Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY. JUNE 10, 1879. MR W. JOHNSTON, M.H.R.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 81, 10 June 1879, Page 2

Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY. JUNE 10, 1879. MR W. JOHNSTON, M.H.R.

♦ Does Mr Walter Johnston, M.H.E. for Manawatu, intend to allow the electors the privileges of seeing his face and hearing his voice before the next election ? We are afraid not. When Mr Johnston stood upon the hustings at Foxton, he pledged himself in the most explicit manner, to visit the district after each session and address the electors in every township ! This was certainly a wonderful promise to make. But though it would be unfair to expect him to fulfil it in its entirety, the electors certainly do expect him to meet them at one township in his electoral district during his stewardship. So far he has persistently neglected to do so. Recently, however, Mr Johnston took advantage of a " free library " meeting at Wellington to enunciate some of his political views. Perhaps he did so on the principal that as the * Wellington votes at Paikakariki secured his election, the people of the capital have a strong claim to hear his political opinions. This is hardly fair. There are somewhere about ISOO of his enrolled constituents in Manawatu, and it would not be out of place for them to see and hear their member. A great many are newcomers into the district, who have not had the opportunity of hearing Mr Johnston's opinions, and on their behalf we hope he will shortly address hin constituents. There are also a number ox* old electors, who d«sire to ask tho distriot member a few questions as et what he has done, and what he has left undone ; what promises he has fulfilled, and how many he has neglected to perform. There are other questions upon which the district would like to ask Mr Johnston's opinion, viz., whether he thinks the Wellington railway should connect with Foxton or not; whether he will endeavour to obtain a vote for the iuland road from Foxton to Waikana©; whether ha will advocate a*

endowment for the Foxton Harbour Board, despite the faofc that he la a, Wellington merchant* Numbers of such questions, of great interest to the district, would probably be put, -4£the electors had the opportunity of asTuiHj them. l*ut really, it is scan* dalous, that Mr Johustou should so thoroughly neglect his duty and so persists utly break his promises. Manawatu can easily be reached, and ] the whole trip need not take more than about three days, so that time cannot be the object. Three sessions of the Parliament have gone past, and the fourth begins in about 6 weeks ; yet Mr Johnston has made no sign of a visit to his constituents. Promises of an early visit have from time to time been made to individual electors who have appealed to him, but they have never been acted upon. The consequence is, that distrust has been generated between Mr Johnston and many of his constituents. Better far, that we had no representative, than one in whom we have lost confidence.