The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 22, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1033, 22 August 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 22, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Outsiders who have read references to Foxton which have appeared in some ol our contemporaries recently, cannot help terming the opinion that we are a drunken and liquor-loving community. We do not profess to be the most sober town in the Dominion, but when one considers the number of men employed in the flax industry in this district who have no settled home and whose only attraction is the public house, it will be found that Foxton is not such a drunken place as some of our contemporaries imagine. The married men engaged in the industry, on the whole, are sober and home-loving, with very little time for the liquor bars. A number of the single men break the monotony of things on pay day by spending too much time in the pubs.—but what counter attraction is provided for them ? None. Bearing these facts in mind, Foxton is no more drunken than any other town of a like population. The Olaki Mail is the latest to libel Foxton in respect to booze. It says: “The No-Iflcense party have received much the worst of the bargain in the alteration of the Otaki boundaries. Foxton and the immediate district are recognised as strongly opposed to NoIflcense.” Our contemporary concludes that “the No-Iflcense party has received a rather severe blow by the amendment of the boundaries.” The inference is that we are a “ boozing ” community. Perhaps the blunder ot the Borough Council in granting a request to a local publican to connect his bar and the Hall with a call wire has coloured these reports, We want to tell our contemporaries that Foxton is not nearly so bad as it is painted, and this fact will be made abundantly clear at the next licensing poll.

It has been suggested to us that in view of what may happen at the general elections, it would be better for the Foxton Harbour Board to delay its Bill, empowering it to create a rating area and to raise a loan in order to purchase the wharf from the Railway Department, until after the fate of the Government is known. Change of party means change of policy, and a new Minister of Railways may say it is immoral for the Railway Department to transfer wharfage dues to the credit of the working railways. Such a Minister may hold that the profits earned by the port should be spent on the improvement of the port. This, of course, is mere speculation, but the unexpected often happens. We submitted the point to the Chairman of the Board and Mr Field M.P. for Otaki, on Saturday, and they both agreed that it would be in the best interests of the Board to pass the Bill. If a change of Government should eventuate and the control of the wharf and its finances were transferred to the Board, the Bill could remain inoperative, but they held it would be unwise to delay the Bill. The Bill will be brought forward by Mr Newman, member for the district, this session.

Mr Fxepd has asked Sir James Carroll whether he can devise and bring down this session an amendment of the electoral law to destroy or lessen the huge advantage, which wealth and influence now possesses and exerts to the fullest extent at election times in the ownership and command of motorcars for the conveyance of electors to the poll. Mr Field’s inference is that the use of such means of locomotion is a mild form of bribery. It doesn’t say much for the intelligence of the average elector whose vote can be bought for a motor-car ride. We certainly have heard the remark : “How could I vote against so and so alter being conveyed to the booth in his car ? ” We do not think however, that the motor-car ride would influence very many people. Perhaps it would be an improvement if the Act was amended, prohibiting candidates or their committees from bringing voters to the poll. To a certain extent the use of motor-cars is an advantage at election times. If, however, electors are not sufficiently interested in the government of the country as to discharge the important dutv of recording their votes without being chased with a motor-car, then they deserve to be disfranchised.

We have received the iollovving letter, under date August 19th., from Mr E. Newman, M.P., which we take the liberty of publishing : —“ I read the leading article in the “ Heraed ” of yesterday, and although it may be rather contrary to custom, I cannot allow this occasion to pass without thanking you most heartily for the courtesy and consideration with which you have treated me ever since I became a candidate for Manawatu. I arrived there almost unknown to the people, and as you know, my first meetings were almost unattended. Now, after three years service, I view the lact that Foxton is cut out of my electorate with extreme regret. I have become interested in the town and the wharf, and in the tramway especially. It has really been a pleasure to me, apart altogether from any political advantage which I might expect, to asssist in the development and furtherance of the town and district. lam a great believer in the future of Foxton, and when it gets its due, that is to say, when it gets a proper control of the wharf, and river, and connection is established with the north and the south, I believe it will become a very important centre indeed. It will cease to be in my district after next November, but if I am in the House afterwards, it will always be a pleasure lor me to assist the member for the district in any project he may have in hand tor its advantage. Of course, I have always been aware that politically, you and I have more or less looked at questions from a different standpoint. Notwithstanding this, for the three years that I have represented Foxton, you have never criticised me in any way other than lairly, and you have always given me. full credit for honesty of purpose, and tor having the interest of the district at heart. I can assure you I am sincerely grateful for this, and the recollection of it will not pass from my memory.”