PUBLIC MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 70, 20 September 1893, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAH. Silt, — It seems a thousand pities that questions of public import relctiug to the rising township of Birmiughatn can not be discussed in a kindly and gentlemanly spirit. Wo can understand somowhat, the feelings of members of the British House of Commons, when they lose self- control over the gre;it mid far-reachmg subject of Homo ilule, but for the leading citizens of a small New Zealand township to squabble over the election of a " Justice of the Peace," seems to me the height of absurdity. Tho tona of some of the letters ou the subject is. far from gentlemanly. Mr Bryce'a publication was clear aud straightforward. It appears that tho names of geutleraen were sent, or were going to bo sent, to tho proper authorities, without v public meeting being called. A meeting was then called to romonstrato against this kind ol thing. The night being wot very fow wore present. The chairman of the School Committee attended this meeting. Auothor meeting was arr.injred, which resulted in tho election of Messrs Anyon and Morton , the chairman was present at this meeting also. I inter from this that he and the rest of the committeo had no objection to tho meetings being held. 1 strongly deprecate the conduct of some who were present if report of " Resident " be correct, It should be the duty of School Committees to refuse the use of school for meetings of this nature. The proper meeting plac« for those described by " Resident : ' is the open air. The charges made against our Postmaster, Mr Ashton, were unkind, false, and altogether out of place. So far as I can see he is very obliging nnd nttentiye to his duties, considering the large amount of other work he has to to. Hut, if anyone has cause for complaiut, it should not be made at a public meeting but sent to proper authorities. " Resident " a3ks, " Why our popular men were behind?" " Who are the popular men?" Is it not somewhat difficult to determine ? And a man's " popularity " does not fit hiui any way for a J.P Other and higher qualifications are needed. I infer from the closing sentence of " Resident's " letter, " The respectable citizens present at Inst meeting had not minds of their own," that the gentlemen who were elected are men of common sense, neither have they tho respect of their fellows, noi experience of things in general. Truly this is a very kindly way for one resident to write of another. This is the kind ol spirit I deprecate and nm sorry thai so much of it has been manifested. The gentlemen who were elected are men ol common sense, are respected in the dis^ trict and should have experience ol " Things in general whatever that vague phrase may mean. But if there was any unfair or underhand work in coiv nection with the last meeting by al means call another meeting nnd decidt the matter fairly. I am, etc., Fair Play