Our Letter Box.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7747, 24 February 1905, Page 2

Our Letter Box.

(We are not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.) HECHEATION GHOUNDS BOAKD. I (To (he Editor.) I Sir,—l -do not think your leaderette ot yesterday is xmitts fair. When your reporter called on Monday evening he was not told that his presence was not in accord with the lidards wishes, but he was informed that reporters did not usually attend and .that the News would be supplied with a report of the proceedings. This was entirely out of consideration to your reporter, and to save him time, and I do not suppose a single member of the Hoard had the slightest objection to his slaying through the whole proceedings, il he had a mind to do so Keporlers are like the rest of mankind, and, as a rule, like to get their information with the least trouble, and, so far, no complaint has ever been made that they have not been allowed to sit through proceedings , more or less,,dreary. Certain things may at times be •discussed in committee, and then, and only then, i would a reporter's presence be undesirable ; but with an experience of many years I can hardly remember any discussion where it would have mattered a straw. Your leaderette states " that the Chairman under"took that the -secretary should l" bring to this office a summary of |" the business transacted and the , "official in question promised so to " do, and that there the matter ■" seems to have ended «s far as the " Hoard is concerned, as no infor- " mat-ion was supplied." I have seen the secrctaty, who informs me that he went, to the News office shortly after the meeting with the rough minutes in his hand at 9.85 ip.m., and he asked for your reporter and he was told he liad gone out .with the proprietor, and, under the circumstances, he went home, and the next day the Herald sent round | for a report, which he gave them, and it was published in full.

I The lot of a member of tlie Board, and particularly of the chairman for the time being, is like ft policeman's |—" not a happy one "at the best, iThe "autocratic policy" of the .Board, so far as I know, consists mainly of paying away their own private moneys faithfully, liberally, .spending time in the interests of the public, and being liable for a constant overdraft, and your leaderette does not, in my opinion, help either the Hoard or the public. The fact remains that the so-called " autocratic policy " of the Board has resulted in the making of grounds that are renowned throughout New Zealand. On the expiration of my term of office I propose to make a statement showing how, in my humble opinion, the Board's hands'could he strengthened and the grounds improved, but I need not say anything more at the present than that fur|ther donations are, required, and*that the local press may do a good deal either to help or diminish the supply.—Yours, etc., THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KECHEATION GHOUNDS BOARD. (Our desire has always been to help forward the improvement of the Recreation (Jrounds and that was why a reporter was sent to the meeting. The chairman's remarks as to studying a reporter's convenience are quite beside the question. The facts were as stated by us, though it appears on inquiry that someone (presumably the secretory) did call here, inquire for the reporter and editor •by name, and, finding both rlbsent, loft without either disclosing to the sub-editor (to whom he spoke) his identity or his business. We fail to see how this was carrying.out the pram (so " that the News should be supplied with a report of the proceedings."—Ed.)