THE REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF TBE GREY VALLEY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1855, 16 July 1874, Page 2

THE REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF TBE GREY VALLEY.

[to the editor.] Sir— Many weeks have passed by since Messrs Corbett and M'Guire returned from the Provincial Council, and with the exception of the reported speech of Mr M'Guire, at Jo Town, and- a few remarks from Mr -Corbett,, stating that -he reserved his address for some future occasion, these, gentlemen seem to have allowed their constituents, not happily located: in No Town, to have glided out of .their [memory as though they were totally unworthy, politically, of receiving anything but their sovereign contempt. No doubt, in a measure, such a correction may be deserved by the majority of the upper Grey Valley voters, for having at the last two elections shown such bad judgment (?) in recording their votes against Messrs Corbett and M'Guire, but is their silence and extreme want of courtesy likely to enlist -their late opponents on their side whan: the next election takes place? I should fear not ; the fact would most likely militate most seriously agairit them. My foregoing conjectures may be incorrect ; the cause of their" avoiding us may perhaps befouiid in the . great difficulty to-be surmounted of rr their not having any substantial, good to chronicle or state of themselves,, and rather than risk the questioning of a public meeting they prefer to feinain passive, bearing with philosophical dignity all the odium attached to : their ungentlemanly conduct. .InMrM'GuireVjSEeech we have a qualified, promise that the,; 'sum of L 1875 shall be spent on public works in the Valley, but that gentleman seems to have an inward conviction that the amount cannot be raised, else why hiß remark " that the present Government would spend the money as far as T it would 1 go." Truly, L 1875 is a -munificent Tsum to expend in the Grey Valley, especially when we take into; consideration tESt by the threatened discharge from the public service of two much-needed officers the Ahaura district alone will contribute the sum of L 750. ; Whilst talking of the contemplated great , loss of our; [Warden "and. Clerk, Icannokl but blame our M.P.C.'s for giving theic^ sanction to the reduction of expenditure in that /quarter. That ;they mustlhave been fully aware of the intendeds-step cannot be denied, else why vote the salaries in: block, .leaving ..the [Executive carte blanche to act in themajbter as they deemed fit? Surely the. most, obtuseheaded member of this constituency would not be. foolhardy enough to "deny the thorough impracticability of sdeh retrenchment, then how much more-unlikely for sage politicians to fail-to see the folly of the step. During the sitting of the Provincial Council I do not recollect reading that eithsr of the members introduced the subject of the Eandall Greek-^ater|ipce. Do they not think the uppWpart olf this district languishes for that one great want —water at a high level ? If such; shbuld be their opinion ; and motive 'for^not moving in the matter, then the sooner we take steps either to have the electorate divided, or in one loud voice request^one of the Wo Town members: to* resign 2 . his seat, as not haying the confidence, of-^the many, the speedier are our wants likely to be responded to: ' •■•' ■ - ■ '-.y-l Anyone reading the Road Board reports cannot avoid remarking how well supplied the worthy Chairman appears to ;be with motions for the other Members consideration, but the last meeting's utterances outshine all his former brilliant conceptions. I am glad to see that ".Messrs Alcorn and Cunningham maieVthekrbusiriess tact felt at these, meetings, .! else, we should have a queer state > of^affairs to face. What on earth could be : Mr ; Jones's mjjtive for wishing to give one tender of a larger amount a preference over another ? Was it a "feeler?" I ain"curibus to learn the arguments in ! favor of such a precedent. Voting extra sums' of] money to the Secretary and. Overseer* after?having received tenders for that appointment, is a piece of gross injustice to the public and to those who tendered for the situation. If perquisites and gifts were r to be allowed and given, wby not 1 have stated z t such in the .advertisement calling for tenders? Then anyone could have formed his own idea . of what ., extras v.might« be made worth, and have tendered accordingly. It appears^ that allowances may yet be given to the Secretary ; "when extra work is imposed on himjto^be. fixed as the occasion arose.'-' L 25 have already been paid for expenses. That sum; appears to : be only the small end of 'the LJwedge, and it is high" time that 'the Jibe^ity of the . Board received a check before more - money : is similarly, disposed of .-.VlThat the^j Secretary's salary ls.ridioulously lowland* that he' is a very efficient and energetic officer, I will willingly admit; yet he ia receiving what he contracted for, and if not satisfied, the' remedy lies ; in his. own hands, but the Board haa no right to make presen ts' with T the public mbneyj ' ■'* '*" f Apologising for > trespassing on %our valuable space, = ; - ■■' ' ■■■';_ ■ xr -' ■ ■' "' <y '-'■ -■''■■' -I am,-(&ci.j, ' ! r ,'■'_"/ ;'.'^ Ahaura, July' 14.' " ;l v; '''"'''' .'.]'.,. 'l. :: \