The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. MINISTERIAL ATTENTIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 16, 20 January 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. MINISTERIAL ATTENTIONS.

(With, which is incorporated The Tat hape Post and Waimarino News.)

There are not a few people, comprising the most varied political thought, who assess the value and usefulness of a Minister of the Crown, or a member of parliament, by the frequency of personal visits made to various districts, or to respective constituencies. Were we to judge the present Government since the last general elections, from this standpoint, its collective policy would commend itself less to the people than it is now doing. When a Minister does deign to come along to this immense arena cf virile settlement, which is neck-deep in want of conveniences of communication that would not have been denied a similar territory considerably over a quarter of a century 'ago, it will be found that it is to gratify the wishes of a few men of the right colour, forgetting that it is within a government's power to make.most reasonable men recognise the rnimir tV.yi in right In this plrc-

torate a most important railway construction work is proceeding, and although it is in 'a distant corner, its completion Is of extreme importance and significance to the whole. We had, in common with those whose convenience would be more directly affected, begun to think that the branch line from Ohakune to Raetihi had really been forgotten by the Minister for Public Works, and that it was being dragged on by underlings. Many reports were current that did not augur well for early completion of the line, among them being that, up there, where you couldn't put sixpence between a man's hair and the clouds, navvies could only earn about six shillings a day 'at the Department's rate of remuneration; and, althougn such 'a report was scarcely credible, there was sufficient substratum of truth to prevent any improvement of the odour in which the policy of ministers was pretty generally held. A turn in the ordinary sequence of events has; taken place, however, and now that the Minister ha s actually paid a visit to that extreme end of the elector;'.Le, it is hoped he will have left with a considerably augmented idea of its importance, and that he will h'.iv3 iuliy realised the unjustifiable inconveniences that still have to be endured by so closely a settled district. We cannot very well congratulate the Hon. Mr. Fraser, when once having had the temerity to step over the boundary of the Waimarino electorate, in abruptly turning round and getting out again as soon as possible. We think he might with advantage to his party have probed further into the heart of the constituency; have visited the chief town —the centre of population from whence supplies for the huge areas of back country are drawn, and, at least, have exhibited some desire to learn by contact and personal inspection just how administration of governing departments was synchronising with the needs of the people and operating towards rapid and profitable settlement. We were grateful for. the brief visit paid by the Premier when he good-natur-edly came along and laid the foundation stone of our new freezing works, but this district is deserving of something more; is entitled to something more than perfunctory attention. It has needs that are daily becoming more unbearable, some of its settlers who have put their holdings into the highest state of production, and 'are living only from five to ten miles from the postal and telegraphic centre, are to-day entirely without any mail service; ingress and egress to land that should be contributing to the richness of the State is, in places, bordering on the impossible. It may be that we are ,to some extent, blaming the Government for the sins and pecksniffianess of its administrative officers. In fact we have already come to believe that we have killed the Head "of the Postal District's pet chinaman from the nature of the consideration this territory is receiving from him. Anyway, we challenge him to point out another district in New Zealand, similarly circumstanced, that is being so miserably treated by its postal and telegraphic departmental chief officer. We envied Raetihi's opportunity to meet a real live Minister, and its chance to discuss that progressive little centre's needs and ventilate its aspirations before a power that controls the State reins and purse strings. We would like to know whether there is any tract of highly productive country without a letter delivery, even once a week, so near the centre of population in any Minister's constituency as Ngawaka is to Taihape. Of course there isn't, and how can the present Ministry hope to retain and add to its popularity while it neglects to obviate what constitutes a public scandal. For, to continue to disregard the great claims of many settlers in this district, as is being done, is nothing short of a negligence that, if not fringing on the criminal, is most assuredly of a callous and heartless character.