DEPUTATIONS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 May 1914, Page 6

DEPUTATIONS

THE MODUS OPERANDI

IN all well organised communities where there is a grievance or wrong to be righted with the Government, and a Minister of the Crown is expected to pay a business and political visit to the place, it is the recognised procedure for the local body to acquaint the Minister in question with the number of deputations proposed to be brought forward and their object. This is a matter of etiquette, as well as a convenience for the Minister whose time is limited and whose movements have to be all arranged beforehand. This' prevents many disappointments to deputationists and accelerates promptness and business at the same time. And a Minister also likes to know what is coming before him—what he has to meet. Therefore, a lapse occurred the other day, when Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Marine, etc., was in our midst, and a surprise deputation was sprung upon him affecting most important and vital interests of the fishing industry, which, however, was fortunately and satisfactorily dealt ,with, other arrangements having been postponed for the time being. And more fortunately still, Mr Fisher was in a good humour, but we have known the time when genial good old Dick Seddon would not dream of listening to a deputation unless previously announced and introduced by the local body. We trust in future that in the case of Ministerial visits and deputations our Town Board, through its Clerk, will not so be overlooked and ignored, by mistake or otherwise.