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Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1924, Page 2

Pr was disclosed at this week's meeting of the Westland County Council that that body bus about reached tlio end of its liiiiiucial tether ill the matter of mianteuance of the roads, so niiieh affected of late by the heavy motor traffic. It was stated on Tuesday, if relief under the motor licensing by-law. or by payment on account of royalties taken from tlio Council, were not I'ortbcnmiiig very soon, it would lie necessary to slop all heavy traffic on the roads under tin.' provision of the Public Works Act. This would iiioaii that heavy traffic defined to be a ton and a half to each pair of wheels oil the vehicle, would be stopped absolutely up to tbe end of September. Tins would have a disorganising effort on tbe saw milling industry in particular where the product of the mills is liapled over the roads. In addition, the maintenance gangs are to lie reduced Lv dispensing with tbe burses and drays employed. As some nine teams are engaged this would mean that tbe roads would go back in condition and all traffic would lie inconvenienced. The Council has not resolved on this desperate aetion without eause. It was explained that for tbe past four months of the year the jate of expenditure has been inordinately high. Nearly CO.OOO worth of accounts have had to be met. and the Council has not the resources to go further. Prudence therefore calls a halt. The general body of ratepayers have bad to bear tbe burden, and tbe Council is not disposed to run further into debt seeing that the cause is outside of ordinary wear and tear, and fur the benenl of a class of tradio whidi while requiring so much from the mads, makes no contribution at all to their upkeep. The Council has therefore to not ill 'Sellpreservation. Il is to be hoped that tbe Chairman will not have to 011l'orce the restrictions on traffic, and that in tlk* altei native tlio Council will derive the necessary lowers to levy taxation on these using the roads so hardly, and calling for such sustained exjic’idit.ure to ensure passable traffic conditions. This aspect of the matter is likely to lie determined decisively this week.

It is not surprising to find tbe Labor paper in this i onstiliiency taking up tlie cudgels for tbe sitting Member for Westland. Where Mr O'Brien is concerned the "Argus" of cour-e lit.* all it- eyes for its champion, and can see not any virtue in another. However. although the "Argus" devotes a column to the subject it conics back in the end to the conclusion we had tunned a> to the probable outcome of the next election contest, namely, wliat amount of sincerity there is in the mi'iiy concerned opinions expressed as to tbe dissatisfaction felt with the present representative for Westland. As before, so now. there is not likely to be any two opinions as to the result of a straight out political contest between the sitting iiienibeand the e.x-Member. It is to the credit ••f Mr O'Brien that no one has more readily conceded that eventuality than he has done, both formerly and 110 doubt as to the coming contest. It is for the people of Westland to make up their minds betimes as to the brand of representative desired and in a straight-forward duel. Mr Seddon should win. Tn a triangular contest as before, the position is largely in favour of Labour as the split of the anti-Labor candidate vote last year

showed plainly. If the constituents desire a straight-out contest, Mr Sed-

don is the candidate-elect because he was the runner up at the last election. The immediate cause of his defeat was tile vote-splitting of a very strong anti-l.abor vote, and it is manifest if that vote were recorded in glolio for one candidate instead of two or more, the Labor representative would be tlie out. Of nearly 8,000 votes recorded at last election. Labor received less than 3<)l!0. Mr Seddon was less than 500 behind the Labor enudiate. so that 2,500 votes, or more are to be accounted for. Mr O’Brien’s quota of the number to he divided cannot lie large, so that the result of the election would he a foregone conclusion. But we must wait and nee, as the political leaders say at Home. Meantime, it is interesting to note the ‘•Argus” is so much perturbed in 'advance at the very thought of impending possibilities. Evidently ;tho Labor paper is not too comfortable at l’ie prospects.