MANGAROA FOR THE MANGAROANS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 261, 21 May 1910, Page 2

MANGAROA FOR THE MANGAROANS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Your correspondent "Mangaroa" or "Mangaroan" (are they identical?), haa taken incalculable paina to impress upon your numerous readers—(l) that children are "parrots"—which is absurd; (2) that I "wail"—does he know the meaning of the word? (3) that my recent letter is a "diatribe" —he must have a curious process of reasoning; (4) that [ am "impertinant"—oh, dear! (5) that Otangiwai settlers have been under the Government's parental control. So has your correspondent though he apparently 'knows it not; the fact is that none of the settlers are more dependent on Government aid than in other newlysettled districts, and though this was the last portion of the Ohura to be thrown open, the settlers are as far advanced as any other part of the Ohura. It ill becomes a business man (such as I believe Mangaroan to be) to decry a body of most energetic settlers in the Ohura, many of whom, moreover, own large areas of from 500 to 2000 acres, and have not gone to the Government for a sliilling; (6) that "my hitting is entirely at random"—my hitting discovered your correspondent Mangaroan at any rate. Now, Mr Editor, can a sane man find any cogent arguments, or any legitimate answers to my questions in such specimens of balderdash? Then, again, he has made a ridiculous attempt at answering some of the questions, while the remainder seem to have him completely befogged. Perhaps he is waiting until he sees the chairman again—he seems to be the chairman's "poll-parrot"—before committing further hHiscretiona in cold type. Concerning my original contentions he is as silent as the gravewhy? Because, being true, he cannot refute I will now deal with the questions and the "iamc" answers seriatim. 1. (Ratepayers on the rolls of the various ridings)— Not answered, reason obvious. 2. (Capital valuations of respective ridings)— Not answered, reason again obvious. 3. (Why should a County Council procure a site and erect saleyards at Mangaroa)?— Reply—Otangiwai and Mati-re non-beneficiary. True, no doubt, but our rates would help to pay for them. A more truthful reply would have been as follows: A private firm has erected saleyards at Matiere because of its central situation, but they look askance at Mangaroa because of its inaccessibility.. The Council made use of its present illegal "Mangaroan" majority to try -to alter this arrangement. The Commissioner naively replied "that saleyards are a matter for private enterprise." The Council's general outlook is that of a town board, and have already established the fact that Mangaroa for the Mangaroans is the policy habitually pursued. Question 4. (Metal for Mangaroa township —none for rest of County).—Reply: You lack acquaintance with actual facts and accurate information. Just so. Deny that the Council tried to extend the metalling at Mangaroa this year, if you dare. Question 5. (Is an expenditure of £3BO for chambers at Mangaroa judicious out of a paltry £6OO in rates) ?—Reply: Handsome structure remains an asset—seven cockatoos carried it—the illegal Mangaroan majority carried it—not the 7 Councillors. A poll of ratepayers would hang up the matter indefinitely. The Waitorno (our parent County) is only now erecting an office, at a greatly reduced price, too (£278), and this in a rising town like Te Kuiti, which has risen to the status of a borough. But then Mangaroa is a city of some importance! And poor struggling "cockatoos" are "fair game" for the city man who thrives upon their industry. Question 6. (13 two members out of seven fair representation)?— Reply: Question shows lack of information a3 to boundaries, etc. That is no answer it is merely a comment, the question—you evade as usual. I am surprised that you argue that one-third equals two-sevenths. Question 7. (Why Tongaporutu riding is in existence?) —Reply: The question impertinent. The chairman, a capable energetic man to say nothing of the area (of the chairman, presumably), yet to be thrown open for settlement." The chairman must be "a-swellin' wisibly" according to your correspondent. Does this, even if true, constitute an excuae for unfair allocation of ridings? Does not this answer prove, up to the hilt, that these ridings were so apportioned as to make Mangaroa paramount? The ■Jd rate on Tongaporutu's capital valuation is a paltry £35. This would barely suffice to pay an energetic chairman's travelling allowance. It is a disgrace to the county that such a small rateable area should constitute a riding, when others of £51,000 anil £45,000 have only one representative.

ly as bad as Tongaporutu in this respect. ; Your correspondent advances prospective settlement as justification. Here again both Otangiwai and Matiere win in a canter. If property ■. valuation for rating purpos:s is the ' voter's qualification (as is the case) then it should also be the basis on which ridings and representation are apportioned. I should not be surprised to see the two northern ridings double the last valuation at the next visit of the Valuer. Your questions, dear, Mangaroan, are entirely irrelevant to the subject, and are only red herrings drawn across the scent to confuse the questions at issue. I might, with equal justice, ask you the same questions, but as it would only elicit the bare fact that you pay a few pence in county rates, I shall refrain. As it suits my purpose, I shall answer yours. I am a ratepayer of some years' standing. I am not an aspirant for County honou-t, never have been, and am not desirous of being so. The riding members at this end are good men and true; but, when it comes to voting, the Mangaroa illegal majority wins every time. I shall always use my pen in the interests of common justice, and should feel very un-British should I fail to do so. In conclusion I urge your correspondent to stitch leather and leave letter-writing alone. He may know something of the former, but as for the latter, he is too much of a tyro to have much success, as his efforts abundantly show.- -lam, etc., OTANGIWAI CORRESPONDENT. (The correspondents are one and the same. The "N," now in place, was a missing letter. But will correspondents please oe brief, as well as brotherly? These very long letters play havoc with our space, and other matter of general interest suffers.— Ed. K.C.C.)