FAVORITISM Versus MERIT.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 233, 4 July 1877, Page 2

FAVORITISM Versus MERIT.

(To 'the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir —l have been considerably surprised by information from a source that I decline to doubt, that Mrllatcly bus been not only reinstated in office,, but promoted to be Ciiief Inspector of Sheep, in the Taranaki Provincial District. If the shoepowners in the Patea district are true to their own interests they will come forward in such a manner as to cause such an iniquitous appointment to be set aside, knowing as they do that that same man has done much towards blighting the prospects of the sheepownersin this district for some time to come.

It is notorious that Mr Hate*!}', on being called on to inspect sheep suspected to bo scabby, decided that such sheep were not scabby, and even after competent settlers had examined the siieep, and found that the scab was in a very advanced stage, showing that the sheep must have bwn affected for a considerable time, even then hs (Mr IJ.) still persisted in denying the presence of the disease, and it was not until the settlers to ik action in the imtter, and the Government sent another Inspector, that MrH. would admit that the sheep were diseased ; but, strange to say. his (Mr IL’s) eyesight was then so keen, and his kn jsvK'dge 30 superior, ih.-.t he could see the sheep' were in a very bad state* with scab before ho arrived within twenty yards of the flock ; and yet, that self-same flock bad been paraded before Ids eyes only a few days previous, expressly for his inspection—after which inspection he gave the owners a certificate that such sheep were clean. These are plain facts, and facts which will defy contradiction. Now, sir, what 1 ask the public to consider, is, whether they think such a man as Mr 11. qualified to hold the cilice ho is now promoted to, after showing such complete ignorance, or if not ignorance, something so much worse, that I will not name it, but leave the public to guess for themselves. But who have we to blame for his promotion ; aye, who but our own representative in tlie Assembly, and a member of the Government ; and more than that, one who has been made acquainted with the facts of the case, aud who, to my own personal knowledge, has failed to fulfil his reiterated promises with regard to forwarding certain information in connection with the matter to settlers in the district. It is sincerely to be hoped, that, when the proper time arrives, such a coarse of conduct will meet with its just reward If you should think this too personal for a nom de plume, you may attach my name to it, but in the meantime I njjgn mvsclf ■ A SETTLER.