RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 565, 7 May 1913, Page 2

RANDOM REMARKS.

By Onlooker.

Time is frequently mishandled in a most shameful manner by people with ideas on various subjects. "Time is money," is a statement which has been made in the firm belief that the utterance is the epitome of common sense business. It may seem to bn to some people, but I cannot bring myself to beilove the Te Kuiti Borough Council candidates are the reckless spendthrifts their public speeches would seem to indicate. In wooing the suffrages at the recent election one candidate after the other was recklessly prodigal with his promises regarding time. To the impartial observer it seemed as though one of the qualifications necessary to efficiency in a councillor was a superfluity of time to devote to public matters If the bold assumption that time is money is correct the public are receiving money under false pretences. It is safe to assert that the average elector in registering his or her vote in favour of a candidate considers the favour is being conferred by the voter. In anv case the adage quoted, like all generalisations is only partly correct. Some people's time may represent money,but there are several acquaintances of mine who would willingly exchange a round or two of the clock for currency. Possibly the councillors regard the position in a somewhat similar light.

Disquieting rumours are being circulated in connection with the recent Borough Council elections. Nothing definite is known as to the circumstances concerning which the tongue of rumour is busy, and probably the matter is being magnified beyond all reasonable bounds. It is an open secret that a certain successful candidate was materially assisted at the poll as a result of a secret, but very active ladies' committee. It is now stated that the efforts of tho devoted few were not allowed to go unrewarded. It is not suggested that direct payment for votes was either given or received, but when a man is a poultry fancier he can take a keen interest in the 'improvement of his neighbours' poultry stock. That the interest should take the material form of gifts of choice birds just prior to the election cannot be considered bribery within the meaning of the Act, does not render the offence any the less grave from the moral standpoint. However, it is well known that the successful politician is the person who manifests a sympathetic interest in the domestic details of his constituents, and the candidate referred to is evidently destined to go far in bis political career.

The cireuitous methods of Tammanyism are well known in older countries, but fortunately the Dominion of New Zealand has kept remarkably free from the dreaded influence hitherto. There is just a suspicion, however, that Te Kuiti in the feverish haste for progress and the deßire to go one better than its neighbours is in danger of taking a step on t e path which has led other communities to the verge of ruin. The electric light is a boon to the town, but it is remarkable that certain prominent citizens, in a locality to which it wa3 not originally intended to carry the current,have succeeded in having lamps placed outside their garden gates. The gentlemen referred to are said to be closely connected with the Citizen's League, and both of them are old and respected residents. There may be nothing in the suggestions of Tammany ism, but the Ratepayers' Association would be doing good work by enquiring into cases of this description. Something i 3 necessary to sooth the public mind.

Shooting season opened last week, and the air has been thick with the smoke of powder throughout the district. Never before in the history of the King Country, have sportsmen evinced such keenness in the chase. The reward so far has hardly been commensurate with the effort, but the joy of action in itself is something worth living for. Possibly the scarcity of birds accounts for the action of a man who . has hitherto been regarded as a sport. IS isan unwritten law of the chase, that no sport will attempt to shoot a sitting bird, except in self defence. It is related of the alleged'sport that he not. only shot a bird on the ground but that the bird was dead, having brought down by another one of the party. It is stated by the in dividual in question in extenuation that the bird was only wounded, and was in dangerous mood, but judgment on the whole matter is suspended until full details are available. There have been otner remarkable happenings since the season opened, but in fairness to the public, shooting yarns have to be carefully edited before publication.

A backblocks trip is not always an unmitigated joy, but occasionally things are seen and heard on the road which compensate for much. Recently in the Ohura district several travellers met at the house of a mutual friend and were prevailed upon to have luncheon. A Scotchman who is a keen politician formed one of the party. He related that he had recently been medically examined and pronounced a fit subject for death within a year. He was not looking for sympathy. He said "1 do not fear death, but what I do regret is that I will not be here for the next election to vote for my old friend." "Could you not get an absent voter's permit?" said the cheery wife of the host,