THE GOVERNOR BACKS DOWN. Cuba-street Prevails.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 45, 11 May 1901, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR BACKS DOWN. Cuba-street Prevails.

AFTER twice lefusing to yield to the representations of the citizens on the question of route by which the royal visitors should be taken through the city, Governor Ranfurly has suddenly changed front. Only the other day his curt letter was published informing "the Cuba-street traders" that he saw no reason to modify his original answer that the only alteration of route he could accept was to substitute Ghuznce-street for Mannersstreet * * * It deepened the sore feeling which his first refusal produced, and it evoked some comments from the pi ess, which must have taught him that even a Governor cannot expect immunity from sharp criticism when he arbitrarily flouts the reasonable wishes of the people. And so now he has graciously decided that "the secretary of the Reception Committee may be informed that the alternative route named at the meeting of the Cuba-street traders will be approved by him should the Reception Committee so desire." * ♦ * This alternative route is the inclusion of Cuba-street as fai as Ingestresticct Unless the procession is to march up Cuba-street and then march back again —rather a funny and embarrassing proceeding—Man-ners-street must therefore be cut out of the line of march Far the best loute was, ot couisc, the one originally proposed to the Governor by the Reception Committee, viz, by way of Courtenay Place and Cambridge Terrace to Ingestre-street and thence down Cuba-street into Man-ners-street.

Now, all the fuss and worry and annoyance and ebullition of feeling which have been engendered might easily have been avoided. The original request of the Reception Committee, which was declined, and the subsequent request of the Cubastreet shopkeepers, which was also set aside, were not dictated by caprice, but supported by solid reasons and common-sense. • • • The route decreed by the Governor, via Jervois Quay, Manners - street, and Willis - street, to Government House, would give the royal visitors but a very imperfect idea of Wellington It would restrict the reception to very narrow limits. It would also squeeze the thousands of sightseers into such an unduly contracted space that the lives and limbs of His Majesty's lieges m Wellington might be seriously imperilled. And, therefore, the citizens wanted the route extended so as to take in other leading streets, and notably Cubastreet. • • • Well, the Governor is now willing to yield part of what was asked, but only after two distinctly flat refusals, and in a manner which suggests that His Excellency took sudden alarm at the force and freedom of the criticism which he had brought upon himself. As a body, the colonists, both of New Zealand and Australia, have always shown the utmost respect for, and paid the greatest deference to, the Governors who have been set over them. A tactful ruler will never put that sentiment and his relations with the people in jeopardy by interposing his authority needlessly in matters which conflict with their reasonable convenience. • • • This question of the routes was small and simple after all. Had Lord Ranfurly alleged at the outset that his instructions were rigid, or that the Duke had expressed a preference for the shortest route, not another word would have been said on the matter. But, he let it plainly be seen that it was merely his opinion against the judgment, the desires, and the convenience of the general body of citizens, and that he intended his opinion to be an inexorable fiat. That is where all the trouble came in. In future, Lord Ranfurly will do well to accept the guidance of his responsible advisers. His recent action has somewhat impaired the popularity he had won for himself in New Zealand, and has given many people the notion — a mistaken notion, we believe — that His Excellency was disposed to be dictatorial simply because he belongs to a privileged class or caste.