"BRASS-BOUND OFFICIALDOM."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 13

"BRASS-BOUND OFFICIALDOM."

Sir,—The. superfluity .. of brass-boundof-ficialdom ;and ''red-tapoism" prevalent on the Wellington wharves' has long been a-! subject' of comment amongst intercolonial and other travellers.; Wo hear■; / with pity-.-; that a shortening of'hands is. taking place in public, -semi-public, and private service; but I think,, sir,vthat, in the interest of public convenience, the'pruning knife could bo applied with'beneficial,results amongst the uninformed gentlemen along the waterside. . \ - Wellington wharves ' are now, and . have' : been for a; few years past; 'simply ! with mon m-brass buttons and lace-covored caps; Most of these men' are 1 strangers. to civility, courtesy, ;or respect. Two-thirds of them are not in ■ the ■ slightest degree useful 'or even: ornamental, ■ /unless; their, : utility lies in presenting an . overbearing and arrogant attitude towards those people .whose business of,pleasure, takes them to the wharves.] '/.■ About: 9, a.m. .this morning, just prior ,to the berthing of the s.s. Moana.from Sydney, when a;large':number of people were on the .wharf; iwaiting. ! for friends, by the incoming steamer) an;ancident?occured which caused a good' deal : »qf*' continent amongst the : waiting crowd. A large- . t*awnb<llongiliig^t'o ; a city- business-firm was'being driven' quietly .from the middle -tee -along a'-perfectly-clear portion . .of, the , wharf ; when,; without fany ap-' parent reason,.one of a dozen or inoro of •these "brass-bound" gentry cruising in the vicinity; rushed/ up - and struck' the. horse on the head (causing it to swerve quickly), atthe same time telling tho.driver "to go round .the (other, way)",'- The youth' in/charge : of the .van pointed 'out .to'. tho , that lie (the driver) s ,was'departing'by. the:'only exit available, .but was, met with insulting language, and told to. remain. The above took place, .'at.;9 a.m.,.'arid at 9.45 I watched the-.vehicle depart. Three-quarters of!an:hour of.valuable time lost (for which tho employee' would have to account), caused,by tho "pighcadednoss" of -thisofficial.-Incidents such as I have just mentioned can bs seen on the Wellington wharves'daily. The matter, certainly requires.; investigation: Hoping that the able and esteemed chairman of tho Harbour Board will take action,—l am, oto., NEMESIS. Wellington, May 12.