WAITARA HARBOR BOARD MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 3, 28 June 1911, Page 5

WAITARA HARBOR BOARD MATTERS.

(To the Editor.) j Sir,—l was pleased to see by the ac. J count of tho Harbor Board meeting m J the columns of your paper recently that the citizens of Yvaitara have at last got. men on the Board who have the courage of their opinions. Most people consider that Mr. Jline has been making ail exhibition of himself by his ridiculous assertions, and a number of people who know him in private life <u a good fellow are at a very great loss to understand his attitude in this matter. The public, in fact, think that Mr. Hine is being, exploited by a certain'crowd, and that he is so blind that he can't see it. And now for tho- poor fellow who isturned adrift on the world after nearly forty years of what has been publicly called a howling sinecure tfor years. What grievance has he? Is he a poor, struggling man with a large family to support? Not much, Mr. Editor. lie m, in fact, an independent man. The general opinion is that lie has been' on a splendid wioKet for yeaw, and that it is quite time that he gave place to a younger and more modern typo of man. Right here, let me remark that until recently Mr. Cameron was Customs Land- | ing Waiter at Waitilra, but. had to retire on account of the age limit. Is not this a fair presumption that he is unable to do justice to his other duties? I think I know what the reply of the public will be, or at least that part of the public who aim for efficiency and economy, and who have no axes to grind. Ah, Sir, the interests of the few: that's what has kept Waitara back for years. If you refer to your back numbers you will see that this was one of the matters that my old friend, Mr. B. A. Hignett, fought lone-handed for. lie was fighting a forlorn hope, sure enough, then, but his fight was not in vain, for he caused the birth of public opinion in the minds of the people of tins district, who, prior to his coining, were afraid to utter their sentiments on grave abuses for fear of being boycotted. It luis been admitted t.liat_ Mr. Tlignett let the daylight of public oninion on Waitara and its doings; and it is a pity that we can't have a man of his calibre in Waitara at the present, time to still further on the work of progress. Mr. Hine, in his reckless remarks at th# meeting,' made a great song of the faithful and honest service of the secretary, as if honest servants were scarce. I can give Mr: Hine tho names and addresses of hundreds of honest and efficient servant*. There arc plenty of other matters that I have to mention, Mr. Editor; but I will reserve, them for another date, I* the. meantime, T thank you for the hospitality of vour columns.—l am, etc., " LET THEttE BE LIGHT.* Waitara, June 27,