THE "CONVERTED " CHAIRMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 20 June 1914, Page 4

THE "CONVERTED " CHAIRMAN.

MR. J. B. CONNETT PROTESTS. AGAINST A LEADER IN DAILY NEWS.

The Xew Plymouth press came in for a rather bad handling at the meeting •f the New Plymouth Harbor Board yesterday. Mr. Bellringer commented forcibly on a leader in our contemporary (on a matter which is reported elsewhere), and this led Mr. J. B. Oonnett to a realisation of his own grievances, and despite the fact that the meeting was palpably anxious to disperse, he proceeded to a brief discussion of the mutter. Hte said he had not intended to refer to the matter, but whilst thcy were on the subject of newspapers, he might as well say that there was a leader in the Daily News on Thursday morning to which he took distinct exception. He referred to the article headed "a converted chairman." "I am," he said, ''quite ready and willing to alter my views when necessary, but 1 do object to an article which first credits me with views which I did not hold, and then congratulates me on changing ray mind and coming to the point of view I have h;.-ld all along. I have been accused by the News of favoring the construction of a crooked wharf. When I returned from England, Mr. Marchant asked me if I had not seen a great deal. I replied, 'Yes; but T have never seen a crooked wharf yet.' All the members will, I am sure, Lear me out when 1 say that I never advocated the crooked wharf and the outer harbor. I did not force my views on the Board when they appeared to favor it, but 1 never opposed the scheme as it was eventually adopted—that which was decided on during my absence in England. 1 say now, as I said at the Walkure luncheon, that the crooked wharf would have been a great mistake, and had it been carried out we should never have been able to berth big boats. 1 was staggered when I read the paper. Ido not intend to write to the editor or anything like that. Xo doubt it suits the papers when people write and keep writing for twelve months as far as that goes, but 1' have amiethiug else to do. It's their business, 1 suppose, to do this kind of thing. Mr. King will bear me out in my statements."

Mr. King: I'm glad they didn't cnll me 'a converted treasurer!"'

The incident ended wjtli„-.it further remark.-