Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 1903. The Shannon Bridge.

Manawatu Herald, 15 September 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 1903. The Shannon Bridge.

——# In our last issue we mentioned that a petition was being circulated and extensively supported by the residents of Foxton and 'surrounding district. The object of the petition is to bring before the proper authorities the urgent and growing necessity for the construction of the Shannon Bridge without any further delay. We are pleased to see that Mr Walter Carter, a younger member of one of our oldest settlers at Moutoa, has been selected to obtain the signatures of everyone of the large proportion of our settlers favourable to the project. The necessity for the bridge has long been beyond all question, as also the absurdity of paying a much heavier tax by way of ferry toll for such a primitive, expensive, and dangerous method of crossing the river as at present, than would be imposed on the ratepayers by additional levy to meet the cost of construction of the bridge. It is regrettable that the question of building the Shannon Bridge has been allowed to stand in abeyance for so long, and that some satisfactory agreement between the various local bodies interested lias never been arranged. It is not for us at the present stage to lay on any particular person or party the blame for the apparent want of foresight and public spirit in allowing such an important project to lapse, more especially as it is of such vital interest tq this town (which is the only port for a very large and growing district) that every facility should be offered as a means of communication with the inland settlements. The time has arrived when the people should stand up for their rights and take concerted action in obtaining what they are justly entitled to. The township of Foxton for the last 30

years through want of unanimity amongst many of the residents has suffered considerably by the neglect of public works required ,in < and about the district, which if carried out would have placed this Borough in a far more prosperous condition than it is to-day. Matters that are of such vital interest to the prosperity and welfare of this town and district must be taken in hand vigorously and never allowed to drop through minor adversities, but pushed forward with even greater energy when met with reverses. Even an occasional glance at, Hansard is sufficient to show us in a most unmistakable manner that the residents of this town are over modest in their demands for a fair share of the expenditure on pubiic works. It is mortifying to see how by persistent and dogged persevorence residents of much smaller and less important towns than Poxton obtain the expenditure of public money on practically useless railways, bridges, &c., while important projects of the kind under consideration are totally ignored by the Government. We cannot too strongly urge on Mr Vile, the representative for* this electorate, the urgent wants -of the district, which is now the richest hemp-producing centre in the colony, and will assuredly increase its output fox* Many years to come. It is the duty of everyone of citizens and settlors to Studiously watch and support any Movement which may benefit the district. Differences of opinion and petty jealousies should be put aside and not allowed to stand in the way when important questions effecting the welfare of the settlers and citizens are brought before them, and one and all should work strenuously for the common good. We are satisfied that the petition now circulating in Poxton and Shannon has the cordial support of practically every individual in the district, but we think it would have been an improvement if the work of obtaining signatures had been divided} so that different part)! of the town and district should be allocated to different canvassers, thus not only enabling a more complete canvas to be made, but also giving an opportunity to every individual resident to express his or her views in regard to the urgent necessity for the bridge. The ladies should be brought into requisition to form a committee to obtain signatures among themselves. The addition of their signatures Would decidedly increase the value of the petition. Nothing should be left undone or wanting in this matter. It has been freely stated that owing to the recent selection of an Opposition member for the district, we are not likely to receive any sympathy or further support faom the present Government. We are loth to think that the Government could be capable of such pusillanimity, which could scarcely be calculated to secure it much support in future elections. If, however, such is the case, and as a consequence the unanimous wishes as well as the urgent needs of an Important electorate arc ignored,- we can only say that the political outlook of the colony assumes a serious and foreboding aspect. The existence of this undesirable state of affairs, which we think is overdrawn by many, remains to be proved by the future action taken by the Government in regard to our requirements. So far our member lias shown that be is fully alive to the wants of our district, and we trust that in this, as in other questions relating to our public needs, the Government will not for political reasons oppose the project in view of the pressing necessity for such a work being carried out —a necessity not only in view of our future progress, bat also of the safety and convenience of the travelling public We notice that our contemporary, the Mamwatu Farmer , enumerates the wants of Shannon, and includes amongst them the work for the construction of which the present petition is being, signed. Apparently a word from Levin is sufficient to secure the erection of all sorts of public works in that thriving centre, and possibly our neighbour thinks that the same easy terms are available for Poxton. Possibly in this instance we may find ourselves almost equally fortunate.