Doings in the darkrooms

Aversion to light persists in government and governance hereabouts.

metaphor we’re stretching out here.

This they did in the expectation that they’d soon be able to present the world with a presentable, black-andwhite image.

The digital age has overtaken such practices in our own field but the aversion to light persists in government and governance hereabouts.

There’s been one case where illumination has confounded what was shaping up to be if not quite a black-and-white outcome, then at least a not-too-vivid grey one.

The contention that Cluthasouthland MP Todd Barclay had secretly taped his electorate agent Glenys Dickson hadn’t been proven to the satisfaction of investigating police. Notwithstanding that Barclay’s own lack of assistance, on legal advice, hadn’t helped the integrity of the exercise.

Now enough extra information has emerged and to cause sufficient agitation so not only is Barclay standing down at the election, and the investigation is re-opened.

But there’s also acute and abiding public interest in the conduct or comments of other party figures, including Prime Minister Bill English.

In the same neck of the woods, The Community Trust of Southland has contrived to keep the light away from the background to its announcement of the resignation of longstanding chief executive John Prendergast.

In this case also, the darkness hasn’t diminished public interest. It has added more, even, and a sense of mystery. It’s caused concern, if not alarm.

A bunch of former CTOS trustees is still working to persuade Associate Finance Minister Amy Adams to investigate the circumstances around Prendergast’s departure, while making it abundantly clear that the man himself is not the object of their reproach.

Again, plenty of negatives but nothing is black and white.