CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 12, 13 January 1872, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

MG. LIC.HTBAND'S LETTER. To Tin-; Editou ov-' the Kelson Evening Mail. Sis — Pardon me for saving tliut I think you nrc wrong in finding fault wit't poor Mr. Lightband for his ridiculous letter about the Foxhill Railway. If you di<ch;.rged your duty properly you should rather find 'ault with the people who put him in a false position, and therehy did him an injury a' well as themselves. Anybody can see that Mr. Lightband is in longer the same modest, unassuming person that he was a few months ago. He has lost his balance in fact, and nothing is more natural tiian that he should stultify himself as well as those who sent him to represent them. Mr. Lightband is the popular representative o£ Nelson — the workingman's choice— one of themselves— the choice in short of the sovereign people. Well and good. But let me point oat that he is a signal example of a mistake that is seldom or never committed in England, wh re working men have far too much sense to entrust their interests in Parliament to persons of their own class. And let us now see what the Nelson people, who have all along been standing in thtir own light, have got by Mr. Lightband. It is needless to say much more about the effect of his letter on the Ministry, who are ready to jump at any excuse for shirking the making of the Eoxhill railway, upon which we have set our heart?. "Oh '." they will say, 'here is Mr. Lightband, the popular member for Nelson, who the other day proposed the health of his brother-statesman, Mr. Stafford, at a public dinner, ar.d was complimented in return by him who explained how any words of wisdom that fell from Mr. J.ightbanti's lips in the House were always listened to wi h the greatest respect and admiration. What Mr. Lightband says must be the will of tho people of Nelson, and so we will proceed more leisurely than ever with the Foxhill line." But what did Mr. Lightband do in the House ? He was made, as was certain to be the case, a mere catspaw of. He voted for the increased stamp duties, which we find so oppressive, but his alleged excuse for doing so is far worse than the act itself. ITe says he oil ic in order that the increased pressure of taxation might bring the people all the sooner to perceive the outrageous extravagance ot the Government, and to protest against it !*" This is pretty well for one of their supporters who has been buttor.-holci by Mr. Fox, and shaken by the hand of Mr. Vogel. But worse remains behind. The representatives ot the people want to squeeze as much as possible for themselves out of their dupes, and so, as a matter of course, Mr. Lightband was put upon the Honorarium Committee and in his capacity of committee-man did, if I mistake not, materially contribute to increase the burdens of the people. It was moved and carried in the Committee that one hundred guineas should be the future honorarium for one session. Nobody else having sufficient audaoity.Mr. Lightband was put up to move that, in addition to the hundred guineas, " honorable members" should be paid their travelling expenses. The report of the Committee was, I presume, subsequently adopted in the House, so that all the Nelson people owe to Mr. Lightband is a direct and unnecessary increase of taxation Is that the object for which he was sent there ? Let me ask in conclusion, and in all charity, are the public services of Mr. L'ghtband, whom I much respect in his private capacity, worth a hundred guineas a year and travelling expenses to us 'i I say they are not; and the sooner Mr. Lightband is relieved from being a sorrow lo himself, and a vexation to his friends, the better will it be for both parties. I am, &c , A Citizen or Nelson.