COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 226, 15 September 1905, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS.

(to the editor.) Sir, —We crave your kind assent for space for these our final remarks in reply to Cr H. Shaw and “ Alert.” If that portion of Te Maika road from the Taumatatotara junction to Marol kopa, as “ Alert ” suggests, had been placed on the list of urgent worki we would have been Sitiffied. We ’ay .naught against, but congratulateCr H. Shaw so far as be has gone. And we would here state that we did not do Cr Shaw justice in our first letter because we overlooked the tact that five miles of the Mahoenui road were part interest in our riding. But his policy, we beg to think, has not been extensive enough ; we would have liked to have seen some consideration given in *the direction indicated. Our member says, make .demands as moderote as possible, with more chance of gaining ttiat asked for; but the Government always takes a considerable percentage oil even' our * moderation.’ Our road system is like a young tree, and we should endeavour io cultivate at least its main brabches; there is no need for us to do any pruning—that expert pomologist, the Government, delights mutilating and will do .more pruning than enough, therefore give him plenty of wood to work on. It was this policy that induced us to advocate a wider scheme. We are persuaded that the southern portion of Te Maika road is most urgently needed, not alone by the settlers in the back < f our riding, for the interests of Marokopa and Kiritehere are identical with ours, and although they have not any legal claim to our consideration, still these settlers spend their money with us, and, therefore, our business men have great interests in our roads that must not be lost sight of. “Alert’s” mind does not seem to go beyond the direct interests of those already partially provided for. We reiterate “ Alert's ” remark that our frontage is the coast, and thia is proof that we are not writing alone for the interests of 8.8. & R. He is truly unjust to us when he states that we begrudge our fellow-settlers a few crumbs, for although we have no immediate prospects of getting our road, still we will always be ready to tdjoioe with those who are more fortunate than ourselves in this respect. “ Alert ” says that “ if Bell Bros, and Ross advocated Te Maika road to be formed from the Taumatatotara junction to the Marokopa road I co us i car they would have been asking for tbiir few crumbs. Then later on he says that it becomes his duty as a friend to protect our member from criticism. " Alert” acknowledges that we hive not got the crumbs eyen be con&idered due to tp, and he then proceeds to protect • his brother in arms,’ because we have become critics in support of what he considers we are entitled to. Iq this logic ? Public men

should ritbu welcome jrftraneHa criticwixi .hroagb IU ehaa. nel, tbe press, tor U no! U<mi, gi«. them tbe obanoe of vinMMag timsr actions, bat it eaaMm AMI 9 M th. pula, ol tb« publiCf£bgrfMeM>i. lo coaotasion, we wofii raht Jhfw “ Alert ” may ba, and w» sbim io haul down tba; bam: Iwith a strange device," and inaaiYe fafcty under his true ensign. Wo are bound to meet each otbjfr momt or later, and w. won’t know him whan we see him. Mr Editor, bow ar. wo to protect oarselves from being ambushed ? Exit. BELL BROS. A BOBS.