SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1894. THE GAS WORKS TROUBLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4875, 13 November 1894, Page 2

SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1894. THE GAS WORKS TROUBLE.

We attach some, importance to the recent trouble at the Masterton Gns Works because thore is a doubt as to whether it has not arisen from the fault of the Borough Council, and also because it is very unsatisfactory when many ratepayers are anxious . to extend the responsibilities and duties of the Council to find that in minor departmental administration there is weakness, and possibly something more than weakness. When Mr Collins .wrote an offensive letter to the Masterton Borough Council wo condemned his action, but thore are certain rumours atloat in Masterton which; if true, go a long way towards justifying his protest. Of course no one expects a Gas Manager to bo a Sir Charles Graudison or a polite letter writer, the main point is whether he was interfered with improperly wbilo exercising the duties of his office, and if so, bow and by whom. As Mr Collins is about to leave Masterton, itwould be well to have these points cleared up prior to bis departure, otherwise the same causes which liayp apparently led to the loss of ouo goodinau may lead up to tlio loss of another good man—if the tow" happens to be foi'tmintq in securing a good. Olio in its new manager, ft Is necessary to speak out somewhat plainly in this matter, because certain statements are circulating about the town winch ought to be either confirmed or contradicted. We aro told tlmt nn occasional hand received temporary employment at tlio works on the recommendation of a friend in the Council, and that when Mr Collins, the Manager, dispensed with the services of this'hand forigood. and sufficient reasons, the, Councillor interested went down to the'workg and interfered with the Manager in a very undesirable manner, The Councillor in question is a member of the Gas Committee, butisjiiotits Chairman, and clearly lm'd no right to exercise patronage in" respect to the staff at the works, or to interfere in any way with the Manager other than through his chief. We do not affirm that the Councillor in (luestion has exercised oi 1 iitt&niptcd to*exercise patronage, or thatjie did interfere with the' Manager when that official tp,qk a,certain ncsessnry.step with respect to an occasional hand, | but it is said in the town that he did fp, and it is for the honour of the Council that such statements should be either verified or disproved. 'lf a certain Councillor did interfere with the. Manager, aud; his; interfei'i eiicojedup, to the loss .of iho sejr : vices of that.officer, [then- the, culprit ought no longer to remain a member i of the Gas Comniittee,'' No bnsiness undorfaking. I can I be carried .out pro- , fashion thulia plain, straightforward man liko Mr- Cbllifla ii rieees- ; Pjljy to ijjpf up .bniet, jiri . trust he .'w ii 1 cti}l e'tl upon' tjy pouncil'to wh?pieiv connection : jvjt| to. matter, p.f'ijn 1 hand, - j enco'wi the o| any -.- j

' The public -donotiike mystery!, oven in educational matters.':'■ There' was aniysterv mw the late annual! exftminatious.;ittp'd,... tho Masterton School Committee has unwisely de-clined-to investigate it. There would have been a further mystery over the Inspector's report- only. the' Com.mitteefortunatoly made a stand out this point. There are too many mysteries already, tho Minister of Education being one, the Board another, and the Committee occasionally a third. Some of the mysterios avo slightly amusing. ..'After the. Board witli " bell, book, and candle" abolished corporal punishment an urchin in a public school came home exultant 'and proudly exclaimed " there woro'four sticks broken in oui l school this morning," The particular mysterylast oyening. of • the School Committee, was tho falling off i° the annual' examiniitipn. . Last j T ear , s)i'etui ; ns-gave ; per cent of passes for this year.'s yi?lddd.7s per cent,,- Last year's,passes for, the sixth- standard were 95 per cent, this year's 46 per cent; for the fifth standard last year 90 per cent, this yehr 42 per cent. Now why should there be auy mystery or concealment about plain matters of fact of this Wild ' Oil .tlid face of them they demand explanation and why should the School Committee burka necessary enquiry. The general efficiency of tho School is excellent, but why this tremendous fall in the barometer ?