Random Remarks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 104, 22 October 1908, Page 4

Random Remarks.

[Contributions to this column are always welcome from any part of the district. The Editor does not vouch for the authenticity of the stories, nor is he responsible for the criticisms.]

Te Kuiti evidently docs not possess what is commonly called a reading public, judging from the sort of library the said public is content with. An opinion proffered by a resident when discussing the library question was that in all places that had just begun to "hustle," the library was neglected until the hustlers had time to draw breath, and become possessed of a desire to improve their surroundings. Such an insidious and pernicious theory may carry en the surface a certain suspicion of reason, but when subjected to close scrutiny and comparison will be promptly and properly thrown overboard. Still it is quite natural that the self respecting citizens should become apologetic, and use any old time worn excuse for having no better library than Te Kuiti can boast.

"Books in the running brooks, sermons in the stones, and good in everything," may content the contemplative lover of nature who has time to devote to the task, and possesses a lofty scorn for printed ideas, but ordinary humanity draws both recreation and instruction from a well equipped library. Moreover, those who are desirous of assisting in the development of the race, as well as the progress of the place will find in a public library about the handiest possible medium for achieving their desires. It is amusing to note the attitude of various people to whom mention of the library is made. All agree as to the desirableness of a decent institution, and hope means will be devised to establish it. The fact that each individual is equally interested never seems to strike them sufficiently hard to stir them to even attend a meeting; their chief concern is as to whether it is going to cost them anything. Obviously the more people who become interested in any object, the less the attainment of that object is going to cost. It is rumoured that other places have established libraries, even before millionaire Carnegie became prodigal with library donations. Certainly the timely demise of some old and respected inhabitant who spent his existence in hoarding money to bequeath to his native town, has been found a simple and satisfactory solution. The writer delicately offered the foregoing suggestion to Te Kuiti's "grand old man" the other day, but the remark was not received with marked enthusiasm. When one comes to think of it, there are difficulties in the way. The only thing left apparently is for the public to take a hand.

Things political are beginning to hum, and the air (and newspapers) is filled with the declamations of partisans, in the frantic endeavour to convince people that "Short is the friend, not Codlin." The idea which obesses the politician that the free and indepen dent elector requires to be talked into a state of coma, before he is qualified to decide how to vote, is hard to account for. Sad to relate the newspapers are evidently possessed of the same peculiar weakness, and show little mercy to their readers £in this respect. However, in extenuation it may be remarked that newspapers can always be avoided, or (tragic thought) even burned _if they become too persistent. Unfortunately the politician is difficult to avoid, nor does he make good fuel. If all the electorates were as extensive as Taumaranui things would not be so bad. Electors would have to be content with fleeting glimpses of candidates, and speeches would of necessity be short and to the point.

Talking of extensive electorates it should be noted that Mr Jennings declares he "has his knife" into the members of the Boundaries Committee for assigning to Taumaranui the casual ends of most of the North Island electorates. To soften the blow, and temper the wind of the shorn lamb, the member was told the reason for the action was that he had proved himself the unrivalled champion among backblock representatives, and they considered the best thing to do was to give him the job all to himeslf. Such a statement proclaims convincingly that even Parliamentary Committees have momentary inspirations closely allied to genius. Unfortunately, like most inspirations, the spell did not last long enough to carry the idea to a satisfactory conclusion. Such an electorate should, as a matter of course, carry with it the portfolio of Roads and Bridges, with the free run of the Treasury, in order to make the billet satisfactory, either to the member or to the electors. Without such an addition the distinction is a rather doubtful one. Just imagine the member for such an electorate, during session and in recess, being bombarded with applications from each of the numerous centres in his district, and expected to give each his sole and undivided attention. In order to prove sufficiently alluring to most business men, such a position would require to be endowed with treble the amount of honorarium it is at-present. Presumably, however, there are alleviations, as few politicians willingly forswear the attracitons of the talking shop and come up smiling at election time.