CORRESPONDENCE. THE FATE OF WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 239, 2 October 1908, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE FATE OF WAITARA.

To the Editor. | •Sir—The crocodile teal's shed by the lion. .Mr. Samuel in the Upper liou.c over the fate of Waitara, (luring his speech oil the Opiuuike Harbour Bill, wa s of sueh a sympatlietie nature as l" warrant a public subscription being raised for the .purpose of purchasing and presenting to him a pocket handker-chief—-table-cloth size—to mop his eyes with. Why this cynical sympathy? It is entirely misplaced, for Waitara has got along. and <™n eoiitinuc to gel along, without the assistance of the honourable gentleman, whose only interest in Waitara was an endeavour to rope it in as a security for the new borrowing proposal. Waitara lias no objection to New Plymouth having the •best harbour in the Dominion; neither; would the. people, if they could, p-e-1 vent them ironi obtaining it, provided j they are not called on to pay the piper. The Hon. Mr. Samuel's sympathy for Waitara was shewn by his -antagonistic attitude towards the Waitara liarboar Bill, and his frantic efforts to prevent sucli Bill becoming law. The incident i s 100 fresh in the publie mind to ncil rcpet'lion here, and il will come as a surprise to know that he has at last i-e- ---' come repentant; but underlying ta.it seeming sympathy llurc is a large amount of venom, and methinks it was that which spurted out, and not the tears. What had or has the New Plymouth or Opunake Harbour Bill-, to do with the state of the Waitara bridge'.' Have either of those Board's paid a rate, for the purpose of maintaining it. or are they asked lu do so now. Waitara can and will work out its own 'destiny without the assistance of .Mr. Samuel, and despite his ravings. Most people when beaten take it with a good 1 grace, but evidently Mr. Samuel is not of that ilk. He actually made an upI purtunity to show n spiteful attitude towards those who by arduous work carried through the Bill which at last i gave a meed of justice to Waitara, a'.t-l admitted as much to the Altorney- • ieneral when asked by hint what such of speech had to do with the Bill before the Council. Victors can afford to he generous, but it comes i with ill grace when the bottled bile of a vanquished man is poured out aft"i' so many -months of being corked up, more especiallv as it comes mini a m.'.n bidding such A high and dignilied position as a member of the Legislalur". who should be above petty spite. However, we must wait and hope that time will assuage his grief and change his nature to something more conciliatory, -lain.fc, WAITARA.