CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3723, 8 November 1906, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

|TO THE EDITOR.J

Sir.—l observe the following paragraph in your issue of the Ist iiistant

A “ Liberal ” in the “ Levin Farmer,’’ wails at only £SOO being voted for the Shannon bridge, and says : We Liberals fully expected that Mr Stevens would be able to get the bridge for us, but alas, our hopes are doomed to disappointment, and we can only live in hopes that next session the full amount necessary for the work will be granted. With reference to the above subject, I deplore the fact that the benighted creature who wishes to be considered a Liberal has not given the public the benefit of his name. Had he done so, I venture to think that all true Liberals would characterise him as the most encrusted Tory who ever held the pen of pessimism in his hand, and if the •poor creature is disappointed and will inform us of who he is, I shall be very pleased, indeed, to allay any fears which he or any other persons may have in their mind as to whether or not the full amount of£ for £ as a subsidy for the Shannon Bridge to cost ,£SOOO will be paid to the Local Bodies concerned when they apply for it in the usual way. The vote which I was instrumental in having placed upon the Estimates was a £ for £ Vote up to ,£2,500, as I understand the total estimated cost of erecting the bridge will be about £4,800, and it is therefore clear that the ,£2,500 will fully cover the required subsidy. ,£IOOO is all that possibly can be required for expenditure before 31st March next and therefore, there was no necessity for going further than making ,£SOO absolute. If the energetic so-called “ Liberal ” will exercise his mind in the direction of asking the Local Bodies to have tenders called for the erection of the bridge at once. I will guarantee that there will be no delay in the payment of a £ for £ subsidy up to £2,500. It is a great pity this public - spirited creature who wishes to be considered a Liberal has not called a public meeting for the purpose of denouncing me as he has attempted to do through the press by designedly, misleading statements, If he will do f. o, I shall be pleased to pay the cost and discuss the question with him from the public hut like the public ashamed of his name, he ? will not have the moral courage to accept my reasonable invitation and come out of the seclusion of his encrusted Tory shell. Thanking you in anticipation I am, etc,

John Stevens.