Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 22, 1902. Peace.

Manawatu Herald, 22 November 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 22, 1902. Peace.

On Tuesday next the election will be over and the quiet settler will be allowed to go his way in peace without being disturbed by the private opinions of candidates publicly expressed. And it will be well. How much the colony will prosper by either the one set of politicians gaining power or the other set matters little, as the progress goes on in spite of all the political clamour raised in Parliament. Many of those who are now loudest in urging the claims of rival politicians would willingly admit that the colony would stand a show of going along pleasantly enough without a Parliament at all. Politics in an isolated colony like New Zealand is but talk, for Parliament is but an exaggerated County Council, and the duties before members are only to find the ways and means of opening up the country. Naturally to individuals, certain politicians are more likely to develope the colony better than others, but it is the opening up of the colony we are all most anxious about. During the past week or two many words have been uttered as to the way the present Government have succeeded in this work. Round about Wellington great stress has been laid upon the opening up of the Main Trunk Line, Sir William Russell going so far as to suggest that all other public work should cease over the colony until the “ national ” work was completed. For those who may probably use or benefit by this line the proposal sounds all right, but to the man in the southern island the north Main Trunk Line is not to be compared with a southern Main Trunk Line, and the Gisborne people are more. interested a local

railway than the same North Trunk Line. So throughout the colony can comparisons be made, and a consideration of them explains the difficulty any Ministry has to make a certain sura of money go round. It is wonderful how much general work is done considering the clamour raised by every member, every year, lor money for his electoral district, though he loses no occasion upon which to lecture the Government on the curtailment of their expenditure. We are not going into the question as to whether the Government have awarded the spare cash fairly or well, but we are bound to admit that we in this electorate have not been backward in applying for some share of the loaves and fishes. We have had one candidate suggesting that we have not had our share, and does so in rather a complaining spirit, though in succeeding sentences he declares no district could send a representative more untrammelled than this one because we bad got all our roads made* This is where a district suffers from having a stranger posing as an authority on the wants of the settlers. We have only to put the question at any time when we can easily get replies signifying that we would he very glad if even a 1 our roads were made. Th; suggestion by Mr Vile that a surplus, or some sum of money he knew all about, was sufficient to build two bridges over the Manawatu seemed too good to be true, because he must have been unaware that Mr John Davies has got the promise, at least so he has declared, of half the cost of the Shannon bridge. What,the inhabitants of Foxton have got to remember is that from the present Government we have an alteration in the Loans Act entitling us to borrow money under their liberal regulations to make roads. The fillip towards this alteration was given by the deputation which inter* viewed Sir J. G. Ward at Foxton some months ago, when he expressed himself favourable to the proposition. By the energy and popularity of Mr John Stevens so many members having small boroughs within their electorates so favoured the idea that Sir Joseph Ward had no difficulty in getting the amendment passed. All living here can appreciate the very great advantage such an Act is to the borough, and the increased value it will give to properties, and it is only fair that the services rendered to the borough, in this one particular, by Mr John Stevens, should be remembered on polling day.

We have been told that what the Minister has done is because it has paid him to do it though, unfortunately for Mr Vile, Sir William Bussell does not agree with him in this. Anyhow what we can testify to is this, that iu this district, having secured the assistance of Mr John Stevens, Ministers have been prepared to allot certain monies to this district in improvement on public property. It is what they should do, but it is fortunate for the district that they do it. Just lately our post-office was a most miserable place to do business in. Fortunately our borough council got convinced that they could look farther afield than they had been doing and communicated with Mr Stevens, with the result, for the public portion, we have had most satisfactory alterations done. It is the same with the railway and wharf. The inconveniences were pointed out, well backed-up, with the result the new railway station is erected, the station yard is being enlarged, and the dredge is at work deepening the river at the wharf. About a year ago tenders were let for snagging the river to Moutoa* It will not be forgotten that the Government paid half the cost of the Wirokino bridge. Surely here we cannot grumble at the Government, but a change may alter the aspect of affairs completely. All our improvements are not done and more help is decidedly wanting, so that it is to be remembered what the late Abraham Lincoln said “ It is ill swapping horses when crossing a stream,”