PUKEKURA PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 4

PUKEKURA PARK.

CURATOR'S RESIGNATION. WHAT ARE THE REASONS? STATEMENTS BY BOTH SIDES.

The announcement of the resignation of Mr. \V. \V. Smith as curator of Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, came as a distinct surprise to the general public, and it was the subject of much discussion'during the week-end. Mr. Smith has forwarded us a statement .setting out his side of the cast, and in the absence of the chairman of the J?ark Board a statement giving the Hoard's viewpoint was made last night ijy Mr. R. C. Hujjhes, a member of the Board. Mr. Smith says: "In Saturday's issue of the Daily News it is stated that I lmd resigned the curatorship of Pukekura Park. On receipt of what I considered to be an insulting letter from the hon," secretary to the Park .Board I called at his office and informed him that I intended to resign. The letter then seemed to me to he a no-confidence motion. Later in the day he called at the park, when we fully discussed the matter. After his showing a little penitence I agreed to leave the issue till the end of the month, when I intended to confi't with the Park Boa A). Unknown to me, lie called a meeting of the Board, at which I should have b'een present. What he may have said at the meeting respecting me 1 know not, but I heard or knew nothing further until 1 read the announcement of my resignation.

"Imagine a public, hoard deciding an issue of- tliis class on the simple statement ot the secretary. During a previous conversation'l remarked to him that quite a number of distinguished ladies and gentlemen from other countries had visited Pukekura Park and requested me to accompany them for a few hours to assist in procuring reqnirijl scientific specimens. Some time agojLl went for half a da? s'itli a visiting professor to assist in a survey of the geology ami botany 'of Paritutu, To the secretary this work seems to be 'lost and wasted hours.' Recently when Mr Bates, the Government meteorologist, visited New Plymouth lie requested me to proceed to Wnitara with him to assist in some important new meteorological work. 1 was absent three hours. In my absence the triumvirate now ruling Pukekura Park called on an oflicial inspection. I had not been advised o"f their coining, otherwise 1 would have been about when they cuiue. This seems to have been the keynote to tune me up in the insulting letter referred to.

'"On taking charge of Pukekura Park 13 years and S months ago the terms of my agreement were:every alternate Saturday free and a fortnight's annual holiday. During the first three years I had no holiday, and havs never once taken a Saturday. Foi years I have assisted at the> boats during long hours on nil statutory holidays, with'highly profitable results to the Park Hoard. I have spent £34 of private money -on plants, seeds, fowl food, garden tools and accessories required at the cottage. 1 have also handed to the 'secretaries the sum of .£'29 fis as anonymous donations. These sums ranged from Is received from country school children for naming collections of plants and insects to £l<l received from visitors for similar assistance. .1 |jntcnrt to recoup Die Board further at' next, meeting, and hope that the secretary will be ready with a statement of the time he has against me."

THE BQARD'S VIEWPOINT. Spending oil behalf of tliu Board, Mj;. Hijjjhen stated Hint the Board, at the' last meeting, decided to communicate with Mr. Smith asking him to attend the meetings of the Board in future, and nlse informing- him that the Board had resolved that all applications by other bodies for his services should bo sunt to the Hoard, _ and would then be referred back to him. The terms of the resolutions were conveyed to Mr. Smith by the secretary (Mr. P. E. Stainton) in a letter with some explanatory remarks. Upon receipt of this, Mr. Smith saw the secretary and said ho intended to resign, and would leave that night. The secretary afterwards called upon Mr. Smith, urging that his decision be deferred, and this he agreed to do, remaining in charge till the end of the current month. At a meeting of the Board on the loth inst., when all the members were present, including the Borough Council representatives, the secretary reported what had taken place, and also that Mr. Smith had said he had been informed that, it was the of the Board to get rid of him. lie was assured on this occasion by the secretary that this was not so.

When the above was reported to the Board they reiterated that they had no intention of dispensing with his s&rviees. The matter was fully discussed, and it was proposed that the resignation be accepted. An amendment was proposed and ■ seconded that Mr. Smith lie given leave of absence to the end of the year on full pay, his resignation then to come into joree. The amendment was lost and the motion in the above terms was carried. A resolution was also added expressing rcprot at Mr. Smith's severance from tin; work, and appreciation ot his services for the past twelve years.

Mr. Hughes said the Board had 110 desire to depreciate Mr. Smith's .work Personally, he was sorry that the resig. nation had come about, ah it would be a loss to the Board and mean a break in the work in the Park.

FORMKR CHAIRMAN'S VIEW. Mr. S. Percy Smith, who Ims been connected with the development of Puke, kura Park for many yoaiis, and at one time held tlm position of chairman, stated, \y*wn asked his views on the resignation: -jt would be a loss to the lark and to the town generally if Mr. Smith lelt. In addition to his botanical knowledge, he is one of the leading authorities on entomology. Further, the Park hats never been in more beautiful order than at (lie present time." Mr. It. Neville ltcnaud writes to the editor: "1 was ninth astonished to read fe'iturday's paper that Mr. W. W. > m.th had resigned his post as curator of Pnkekura Park*, and that his resignation had been accepted by the Board to lake ell eel from the end of the "en! ' r M V S ' !,i . m and Cl M ,0 ° W, ' n knOW " niouohout tie scientific world, as well thou'!!]. i?\ V y ?r M ' t0 a »v Bo inl \ . f Rlvon pa,lsp f°r the Hu.rd, without most, careful welshing W 7J" Tv l " ln "' rk,llly ~ocpl , t thp dsn 0111 public service or a man who .v all who kl ,ow him and are able to on™ • ? fw , knnwl «"Se and oxpeviZ™ 1 1 111' 11,1 ««thorit.v in the »c.eiKe world. The loss to New Ply.