A WELL-FOUNDED GRIEVANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 186, 15 October 1879, Page 2

A WELL-FOUNDED GRIEVANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TEMUKA LEADER.

Sir, —Feeling confident that your paper is always open for just grievances, I beg leave to encroach upon your space and patience by bringing before your notice, and that of the electors of the Geraldine constituency, the disgraceful manner in which we have been served by our “ very honorable ” member, Mr Edward Wakefield. It is now several weeks since he was returned as our representative in Parliament. During the electioneering season it was prominently brought before his notice that there were several hardworking men out of employment, and who had large families to support. One of his promises made to us was that he would immediately solicit, when he arrived in Wellington, the Minister for Public Works to commence the Oxford-Terrmka railway. Instead of keeping this promise, what does he do ] Why—unsolicited, I believe, by the men themselves—he asks the Government, almost immediately after the meeting of Parliament, what steps they have taken for the relief of the men out of employment in Timarh ! I would ask you, sir, if this question ought to have been asked by Mr Wakefield ? Is not Mr Turnbull quite capable—and I might add, quite willing—to look after his 3 constituency without the officious aid of our meddling member 1 It is an established fact that the height of his ambition is to represent Tiraaru but fortunately for their interests, _ they will not have a man as their representative who does not know his mind, and whose conscience is of a very pliable natme. This latter assertion is proved by his cowardly desertion of the Grey party some time back, for the simple reason that he was not offered a portfolio on the Grey Ministry.

I wish it to be distinctly understood, air. that I have no private grudge against Mr Wakefield ; but, as a hard-working man, I feel myself justified in complaining publicly of his conduct as our member. Ho would possibly try and do something for us, were he aware of the poverty that really exists in and around Temuka. I could give-lijm the names of several persons here who have subsisted on bread and water for the last six weeks, and are doing so at present. And these are not men who are prodigal wtih their money, or who gain their living by dishonest means. They are mostly men with good trades in their hand, and who have been obliged to take to a pick and shovel. And, now, even this is denied some of them. Unless you belong to a certain clique, it is impossible to obtain employment from “ some ” of the contractors. If it were not for the Temuka Hoad Board, there would have been before now great suffering in Temka, resulting from nothing else but sheer starvation. This is not fiction, but real, unvarnished truth.

Another circumstance which points out that our member does not care for the hard-working portion of his constituents is borne out by his silence on the petition which was forwarded to him on behalf of those out of employment in Temuka. The petition was forwarded to him, to be presented to the Minister for Public Works, praying that he (the Minister) would be pleased to order that the Temuka railway be commenced immediately. Mr Wakefield has not yet acknowledged the receipt of the prayer, nor have I heard whether it has been presented to the Minister for whom it is intended. I presume that, as he is hourly expecting to be appointed a Minister of the Crown, be has no thought for anything except the expected portfolio. Cannot yon, sir, rouse up our member, and prevail upon him to do something for us 1 Anyone can prove for himself the truth of my assertion respecting the poverty that exists hei - e. Mr Wakefield is again our representative, and I ask why does ho not look after our interests, instead of trying to raise himself in the estimation of the electors of the constituency he so greedily covets ? I trust you will excuse this rather long epistle, .as I write it in the hope that you will take the matter up, weP knowing that the Press is a powerful weapon in the cause of fair play.—l have, etc.,

Temuka, AN ELECTOR, October 14th, 1879

[Wo quite agree with “ An Elector’s ” views. We consider it was unseemly for our member to apply for work for the Timaru unemployed, and to leave his own constituents out in the cold. Regarding the petition mentioned in “ An Elector’s ” letter, Mr Wakefield has had difficulties to contend with, through the change of Ministers. — Ed.- T.L.]