Improvements at Buckland.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 3

Improvements at Buckland.

! TO THE EDITOR, j Sir, —1 notice in the last issue of "The Times" a most astonishing I tier ucdei the atnve heading. A correspondent, Mt Kelson, understands that 1 was perfectly willing to sign a petition asking that the road should be improved when I was under the impression that it would erst me nothing, hut that I now object to the loan b:ing raisfd 01 two grounds, one of which is that I cam ot alFord to pay anything. The facts ot th 3 matter are that ] was invited to sign a petition for the improvement of the Mad 1 was unwilling oi the ground that the road did not r.ally matter to me tor 1 had other «ood access. 1 was finally persuaded to add my name for what it might be worth in the way nf helping those on the road who had no f ther access. 1 he pr uiict rs (>f the petitnn modified thiir policy by promoting a petition to raise a loan. Sinning thia second petition would involve payment of a special rate, and 1 naturally did rot desire to burden myself with such a rate for a special work of no benefit to ihp. 11-der these circumstances it is decidedly astonishing to find Mr (!. Kelson (whom I did rot know in the matter) writing a viulent letter to your paper Are we not living in a free country? Ja a ratepayer

not entitled to vote for or sgainst a loan i)rofo3i*l or any other proposal according to what he conceives to be his best interests? Or ib Mr G. Kelson to be the sole arbitrator of what a man may vote for, and what ha may vule against? One would have supposed that if Mr Kelson had eny comprint he would have it to m: rstead of writing to you. My voting or not voting in favour of the petition is a matter euiialy f r myself to decide, aiid Mr Kelson's fierce indignation is a matter which concerns himself only. Neither matter concerns jou or your readerß. 1 have not sufficient penetration to understand Mr Kelson's mysterious remarks as to what happened to en ble me to s:ll my farm «t Fu- i, but 1 presume it concerns the general public as little as the re st of Mr KiUon's letter. Nor will you be surprised to learn tint 1 am not overwhelm.d «-ith gratitude at Mr Kelson's generally in oll'eiing to advance trie the amount of my share ot the fpecni r;ite to enable a work to be undertaken which will bsnefit Mr Kelson but will not benefit me.

Mr Kelson's annoyance ris.s from the simple fact that if uy property be included in the rating area he will not be able to outvote ma and imp se an unjust burden upon ni3'; wherea3 if I am excluded hi will, to his extreme annoyance, rightly havp to pay for his own improvement of accea?.—l am, etc., JAMES BAKBER. Buck land, 23rd September, 191b.