THE FARMERS’ CLUB AND MR W. D. LYSNAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 950, 24 July 1903, Page 3

THE FARMERS’ CLUB AND MR W. D. LYSNAR.

(Ta .the Editor Gisborne .Times.,); Sir,—Many people, in the course ol their . lives, become involved, without inclination or intention, in other people’s squabbles, or disputes, reputable or otherwise. In such a position am I now placed, and I have no hesitation in saying that i£ the scene of the dispute were in a large city, it would not perhaps be known beyond five hundred yards of its creation. It. has no general public significance ; however, if one livesi in Rome, one must do- as Rome does. Most people who know, casually the originator of this miserable squabble, Mr W. D. Lysnar, would be inclined to think, judging of him by his utterances and writing—though perhaps surfeited with them—that he was an energetic young unan with 'a whole-souled interest, for the public weal, but with others it is different. .Those who know him well are never surprised at what he may ) say, or do. He dearly loves notoriety, no matter of what sort, "assumes many roles, and expects all his utterances to be regarded: as ukases. Anyone .who differs from him is stigmatised as a liar, and I. can support this statement 'by adducing a lew instances. In the discussion »on the liquor question, he said that his opponents, such as Bishop Julius, Rev. J. G. Paterson, Canon’ Webb, and others were liars, •and he, Mr Lysnar, the only truthful man. The same thing happened with regard to the discussion upon the question of water and drainage for Gisborne; all his opponents. Rev. H; Williams, His Worship the Mayor, and others, were liars, and the same W. D. Lysnar—the' only one who had no stain of the blood of Ananias in his veins. He adopts the same tactics in this dispute. He says that I do not tell the truth, neither does Mr Clayton, nor the members of his own Committee. Your readers may say, what has all this to do with the question ? | but I contend that it is necessary to know your man, and on the evidence before you you can form an imprrtial judgment. Ido not ask you to take my word against Mr Lysnar’s only, nor do I think Mr 'Clayton expects you to do so either. The facts are these:—l offered; rooms to the Committee of the Farmers’ Club, upon the understanding that I was to receive an early reply. Time was the very essence of the offer, and it was understood that the Committee were to agree to accept or reject my offer, and it they accepted it, a meeting of tne members would be held. A reply was duly received. it will he seen from that that the committee “ finally ” decided to accept my terms, and agreed to pay -.10 it they did not do so. I did not ask them for it. I would invite you to particularly remember that Mr Lysnar is a member of the committee, for this is important in viewing the course of action afterwards. .Weft, a meeting of the members wap called for one purpose only, viz., to confirm or not the action of the committee. .That meeting was held on Saturday last, and reports in both local papers are good and accurate .accounts of the proceedings thereat I understand. On the morning of the meeting—about an hour before it took place—l heard that Mr Lysnar had changed his mind, and was -against the change to. my rooms. I] went straight to him, and asked him if this were so, and he did not give a direct answer, but said he thought that Mr Harding should be considered* ; I replied.; «Has that paly.

dawned upon you?—three weeks have passed since my offer was accepted by, you and your committee, | and why did you not see Harding, or he you ?” He said it was all a mistake, and that Harding would make an offer at the meeting, and I would be given an opportunity to make a counter-offer if I wished. I then said, “ How long are you going to take to settle the (question ?” I and he replied, M It cannot be done under two or three weeks.” I said I that I could give an answer in five I minutes, and he replied ' that as 11 had waited for three weeks it would I do me no harm to’wait at all events I for another week, and then he walk-1 cd off.. This conversation is inter-1

preted by him to mean that I agreed to wa t for a week.

As I said before, Mr Lysnar assumes many roles, and on this occasion ean be congratulated upon acting the part of. “ Pooh-bah ” admirably. As a member of the committee he I accepted my offer and promised to

support it at the special meeting. At the meeting, as a member, he to get it rejected, and when he saw that it would be probably accepted, lie resorted to the expedient of deliberately misleading the meeting. He will no doubt tell you that W. Douglas Lysnar, Esq., in the exalted position of a member | of the committee is not the samel

as plain Bill Lysnar sitting with democratic farmers and protesting against the M Conservative ” system of conducting an election by I jballot. Some people may, be satisfied with the positions assumed, but I I was not. He was also of the I number that practically censured his I own colleagues on the committee, and then he writes to say jthafc they I should not be angry in the very last I degree. I If Mr Lysnar had authority from | me to state that I would agree to I a week’s adjournment, why did he noli say, so at the outset of the meeting, and thus have saved a I waste of time and unpleasantness ■?■ I All his other rigmarole about Mr Clayton and myself is on a par with I bis other statements. I know that I Mr Clayton has genuinely the inter-1 ests of the Club and farmers at I heart, and is quite able to bold his own with Mr Lysnar. Naturally, I after I bad known the part played I by Mr Lysnar at the meeting I was I annoyed. ’ I Now, with regard to the meeting, | I challenge Mr Lysnar—although he I •is a lawyer—to prove that it could I 'be legally adjourned until next Saturday. It was called for a special object only, and if other offers are 1 1 now to be submitted to the mem-1 bers, the same number of days’ notice must be given as were given in , regard to my offer.

Just a word in reference to Mr Harding, lest it may be thought that I was attempting to force the Committee and do him an in just ce. I was told by, the Committee that their lease with him would shortly expire, and that hei had • not inter- 1 viewed them as to; a renewal. I understood from this that heidid not care if the Club; removed, otherwise he would have interviewed them. 1 ■hold that in a democratic country like this it is more the duty, of the landlord to approach the tenant than the tenant the, landlord. .Conditions in the Old World and the East are different, where the :j lifeblood is crushed out of those who are the tenants of the soil. It may be necessary to approach the Prince of Timbuct.oo or 'a potentate of China upon bended knee and with bare head, but we have not come to that in Gisborne yet. I have absolutely, no quarrel with the farmers. Thanking you, Mr Editor,, for 'ypur valuable space,—l am, etc., ' CHAS. DUNLOP.