Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERT TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1069, 4 May 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERT TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1882.

The time draws near when our representative in Parliament will have to put forth all his brain power and energy to assert our claims upon the public purse for monetary assistance in works conducive and essential to the progressive welfare of our district. We agree with the Evening Herald in its leader of the 28th ult., that Mr McDonald should go to Parliament fully armed with an expression of public feeling. There can be no doubt that this district is fully entitled, by its geographical situation, its rresent and prospective importance, and the extreme moderation of the demands it has hitherto made upon public money, to the highest and most liberal consideration of its present urgent and necessitous claims. During the past 20 years the contribution on this district by the General Government has amounted to not more than £40,000, less if anything, towards public works in Poverty Bay. Comparing this stun with the expenditure lavished with open hand in other districts, and with the respective prospects of recoupment of such expenditure, we find Gisborne to have been throughout preeminently enduring and patient. There I is, however, a limit to all things, and the limit of our endurance has now been reached, and the time for selfassertion has arrived, already, among the Southern Press the allocation of the prospective five million loan has been discussed. It need hardly be said that Otago has calmly annexed,

on paper, the Lion’s share. That every opposition should be shewn to so unjust an apportionment is of itself so apparent that we need do no more than ; mention it. Mr McDonald is no child , in these matters and dictation is there- ! fore superfluous. But allowing that - we defeat the Barabbas-like schemes 1 of the South, the question arises how i much are we to claim for ourselves ? | Our claims are numerous and not to be considered with light and passing ' thought, and we know too well that if we do not seize the opportunity and ask the country boldly and immediately for satisfaction of them, we shall be left out in the col 1 for years to come. We want a breakwater; we want roads ; we want monetary aid for our County Council, and assistance for the Municipal body in the way of a loan at a cheaper rate of interest than can be obtained outside. The railway may be allowed to remain for a while, but must be kept in view. The breakwater is an immediate and vital necessity involving a very large expenditure. Let the member for the district be armed at all points on the heads of expenditure according to the public desire. We must bear in mind the fact that the opportunity for satisfying our wants in these directions now lays before us. We must strike while the iron is hot, and strike firmly and boldly or we may spoil the shoe. We hold thoroughly with the Herald that a public assembly should be convened to meet Mr McDonald and arm him with the fullest strength of opinion and desire touching these important matters. Our member, while being fully armed, should be in no way fettered. His own common sense and judgment must be allowed full and fair play. That he will do his uttermost duty by his constituents we do not for a single moment doubt, but when we take into consideration the difficulties which will probably be thrown in his way by the grasping cupidity of the Southern districts, and the very formidable array of Parliamentary influence presented by them, we feel that his task will be an arduous and by no means enviable one. Every penny that we get will have to be fought for, and wrested from the Southern grasp as a dog would fight for a bone. Otago already has expressed a calm conviction that she is entitled to £250,000 out of the first million of the proposed loan. Taking such arrogation as a fact, what would retnainfor thisdistrictifotherprovinces were proportionately treated ? Here lies our danger. The southern pro- ■ vinces mean taking the meat and leav- ■ ing us the bone. This will never do. The northern members, throwing aside 1 all party consideration, must make 1 common cause against our southern enemies in this. Under no pretext whatever can such unfair expenditure be tolerated. For many years this district has had to “put up ” with neglect and contumely. Now, when it is beginning by dint of long enduring and persevering labor, and substantial merit, to raise its head, its ’ prospects are threatened by the grasp--1 ing cupidity of its pampered and over- , fattened southern neighbors. Otago : and Canterbury acquired their lands without trouble and at a nominal pur- ’ chase price. AVe have had to pay ' heavily, and fight doggedly, for ours. . We have had to look calmly on and live on the crumbs from the rich man’s table, while the South has fattened on money extracted from our enforced ( economy. That this is a monstrous state , of things no one can deny. That the idea of one-fourth of the prospective 1 loan being appropriated by Otago is equally monstrous, every fair and right- ; thinking man will affirm, and that every opposition should be shown to such a possibility is the loudly-ex-pressed opinion of all who study the matter in a rightful light, and hold the interests of the Colony dear at their hearts. A public meeting is naturally the best channel for conveyance of such expression, and we cordially join with our contemporary in urging the convenance of such a meeting, at which Mr McDonald shall have an opportunity of giving his views upon this important subject, and arming , himself at all points with a thorough digest of the public opinion.