The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1883. CALLED TO ACCOUNT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 215, 15 August 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1883. CALLED TO ACCOUNT.

The Mayor haß convened an indignation meeting of' the electors for this evening m the Town Hall, to consider the action of our member m Parliament, "the kon. W. W. Johnston, who has so persistently neglected the interests of the district which he is supposed to represent. It is a< fact;- that none presume to deny that Mr Johnston's* interest % l tnatters- appertaining to- his constituency; has been waning for, months'! J»paBti .• nßLis . constituents have jbdrne with his indiflfertnce, .apathy, and lukewarmness till the limit of forbearance, has been reached. The Estimates passed, as published m the Manawatu Standard last evening, are recognized as the "last sttaj*," atoi;ihe; electors consider it about time that they ex* pi essied their views in 1 plain I 'wdrds. Every .pther^ district i; wp,uld appear. -to have; been well looked after by its representative m Parliament ; except Mnn&watu. Members have raised Iheir voices againet. peglect or v injif slice, wheu thp. > -Estimates were "being paBsed^And/haye*Becaredratteiition to their constituents' wants and requirements, but the member for Mauawatu appears to have sat silent, never giving a thought as to what was his most ajpparent privilege, duty, aad|obtigatibn-as repreß^ntjnfe voiie of ttie nlost important country districts m the North Island. .The; simple fact is that Mr Johnston cannot be considered m any legitimate" sense of the s word our repre* (tentative m Parliament, except m name. $lo local representative would dare to exibit tbe same indiffe^npe ajdd- neglect of the interests entrusted to bis'keepingj and no constituency that we know of would have submitted so long, to a member'BJapathy,a'adscantcourtesy,nBMana. watu^has done. Notwithstandiag alibis neglect to fulfil his obligations, and all > bis lukewarmness, and all his political of, ; ott|iBsipn*ijd, cpmrnission, Man^watu' has been loyal to her representative, and loyal as it now sees to its Serious disadvantage. Compare Mr Johnston's lethargy to the active vigour and energy displayed by other 'members m matters affecting their constituent's -interests, and how apparent becomes the unconcern to which threleotore.aiftn9waw^kening. Where - is the promJßed vote for the d^orge Railway ? * Alas, no such vote appears to have been placed on the estimates. And where was our member, (who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Public Works,) when such a grave and inexcusable omission was allowed to pass unchallenged? Manawatii is clearly <"dut m the ,cpld,' ? a»d throngb no other cause but ' tie unparalleled supineness of its present, member, The, electors have".' 'trusted' Mr Johnston too long, and it is time they became 'alive to their duties to themselvesl Vv'hen a member shows by his action that he no longer cares lor hit* constituency ; that their progress or

1 retrogress ion are matters of supreme ! indifference to bim ; that he is not m I sympathetic accord with them m any I way whatever ; that he has ceased to I have the least pe&onal regard for their 1 wishes, confidence, or condemnation, it I is time the electors spoke as with one I voice, and den.and that a change take place? We anticipate that the indignation meeting to take place this evening 1 will be one m reality, and that the sense* I of the meeting will be given expression 1 to unanimously to the effect that Mr^ I Walter Johsston no longer has the I confidence of the electorate of Manawatu. I Against such a vercict he cannot raise j I any protest or appeal. It is the oo> come ot his inexcusable -neglect of our requirements, his apathetic indifference to our wants aud wishes, and ot the habitual' lukwarmness, amounting ia many cases almost to actual discourtesy, with which he has receivsd deputations sent down to interview him on import* snt public matters. It almost seemed too much trouble to give them an auciU ence; and as to : any beneficial result accruing, all such hopes have been utterly m vain.^ It would have done Mr Johnston more credit had he sever his political connection, with • Mauawatu without being called to the bar; of indignant public opinion to .answer, a charge of grave and apparent deli Verate dereliction of duty. We trust the meeting this evening will deal with him him as mercifully es they can find lit m their hearts to do. > ■ ■ ; ' !