A PROTEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 891, 13 September 1910, Page 3

A PROTEST.

(To the Editor). Sir. —I think the Mayor should he asked to call a public meeting of local citizens and settlers in the surrounding district to enter a strong protest against that most astonishing and vehement speech made by the Hon. Mr Millar, Minister for Railways, in the House on Thursday, during the debate on the Foxton - Saudon tramway extension. Foxton “go bung,” has aroused —and not without cause —the indignation of every one I have spoken to on this coast. Not only has indignation been expressed at the Minister’s policy, but also at the vulgar terms used—fit only for the fo’casle of a cattle ship. “I will make Foxton wharf go bung !”—fine language for a Minister of the Crown and a well-paid officer of the country. Not satisfied with claiming the revenue from the wharf in order to make the railways pay but doing his little best to oppose the extension of the tramway, which has been the endeavour of the settlers for over twenty-five years. This extension would act as a feeder to the Main Trunk line and other lines, and effect a saving to the Department and no one except a stubborn and unenlightened person would argue otherwise. He says he knows what’s at the back of this agitation —the linking-up of the Main Trunk line. Let me tell this obstructionist that the settlers along this coast were agitating for this light railway when he was, to use a Germanised phrase, just emerging from his “svadliug cloth.” When Sir Joseph Ward was Minister for Railways (the best the country ever had) he promised the then member (Mr John Stevens) ,£SOO per year for ten years to help to improve the river. Does the Prime Minister approve of the attitude of his Minister for Railways ? Does Cabinet endorse such a policy. I think not. Such a policy will do the Government no good. If Mr Millar was to preach such balderdash to his southern constituency they would send him to the mountain top to tune his bag-pipes —and that quick and busy. The Mayor will be failing in his duty if he does not convene a public meeting of protest, at which our present member and ex-member, together with Messrs R. B. McKenzie, J. G. Wilson and others should speak, I hope the matter will not be allowed to drop. —I am, etc., Anti-stick-in-thk Mud.