A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1783, 14 June 1906, Page 3

A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE.

FARMERS’ PROVINCIAL EXEOUs TIVE AND GISBORNE BRANCH.

Matters in connection with tho Provincial Executive and the Gisborne brano'a of tho Farmers’ Union appear to bo in a very strained position, as was evidenced at the meeting yesterday, when there was moro than ono parsage-at-arms between the Chairman of tho branch and members of the Executive.

Toe first d.florenoe of opinion arose ovtr a telegram sent by the Gisborno branch to ths Acting-Premier expressing its condolence in regard to the late Premier’s death. This telegram was published in full in yesterday’s Times. The President of the Executive, Mr W. E. Chambers, contended that the telegram should have been sent through the Executive, seeing that the latter body met the very next day. Speakiog to Mr Lysnar, he referred to that gentleman’s action as one of very bad taste. "It was not neoes« sary for you to send suoh a telegram, excepting it were done through the Executive,” rematksd the President, " and I look opon it as exceeding bad taßte Such a resolution would have oome with much more effeot from the Executive, and would have been muob more appreciated. It wob a matter that should have been left to the general body of farmers and not to a particular brauob. I was not at all pleased when I saw by this morning’s Times what you had done. Your aotion not only showed a want of taste, but a lack of appreciation of the main body.” Me Lysnar : I have only to say that what we do as a Gisborne braooh has nothing to do with the Exeontive. Certain members of tbo Gisborne branoh met and considered the matter, and they deemed it advisable to Bend the telegram to whioh you teks exoept’oo. The members of my branoh approved of it, and I am alone responsible to them. If every branoh of the Farmers’ Union throughout the district wired their oondolenoe to the ActingPremier it would only be a fittiog aot. I did nothing out of the way, for on your own showing it is the President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, and not yourself who Bhould have sent suoh a message. The President: No, no.

Mr Lysnar: Excuse me, I did not interrupt you whilst you were speakiog. Eaoh branch stands on its own basis, and is alone responsible for its aotions, In certain matters it must look to its head, but not in this instanoe. In matters of this kind, if every branoh oonveyed their deep sorrow to a man in that position, it would not ba out of order. The more strings we have to play the better, I regret that yon ehould misinterpret our action, and I shall convey your opinions to my branoh. The President: I suppose you will put the other side to them. You are talking nonsense in what you say. You knew that the Executive was meeting the very □ext day. If every braceh of the Union should send such a resolution, then why not every member ? Mr Lysnar: So every member oould have done so had he thought fit, You me not sincere.

The President; What right have yon to Bay such a thing 9 Mr Lysnar; You are not sinoere. The president ; Do you think that I would make myself a party to a bogus prooeediDg. Mr Clayton (interrupting): There is a letter on the ruling of the procedure of branohes that I should like to read, and perhaps it would be as well to adjourn this disoussion until lread it.

Me Lysnac: Ii has nothing at all to do with tho Gisborne branoh. The argument of the president does not hold good. If it does, why did bo not get the president for the colony to send the telegram ? The President: There is a president for this branch. Mr Lysnar : Yts ; but if thß Union is goiug to gag a certain braoob, what, then ? The ory is always the G'sborne brenoh Mr Watson : But the Gisborne branoh might have sent this to the Eieoutiye, seeing it wa3 meeting so soon. Mr Clayton: It is oily a qiostion of the bad taste displayed that is a'l Tho Pns'dent: Ye?, a question of taita, that is all, I argue. Mr Lysna-: Only beoause it oomes from the Gisborne branoh. Mr Olayton : Ii is not the Gisboroq branob. It is your own action ; your own want of taot and good taste. After further discussion the subject wts

allowed to drop, and tbs matter of ocean freights was disoustoi until half past one, whtn the Executive adjoum:d.