r e reprint it as it appeared three weeks ago :

Mr F. Burt was. complaining to the Hospital Board of the growing difficulty of transport to and from Mataita to meetings, since the introduction of the new school bus. "I thought you were a pioneer " observed Mr Mullins callously f "why don't jyoui set out to walk the diisu, tance;?" "Don't you rejoined Mr "If I were as young as you I'd run the whole distance and not think twice of it." Ed.)