TO-NIGHT, OR TO-MORROW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 4

TO-NIGHT, OR TO-MORROW.

THE SWEET REASONABLENESS OF MR, PIRANI. When a man has just recovered from a severe bout of inljuenza, and is experiencing the visitation of an :miwcleomo carbuncle on the back of . his heck, there is something, to bo said for him if he can preside over a largo assembly of argumentative men and keep his temper moderately well. Those presents show that Mr. F. Pirani, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, could hardly be blamed if, in the. extremity of his physical discomfort and pardonable nervous irritability ho fell foul of certain gentlemen when conducting the business of tho conference of education board delegates on Wednesday. Under the circumstances, he is entitled to claim the' possession of a' inoasuro of sweot reasonableness'. There'wore two or three minor encounters during tho day, but tho .motion for the adjournment of the conference art tca-thno saw its chairman at the end of his tether..

"Tlie conference stands adjourned till 7.30 p.m.," ho announced, snapping his brief-bag viciously, and leaving the chair. "No!. To-morrow morning! To-mor-row morning!" protested several of tho delegates, who felt that 7J hours' debate was well enough for.one day. "We've got to. see tho Minister at 10 o'clock to-raorrow morning, and we must finish up to-night," said- Mr. Pirani, shortly. Again tho chorus: "No! s To-morrow morning! To-morrow mornmg!" But Mr. Pimm heard not. Ho made fof tlio door, and the assembled delegates stood stock >till and stared after his retreating figure. Then someone prevailed upon hiu> to turn back. He wheeled, and faced the delegates. "Will you take a vote?" ho was asked. "No—l won't. Tho whole ,of the business would have been cleared away if tho very people who don't want to como back'to-uight had talked less during tho day. We've .got to finish," and again 'Mr. Pirani made for the door. i . "I move that Mr. Parr tako the chair," said a voice. "All right, please yourselves," said Mr. Pirani, "I won't be hero to-mor-row—that's all." Finally, sitting down on a chair near the door, he consented to take a vote. They took a show of hands—eleven for, and eleven against! Mr. Pirani hold trumps. Tho gan-.o was up. "Very well," he.said, as' ho played his card, "we'll adjourn till, to-nior-row." The delegates _wcre "knocked kite high," as tho saying is, but they thought nono the less of the man who had held trumps and thrown the game away.