THE TAIL AND THE DOG.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 8

THE TAIL AND THE DOG.

. At Ms meeting Jast.'night Mr. Wilford stated that ih'e 'attempt ,to force the Harbour Board' Bill through Parliament last session,with the Miramar 'betterment .clause .in it was merely -a bluff oh his part: "When'l read The Dominion , declared Mr. Wilford, "I,said, 'My;opponent is delivered into my hands.'" To begin with, Mr. Crawford i talked of a two million loan Bill. Mr. Crawford was just a million ont; that he. supposed was a detail. Then Mr. Crawford "represented that the betterment clause was dropped on account of his strenuous protests as Mayor of vMiramar. "Aa a matter of fact," continued Mr. Wilford, "I declined. to ; take: charge of the Bill with a Miramar betterment clause in it. I considered, it would imperil the Bill. By resolution the board gavo me authority that if I took charge of the Bill I could drop tho betterment clause when I thonght fit. There was also another clause affecting; the wholo city^—but I amaot going to say anything about that yet." Mr. Wilford continued to say that he declined the advice of members to drop the betterment clause when the protests began to come in. He knew:human nature, and he said, "I will keep Crawford going on it for three months, and it will keep them quiet about the other .olause which was important to the city and not to Miramar.. We had deputations to the Harbour Board, and politely bowed them out, saying we did not intend to drop the clause at present. We did not care that much for the clause," said Mr. Wilford, snapping his fingers. He was prepared to produce the resolution passed, and signed statements by members of the board, to back him up. ' ■"■• ■ ; ,'■ . ' _■'■'.'•