THE COMING ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 510, 5 September 1902, Page 3

THE COMING ELECTION.

VOTES OR BRIBES. A UNIQUE SUGGESTION. (To tho Editor of the Times.) Sir. — With the general election close ahead of us it may bo well to consider under which of tho above hoads the grants which will shortly appear in the Public Works Estimates are to bo classed. Aro they to be takon as instalments of the customary pro-election soft-soap, or are they to bo regarded as genuino allocations for tho development of tho districu ’? We, who are unfortunate enough to live in tho back country, may bo said to have no politics, or rather that our political horizon consists of three simplo lines. The first of these is roads, the second bridges, and the third —more roads. We have little or no interest in royal visits, in coronation shows, in military displays, or in any of thoso bottomless pits for tho absorption of unexpended road votes. Wo simply ask that money authorised by our representatives should bo used for the purposes specified, or that wo be plainly told that these votes appear on the estimates for ornamental purposes only. With regard to tho railway there can be no doubt that the votes passed have beon spent, and if this year sufficient money is provided to build the Kaiterafcahi bridge, it will be as much as can bo expectod. But in tho case of roads, matters are in a very different position. Grants actually made to the County Council havo been cancelled, and for the last six months the department of roads has done practically nothing with the money voted last session. Country people aro for tho most part somowhat inarticulate, and seeing that it is only once in three years that they have a chance of speaking in a manner which is likely to be attonded to, they naturally look to townsfolk, who are in constant touch with politicians, to help thorn in public matters. It is stated on apparently good authority that there are even now funds available for works in this district, and that if townspeople had displayed as much interest in these matters as they havo dono in squabbling over a tinpot band rotunda, the road works would havo gono on as steadilyas they did last year. There is an opinion frequently expressed that road works can only be carried on to good advantage in tho summer. This is not correct. A large proportion, probably one-third, of the cost of a road consists of timber-work culverts, bridges, etc., and no roadmakor who knew

his business, would, unless tied and bound in tho fetters of rod-tape, think of cutting tho timber for this work except in the winter. Road work should bo carried on continuously, othorwiso the work done in tbo summer goes to ruin in tho winter. We are getting into the spring now, and oven if work wero started immediately, with a full staff of men after tho past winter’s neglect, it would take pretty well until Christmas to repair the roads made last summor. Nearly the wholo of the expense would have been unnecessary if a modorate number of men had been kept

on during tho winter. Tho Farmers Union have stepped in tho [right direction in demanding from Parliamentary candidates an assuranco that local votes shall not be left at tho mercy of a single Minister in defiance of the expressed will of Parliament. But the Union do not go far enough. What will they get iu answer to such a question boyond a hustings promise) What is wanted is a guarani ee, and that guarantee should be, 11 that the elected member should leave his signed resignation in the hands of his constituents, with tho understanding that if a vote was cancelled without due cause his election should be cancelled also.” This may seem to be an heroic remedy, but the disease is a desperate ono to some of us at least, and a single application would probably be sufficient. A member would at least take care to see that none of these cruel shams I appeared on tho estimates for his elcc--1 torate, and far-out settlers would be able ' to decide whether it was worth while to continue their, at present, almost hopeless ! battlo with tho wilderness. —I am, etc., Far Back.