The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1908. THE MAYORAL DINNER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2196, 21 May 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1908. THE MAYORAL DINNER.

The convivial gathering arranged by the newly-elected Mayor lust night to mark his accession to the highest position the citizens have to offer, turned out to be one of those very pleasant functions which do a good deal to soften the asperity w ith which the conduct of public business is frequently associated. There is an undoubted tendency.on the part oi those holding public positions to view their responsibilities so seriously that they will pursuo a principle or a policy util an intensity and an impatience ol : opposition that they would never dream of displaying in connection with their private affairs. Carried to an extreme, these qualities brood discord, and it therefore frequently happens that the man who gives up a large amount of time in a desire to servo his fellows finds that his sacrifice is made the greater, because of the damago'that is incidentally being dono to many personal friendships. It is in this direction that a social gathering is of distinct value in providing tlio opportunity for the members of such bodies to meet under circumstances whereat controversial subjects are banished, and everything tends to harmony. But the function which was so excellently devised by the new Mayor, and so admirably carried out by himself, with the assistance of the Alayoress, was something more than an ordinary social gathering. The guests represented almost every phase of the community, and the toast list, though commondnbly brief, was so devised as to permit of several subjects of more than passing interest being touched upon. Naturally the Afayor took advantage of the opportunity to recapitulate the chief features of the various schomes he has in his mind for the, advancement of the town and district, and it may be said ill this connection that if they are advocated with the reason-, ablenes and moderation which? marked his speech last night, he should meet with a fair measure of success in carrying out his programme. In toasting tlie Judiciary, Air. DeLautour made a - very thoughtful and logical defence of the present system by which the Privy Council of England is the final recourse for litigants. The position has been assailed strongly in recent years, even so high an authority as Sir Robert Stout having attacked tho existing system, which undoubtedly has many weaknesses, but it must no confessed that Air. DoLautour presented the facts very strongly from the point of view of those who object to a change. The allusion to the very arduous naLure of the duties appertaining to the position 0 f President of the Arbitration Court were fully justified, ami it is probable that were His Honor, Air. J usticc Siiu. to give expression to bis inmost*conviction’on the subject lie would agree with Air. DeLautour that lie occupies the most difficult position of any Judge in New Zealand. As his Honor sagely remarked, when he has done his best it is certain that everyone will not bo satislied and it is possible that none may be. In responding ' to commercial interests, Air. A/ F. "Kennedy dealt carefully and ably with the present position in Poverty Bay, and I)is belief that even the loss of £220,000 through the drop in tho price of wool will not seriously retard our prosperity, is a tribute to the soundness and buoyancy of the district that, coming from such a source, should be received with considerable satisfac-. tino. If we read the intention of Air. • Kennedy’s remarks aright, they are to the effect that, although we depend so largely upon the pastoral industry, there is no need to view the present position with pessimism, but that a recognition of the need for extreme caution in the assessment of land values and in other ways is all that is necessary in the meantime, and that before long the market is almost certain" to recover sufficiently to put the industry once more on a payable basis. The point made by the same speaker with regard to the dumping of almost the whole of the New Zealand clip on the London market within the short space of a few weeks, and its consequent effect upon values, is one that should receive the very careful consideration of all those concerned in the pastoral industry. Precisely the same state of affairs exists in Australia, and the whole of the Commonwealth’s immense output -is rushed on to the market as quick ly as it can be taken from the sheep’s hack. This, of course, is absolutely suicidal to the maintenance of fair values, and creates a position that is I eagerly welcomed by the Bradford I and Continental “boars” every season. So long as this haphazard system continues, so long will Australasian wool growers have to lie. content with lower prices for their wool than would otherwise bo obtainable, Due oj is* jgojt important suggw? !

lions voiced during the evening was Hint of Air. DoLautour to the effect that a Chamber of Commerce should bo again formed in this town. There is no question that the formation of such an institution is an urgent necessity, if the district is to receive the consideration from Parliament and from other sources that it should. At the present time when the, rapid development of tlie place makes the. deficiencies of the past still more noticeable and more hirrassing if k simply deplorable that there should \|>e nobody capable of officially Voicing either the trade or commercial 'interests of tlie toivn and country. It is to be hoped that the remarks hmilo under this head will have the result of initiating u movement that ni'siy. bring about the establishment at an. early date of a representative and thoroughly energetic Chamber oi" Commerce.

There wore many pleasant speeches made during the evening, and taster fill references courteously Piaffe to individuals, hut possjjbly'the , most graceful act ii;jj.s-The fitting manner in\ which tile. health of tlie Jate Alayor,\ Air. Town ley, was toasted. It must have been gratifying to one who has devoted the best years of his life to the public service to find, at the celebration of bis successor’s accession to office, that although a new Alayor reigns in his stead, the position he himself deservedly occupied in the community for so lengthy a. term has not been overlooked.