PAROCHIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 518, 3 September 1902, Page 2

PAROCHIAL POLITICS.

The banquet on Monday night brought out some strong points that must still be remembered when we have turned from the jollification to apply our thoughts again to the more serious side of things. His Worship the Mayor succeeded in j drawing an admission and also a vague I promise from the Native Minister on the subject of the placing of votes on the Estimates that are not spent. Mr Carroll admitted that the present was a cap-in-band system by which a member sought grants for his district and those amounts were set down in the Estimates without in many cases much chance of their being spent. Mr Carroll rejoiced in the day when there would be a fair allocation, hut while admitting the condition of things that now existed he placed the blame first on the members of parochial ideas, who set the local above the general interests, and then byway of apology the blame was thrust upon the system. The admission was lightly made ; indeed there could be no denial, but for reform we were referred to cloud-land, in the form of some mysterious system of local Government by which the exact infinitesimal proportions due to each district would be allocated. Mr Hutches m quickly clinched the point, and gave the opportunity for incisive remarks by Mr DeLautour. Mr Hutcheson promptly noted the admission made by the Minister, and expressed his pleasure that “ the most amiable and best liked member of the Government” had cast in his lot with the refoimers, which he claimed the Opposition were. He made a striking contrast of the position of the city member as compared with one who represented a country constituency, and said that ho sympathised with a country member. For his own part lie had never asked for a vote, either “ cap in hand ” or any other way ; but the fact was that he had no need to, as he was in the fortunate position of representing a city constituency. Towards the finish Mr DeLautour made an eloquent speech, showing the utter nonsense of trying to divide the colony’s funds into exact parts. He pointed out that in such a wide and fertile district as this, settled by a handful of people, who had had no assistance from Government endowments such as prevailed in the earlier days, the colony had a noble heritage which it was for them to develop, for by such development they would be enriching the colony as well as doing a service to the district. While our member is to bo commended for his desire even at this late hour of the day to reform a system or want of system that has been a disgrace to the colony, he must surely give heed to the remarks made b.y Mr DeLautour. A short tour in this district will soon convince anyone of the force of those remarks. Thu people of a sparsely-settled but fertile district have to agitate unceasingly to obtain some semblance of roads. And rvhat happens then, when success has been so far achieved ? The road is completed, and then the responsibility is thrown upon an impecunious County Council that is never able to extricate itself from difficulties, and what should be a blessing becomes to some extent a curse. The harassed County Council, having already more than it can do to maintain short stages of road, has to discharge its maintenance men in the middle of winter, when they are most needed, and iias to resort to all sorts of expedients, besides paying heavy interest, to keep things going ut all. Locally wo havo had the humiliation —though in one sense a splendid fact —of a County Councillor offering to give his personal guarantee so that the maintenance men might be kept on in the winter. And now, as we havo touched on tho local phase of the subject, let anyone contrast this district with a city constituency. Here it can be said without hesitation there is some of tho best land in tho colony, but thousands of acres aro contributing little or nothing to the general revenue, and wo are afraid that recent native legislation is not going to help us very much in the matter. The cost of metal for roading is enormous ; oven tho bountiful rainfall so precious to farmers is a disadvantage in connection with roads. In every way, indeed, there aro disadvantages that a man of luxuries in the cities hardly knows of. Would Mr Carroll really give us to understand that in urging the rapid development of a treasure-store such as the colony possesses in this district wo are guilty of “ parochialism ?” And if this be parochialism, then for goodness sake let us have more of it in tho colony. A business man would look upon it as a first-class investment, and we cannot see why because a man happens to bo a Minister of the Crown he should hold any other view. In England the other day Mr Seddon made a speech that attracted attention far and wide, The main feature of the speech was the reference to the splendid progress that was being made in tho development of New Zealand’s resources. Figures were given showing tho exports of meat, minerals, etc. It is true that a great deal of that progress has been attained without Government aid : tho peoplo of this district know that- well. But if anyone had got up and flouted Mr Seddon with such remarks as that it was parochial politics to seek aid for the development of rich districts, in tho way of roads and bridges, wo can fancy tho glare there would havo been in tho Premier’s eye, and the severity with which he would have trounced the person making such a remark. What wo really require in this colony is more of what has been stigmatised as parochial politics, and less of tho flosh-in-the-pan system by which thousands of pounds aro wasted without hope of return, when half tho sum invested in tho opening up of tho country districts would immediately, directly or indirectly, pay handsome Interest to the colony.

Captain Edwin wired yesterday : Strong southerly winds ; glass fall ; tides good ; sea heavy on coast, but moderating after 10 hours from now. The last four days of Eure’s half-yearly sale is announced and a special inset in regard to the same appears in this morning’s Times. A big range of prints, muslins, lawns, and sateens, bought late last season, are to be cleared at great reductions. The name of Mr W. L. Rees was emitted from the list of those present at the banquCf oa Monday evening. The tfianks of the district ai’C (? ne f° J\ ees for organising tho excursion, and geffY?£

so many members to make the visit.

An entertainment of an attractive Lind is to be given in the Wesley schoolroom to-morrow evening in connection with the Wesleyan Band of Hope, and should draw a large attendance. The programme includes a laughable dialogue. There will he no charge for admission, but a collection will be taken up. Mr E. H. Taylor concluded his series of temperance addresses at the Theatre Royal last evening, when he gave an illustrated lecture entitled “ Tho Witness Box.” There was a large attendance, and the lecturer received a most attentive hearing. The question was dealt with from a moral, religious, and economical point of view, and in conclusion Mr Taylor made a strong appeal to his audience to support the principle of no license at the coming election.

1 Yesterday morning Auckland reported fresh S.S.W. wind, cloudy, moderate sea at Tiritiri; Napier, fresh, S.S W., blue I cloudy sky ; strong S.W wind at Wairoa and heavy sea and bad bar ; heavy sea at Castlepoint ; Wellington, S. breeze, blue cloudy sky, heavy sea Cape Campbell, and very heavy at Kaikoura ; Christchurch, light S.W., blue cloudy sky: heavy seas Timaru and Oamaru ; Dunedin, S.W, breeze, blue cloudy sky ; moderate sea at Port Chalmers, and heavy at Nuggets Point. At the meeting of the Borough Council last night reference was made to petty thefts in the borough. The poundkeeper reported that the wire had been taken off and stolen from the paddock adjoining the pound. It was mentioned that some time ago the wire had been stolen from the park. The Town Clerk stated that the poundkeeper had caught one man, who had dug up two posts from the paddock near the pound, taken the wire off’, and got his horse out. Cr Miller: “Why did he not lay an information ? ” The Clerk stated that though the poundkeeper was quite satisfied himself as to the man's identity he could not be sure enough to : sweat to it,

An impounding n nice in regard to the Ormond pound appears in this issue. A special summoned meeting of Lodge Turangantit, U. -.U.D., will be held tomorrow evening at S o’clock.

Some beautiful bouquets were presented to 1 tiie third member for the district ’j, prior 10 iiis departure from Gisborne. For the information of those who do not know, it may he said that Mr E. M. Smith termed himself tire third member for the distiict.

In the course of his remarks at the banquet 0:1 Mon lay night Mr Hutcheson said that money was placed on tho Estimates by Ministers to placate members, whose object it was to placate constituencies. It served the purpose of both, though both well knew that this money would not he forthcoming.

At the Parliamentary banquet the Hon. Mr Rigg stated that with others 110 came to Gisborne twenty ago to assist in the starting of a newspaper. Unfortunately it had not succeeded, or ho would probably have been a resident of Gisborne still, but even when he was far away from New Zealand’s shores he had remembered with pleasure the happy time he bad spent in Gisborne, and his thoughts had turned to the many kindnesses he had received, no had thought- of the joyous sports they had indulgedin ; of the lovely Waimata river, where he had first learned to swim, and of the many pleasant companionships ho had made. It was the first time in his life that ho had set out from home and friends, but on reaching Gisborne ho had been mot by the same open-handed hospitality and kindness on tho part of tho peoplo of Gisborne, that they had experienced on tho present visit. Though he had left friends when ho first came here he soon fonnd that ho was again among friends, and ho would never forget the many pleasant associations of his residence in Gisborne. He hoped that in tho future he would again be able to pay a visit. He trusted that the district would have a full share of prosperity. Tho Police Court was engaged yesterday morning hearing a charge of theft preferred against a young man named Walter Thomas, who was charged with stealing the sum of £1 from Jeremiah Murphy, billiard-marker, at tho Masonic Hotel. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that accused had paid Is fid for the use of tho billiard table, and had offered in payment a £5 note, receiving in tho way of change five single notes and 18s fid in silver. After hearing evidence for the defenco His Worship said he was satisfied that tho accused received £5 18s fid in change for tho £5. There could be no doubt that ho was well aware that 110 had received £1 too much, and that being so, and having retained it and refused to give it up, he was, in His Worship’s opinion, guilty of theft. Sentence was deferred until tho report of tho Probation Officer was received. Loavo to test the ruling of the Court was asked for by Mr Lysuar, who contended that the accused had a “ color of right,” as defined by tho moaning of theft, to take tho extra £1 when it was offered to him, oven though ho knew that there was £1 too much. None of tho witnesses had stated that tho accused knew that there was £1 extra, and tho remody must bo by civil action. Counsel’s application was granted.