INDIGNATION MEETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1446, 4 September 1885, Page 2

INDIGNATION MEETING.

The Mayor, has convened an "Indignation Meeting" for this evening, " for the purpose of denouncing the present Act, relating to municipal matters, connected with the case just settled, Giiafk v. Park." If we remember aright the last " indignation meeting"" held m Palmerston was to denounce the . alleged political neglect of our late member, Mr Walter Johnston, though what the precise acts of neglect laid to Mr Johnston's charge we cannot exactly remember, but believe it was m connection with the Gorge Railway. On several occasions since indignation meetings have been talked of. For instance, when the division of the Borough into wards was surreptitiously brought about, so demonstratively hostile was public feeling, that an indignation meeting was proposed. Again, m the persecution of Constable Gili.espik, terminating m his removal, many people talked of calling an indignation meeting. Still more recently, when the Loan callapsed, according to popular belief; through the action of a party m the Council, aided by the public exponent of its views, an indignation meeting was proposed. On other occasions .when public feeling was more or less strongly manifested, indignation meetings were suggested That convened for to-night appears to have chiefly for its real object, so far as we can learn, to gain sympathy for Cr Park, and try to restore to him and his party some of their lost popularity. So far as denouncing the present Act goes, we do not see that much will be gained by that. The Act exists, andean be enforced, as the Magistrate's decision of yesterday proved. It often happens at so-called " indignation meetings' 1 that peoples feelings get the better of their discretion, and they commit themselves to assertions and opinions of which they repent before many hours have elapsed. 1 1 may happen to be popular at the time to denounce certain measures or certain individuals, and on such occasions the speakers often vie with each other m "going for" both measures and men with the utmost possible acrimony and virulence. But does any practical good result ? What would be more to the purpose would be to combine to get the objectionable clauses of the Act repealed or tnodiHed. Merely " denouncing the present Act " will not m our opinion achieve any good purpose. Very likely some very reckless and unwarrantable statements may be made, and violent partizanship shewn ; but of what benefit will that be? The idea evidently is to make a public martyr of Cr Park. But as it appears, according to H. Graff's letter published elsewhere, that the latter had suffered considerably -ilxrough the action of the former, and that an opportunity was given to settle a suit which might have involved d(?l00for a tenth of that sum, the element of martyrdom is not apparent. And again, the public have not forgotten recent episodes m Borough Council administration m which Cr Park has earned fur himself a considerable amount of unpopularity. So that all things considered, the public do not seem inclined to recognize m Cr Park's case any special features that entitle him to be considered m the light of a martyr to public duty. Mad h 2 been less overbearing and autocratic m his deirieanor as a Borough Councillor, thVpublic feeliog might have, been more favourable towards him than his parti zans would like to make out. If the result of the public meeting to be held this evening is to assist m bringing about a modification of the Act m conformity with what is essential to ah efficient conservation of the public interest, then a desirable object will have been attained. If, on the other hand, what is done is confined to ** denouncing the present Act,' 1 and " letting nature caper," then we believe the promoters and those who take part will not have much reason to feel satisfied with the temporary gratification thus afford* ed them of giving vent to inconsiderate denunciations and tirades of personal abuse, or indulging m loud sounding anathemas and angry invective to suit the humour or whim of the moment. When men's feelings run riot subsequent reflection generally induces self-reproach and humiliation, which might have been avoided had a greater regard to moderation and expediency characterized their sentiments and expressions of opinion.