THE MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 974, 14 January 1882, Page 2

THE MASTERTON INSTITUTE.

[To the Editor of the Daily,] Sir.—There is a very general feeling that the Committeo of (lie Masterton Institute shuuld no longer bo appointed by the Council, but should be elected by thesubscribers. Tho present committee has not given satisfaction by its action either individually or collectivolly and a change is highly desirable, if it is only to prove to certain members of Committee that the Institute is not their private property and frequeutot's use the building by right and not by sufferance. The debt which is dangled before us whon any improvement is suggested is surely not immovable, and 1 if a really practical committee was elected no doubt steps would be taken to hold ; a bazaar or raise money by some other means to extinguish tho debt. I trust the Council will not again use its power to nominate a committee, hut will allow the subscribers to elect one. Yours &c, Book-Worm.

|To the Editor of the Daily.] Sib,—What do your correspondents " F.T.E," and " Subscriber" mean ? The one suggests that the Institute should be made useful! and the other that to this end the Committee should be elective 11 Sir, this is awful. I have noticed with apprehension, the spread in Masterton of that spirit of progress. Chartism—Nihilism—call it by what name you will-: which is showing itself so fearfully iu many other countries at the present time; hut I little thought its ruthless baud would be raised in a wild endeavour to sweep away the nominated Committee of the Institute, Sir.! I ask your correspondents to pause—and consider—would an eleoted oommiitee have used thatjudicions firmness which enabled the present committee to drive out tho rabble ratepayers from the rending room whilst the gentlemen and ladies of tho district danced No'sir, an elected committee would have sacrificed the " respectable sum" of two guineas which tho ladies and gentlemen so liberally paid for the privilege of snubbing the owners of the building. A debt of gratitude is due to the committee for this and other occasions when it has exercised the power it possesses to do as it likes with the ratepayers property. Let us consider that the greater part of the gentlemen composiug the committee, oooupy very high social position and the least return they can expect for the honor they do us in sitting on the comniitteo is to be allowed to clo as they choose without let or hindrance. I trust the Council will again beseech these gontkmieu to continue in their seats and thus discourage that wild spirit of immovation which would sweep away every distinguishing mark between class and cks, which would prevent our betters from using our special privileges for their own special advantage, as they are clearly entitled to do, from the position they occupy and which would place the management of the institute in the hands of a dozen of those who use it and pay for it, and take it out of the hands of those who wish to keep it "■ select" to keep it from being fouled by the unsavory presence of the working mau. Yours &c Conservative.