The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1890 A Fiasco

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 86, 14 January 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1890 A Fiasco

— «--- . THE HISTOBT OF A STORM IN A TEA POT. At a previous meeting of the "VVangauui Hospital Board when the sub ject of signing the cheques came up, j Dr MoNCKTON oh j noted to any publican having to do with it upon grounds founded upon past experiences. The publican in question proved to be MiParsons, and Mr Parsons being also Mayor, there was an ice kettle of fish at the next meeting of the Buiough Council. In unmeasured terms did the Mayor claim protection from his friends and they, in response, metaphorically trailed their ooat tails in the dust, but as there was no one to tread on them they wrote to demand an apology The doctor replied that he would submit the question to the Board, which he did in a letter Thich we publish at foot. On its being read at the meetiug Mr Parsons indnlged in some more personal abuse, and loudly reiterated his demand for an apology, declaring that the writer should not enter the room again. The Chairman ruled that Dr Monckton had a right to express his opinion, and there was nothing offensive to apolo gise for, in his manner of doing it. . Mr Parsons afterwards withdrew his objection to the doctor using the room and so ended " much ado about noth» ing." The following is the letter referred to above : — "To the Chairmam and members of the Wanganui Hospital Board, " Gentlemen, — I beg to submit the fol- ■ lowing questions to you in consequence of certain correspondence that is attached, and aspersions that have been published through the press. Is it within the right of a member of your Board to state an opinion ' That no licensed publican shoiild be connected directly or indirectly with the payment of hospital monies?' Was there any impropriety in the manner in which such opinion was given by me as would lead any reasonable person to assume that I implied an insult to the Ma3 r or and Council of Wanganui ? " In asking for an answer to the above questions it is necessary, to inform those who were not present at the last meeting of the Board of something material in addition to what was reported, viz., that in stating that ' I was speaking in support of a principle founded upon experience,' I added, in reply to Mr Peat, that my remarks had nothing to do with the Mayor nor, as I was unacquainted with Mr Parsons, could any personal application be assumed towards him. " I am not afraid of the spirit of my remarks being mistaken for the same spirit that has apparently inspired a very large amount of vituperation, but think it advisable to set at rest any doubt that may have arisen that a member of the Hospital Board must not express himself upon matters so deeply affecting hospital management under dread of most shameless aud scurrilous abuse. — I am, Gentlemen, Yours obediently, "Francis A. Monckton. " Feildihg, Bth January, 1890." We wonder whether the Borough Council of Wanganui will be as ready to offer an apology for their abuse as they were in deinandiig one when j • they thought they were abused. j