OPEN COLUMN

Golden Bay Argus, Volume 1, Issue 44, 29 March 1884, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN

(We publish the letters of our correspondents because that (in a certain seise) is a duty we owe to them and to the public, all we ask is that they and not us; be responsible for their sou tents. E G B A.) The Editor, Golden Bay Argus. •Sir.

Your report of the County Councils proceedings at the la3T meeting must bo looked upon by the Public as thoreaghly satisfactory. It is quite apparent that they at least are alive to their duties, and it must be noted with pleasure that those matters having rerevenoe to the best interests of Colliagwood and Takaka received their earnest attention The acknowledgement from the Government that they would not this season send a Surveyor on to the Downs Karamcn Road. and the necessity for passiug resolutions re monies which have been voted \ ear after year could only however be noticed with regret. Taia voting ol money year after year for Roads and Bridges which apparently the Government hav no inteuiten to construct, is a ridiculous iuree, waste of time and an insult to the Count 7.

What is our Member doing? what a £cm state of things it would be if our L®<»l Bodies were only to move when tbs Ratepayers were good enough to gst sp an isfipentiai deputation or a well signed' pet&ioa. praying them " to request, say tha Government to stick Bp bgbfa io the T&k aka Harbour, if b? dWag ao it would ant put them to too saneh incoavsniea >e. But perhaps the ©omparisoa is not fair. Perhaps an M B R. is net supposed to think for diet ric*, until he is requested to do ■o |p • particular favor, but only to be

approached with great deference and especially not to ho asked to interview Ministers about financial matters, because Ministers do hate such interviews and it is just as well to keep friendly. This voting of money without a notion of spending, and the treatment of this part of the County bv our Member is really getting amusing. He ought to get credit ferthe manner in which he has gulled ns so long. If he had the slightest idoa ot the importance of hi 3 position and how much depends on himself he would pay us a visit more frequently and get some idea as to what we want in the shape of assistance from the general Government, or he miirht attain this end in some other way Our County Councils aud Road Boards are ot verv little consequence in their dealings with the Government if not heartily supported by their member It therefore appears absurd that so much oftue time of our Local Bodies should be taken up with tnis sore subject of voted monies, when we have a tlirec 1 Representative who it he understood his duties could get at some definite uaderstaoding with the Government It is quite evident that if the ratepayers do not take a determined stand soon, thar it will become quite an understood thing that u is only necessary to continue the voting business, the spending being a matter of no consequence and scarcely expected Tue present »tate of auairs leads one to take a retrospect.

Undoubtedly the Electors are a enp-v ital talking comrr.unitv. Plenty of; talking add growling but when iricoines to an Election where are the Voters? It is absurd to hear r?marks and threatniugs forsuoth made bv manv in connection with even little local affairs, olways ending in smoke. Although the community is fairly 1 intelligent, there appears unfortunately to be an entire want of determination, i aud of combination to attain unv particular end. Th-rt; is no just reason why this should be so. i! the Electors could but realize how much is to be gained or lost by boinr well or badly represented whether in thd House or on a Road t.’oard, thev would have a better idea as to what combination meant. It wo do note undine at the next General Election aud go in lor a naan who will work for us, then the best thing to be .lone is to get this Section of the County divfrancliised as we will nut otherwise be worth a rrave, a kind, or even a calm thought.

Collingwood 25tb March, 1884

I am Ac. "Egress”.

We hear that £2O worth of Gold has been stolen from the but on the Welcome Claim at Orugpans Flat, some time last week*

The Barkly arrives to-day, and oa Thursday next, (3rd). Out Third Quarters Subscription is *8 due.