RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 111, 30 November 1908, Page 5

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.]

To the new Waitomo County Council, greetings! and to the new Chairman, salutations! Verily and of a truth man is a strange being, and the inconsistencies of the altogether sane and desirable individual are confusing to reflective fellow* mortals. The man who yearns for parliamentary distinction is somewhat understandable, compared with him who voluntarily offers himself up on the alter of public selfishness, and devotes valuable time und effort to managing the public business, while the said public calmly accepts such service as a right, and in addition uses the Britisher's birthright of free criticism to the utmost.

The spectacle of men competing for honarary public positions is one which may give rise to conflicting emotions, according to the taste and fancy of the individual. At such times the merits and demerits (moslty the latter) of the aspirants are fully discussed, and the man who enters public life with an open, saint-like record, and an abiding trust in his fellow man, emerges shortly possessed of nothing but a heap of shattered illusions. Gone is the saintly name; departed is the faith in human greatness, and vanished forever is the glamour of public life. Still — there is always a but —all is not vanity, and pubile business is carried on despite these drawbacks. Joking apart, the public have much to be thankful for in obtaining men to work for them, and often at considerable personal sacrifice. The Waitomo County Council in particular, is not the best positioned of local bodies in the Domonion, for obvious reasons. However, now that the first blush of youthful modesty has been overcome, there are signs of better times, and the responsibilities attaching to maturity are being accepted and dealt with accordingly.

Rolls are bulking largely in the public eye at present and forming food for discussion among all sections of the community. I allude not to the material breakfast variety of roll, but to the record which notifies that John Smith is a resident of a certain place, and is duly qualified to exercise the franchise. There are many reasons why John Smith should be on the roll, and should feel aggrieved when he is not there, providing he has made an intelligent effort to achieve such object. Some of him argue that being on the roll denotes convincingly that he is not in gaol, or a lunatic asylum, and his respectability is thus proclaimed to the world. To the thinking mind it must be obvious, that if he is in one place he cannot be elsewhere. Wherefore, and ot a truth, his argument holds good. As regards the County roll, the fact of John Smith being there usually indicates that he has paid his rates, thus further enhancing his reputation. There are divers other reasons why Smith should desire'to be on the roll, among which may be mentioned the fact that he has to pay his rates whether he is on the roll or in gaol. Moreover, Smith may remember that battles had to be fought, and sacrifices made in the shape of life and liberty and lands, by his forefathers, in order to win him the privilege of getting on the roll. Altogether Smith seems to have a good case and the writer extends him the hand of sympathy in his efforts, and trusts the roll will include has name in future.