A QUERY—FORTUNATE, OR UNFORTUNATE KUMARA?

Kumara Times, Issue 1479, 24 June 1881, Page 2

A QUERY—FORTUNATE, OR UNFORTUNATE KUMARA?

[to the editor.] Sib —Some time ago the public were surprised at the appointment of a reverend gentleman, and a Government official, as Licensing Commissioners (notthat on the whole they had any objection to those gentlemen personally, but considered it ultra vires), as they thought surely there must be amongst our population men of sufficient integrity and ability to discharge the duties of the office, and rather thought it a slight on us as a community ; but now in later appointments of J.Ps., or at least one of them, generally the community are dissatisfied, it being the popular conviction that either public service or extra ability should be rewarded by public honors. We have nothing to say against the gentleman personally, but undoubtedly he has done literally nothing to deserve it; the other gentleman has devoted both time and ability to the public interest, and has deserved the recognition for his services, which have met with public approval. Perhaps some one better informed might enlighten us as to the mode in which such appointments are made, and answer the query whether we are or are not a fortunate community, when out of four appointments only one has been made from the people. When our rulers undervalue us to such an extent I would use the old Hebrew wail, and say “ Ichabod! the glory has departed.”—l am, yours &c., Ignoramus. Kumara, June 23, 1881.